Golf courses face mounting pressure from labour shortages, rising operational costs and demand for sustainability but one solution is quietly transforming maintenance regimes: robotics, writes Con Crowley.
He caught up with Jonathan Snowball, head of business unit professional at Husqvarna, the Swedish-based global manufacturer in robotic turfcare, about its latest innovations – and how its tech is helping courses across the UK adapt, evolve and thrive.

Mowing reinvented
The 2022 launch of the Husqvarna CEORA robotic mower marked a pivotal moment in groundskeeping, said Jonathan, speaking at the company’s golf day, held at The Berkshire. Designed to replace traditional ride-on mowers for fairways and semi-roughs, CEORA eliminates need for perimeter boundary wires using satellite-guided navigation. More importantly, it has expanded daily mowing capacity from just 5,000m² to an impressive 70,000m² under the right conditions.
“This really opened the door for robotics in golf,” Jonathan explained. “It allows us to cover larger areas without the need for wires and gives course managers more flexibility in how they schedule and manage their grounds.”

Customised solutions
No two golf courses are the same. Layout complexity, terrain and scheduling demands vary — which is why Husqvarna takes a tailored approach. Its team, alongside a UK network of more than 300 professional dealers, surveys each site to assess needs and provide bespoke deployment strategies.
“Some courses want to automate semi-rough areas, others want full fairway coverage while some just want to trial it,” said Jonathan. “We start by understanding the goal, then build a solution.”
A typical 18-hole course might use five CEORA units and an additional five smaller Automower units, depending on surface and usage.

Refocusing roles
Robotic mowing doesn’t eliminate skilled labour, Jonathan stated, but optimises it. By handling repetitive mowing tasks, greenkeepers can shift focus to high-value work such as managing greens, maintaining bunkers or improving play surfaces.
“We’ve never seen robotics take jobs. It allows redeployment of the skilled labour you already have,” he said.

App-based control and convenience
The robot mowers are managed through a smart, user-friendly app, allowing course staff to map zones, set paths and monitor performance. Charging stations can be set up anywhere – usually near the shed – and the machines follow predefined transport paths autonomously.
The robots even manage their own battery life, returning to base when needed or proceeding to the next task if time and charge allow.

Innovation keeps moving
In 2023, Husqvarna introduced the 580L, a smaller but more powerful mower built specifically for golf.
It features:
• Reinforced rubber body
• High-capacity battery
• Wheel brushes to prevent grass build-up
• Flashing safety beacons
Built to withstand rougher conditions and extended use, it’s a robust companion to the larger CEORA.

Market potential
While the UK lags behind European neighbours in domestic adoption of robotic mowers, the commercial market is booming. Golf courses, cricket grounds, football pitches and rugby fields are all in need of automation as they struggle with a shortage of skilled grounds staff, rising labour and fuel costs and the push for sustainability.
“Automation is supporting golf courses that are struggling to employ and retain staff – rising wages, fuel costs, it all adds up. Robotics help solve that,” Jonathan argues.

Turning around tradition
As for the domestic market: “There’s massive opportunity in the UK. Compared to countries like Sweden, France and Germany, we’re still in the early stages here. British homeowners tend to take pride in traditional lawncare – stripes, precision cuts – but that’s slowly changing as they see the convenience and quality robotics offer.”
While the UK has smaller gardens on average, the growth potential was “undeniable, especially with rising demand for sustainable, time-saving solutions”.

The bottom line
A typical CEORA installation comes in around £25,000, while smaller Automower models cost about £7,000. For many clubs, that’s a practicable investment when weighed against long-term labour, fuel and maintenance costs. “Now with satellite tech and no boundary wires, we can cover up to 70,000 m3 in a day.”

Must-have machinery
Robotic mowers are no longer a novelty but are fast becoming a necessity. As costs rise and expectations grow, courses embracing automation are not only managing more efficiently but also positioning themselves at the forefront of modern groundskeeping.
The future of course maintenance is smart, silent and increasingly autonomous. And as Husqvarna’s innovations show, it’s already here.

A day to remember at The Berkshire
To showcase their commitment to innovation and the wider golf community, Husqvarna recently hosted a special golf day at The Berkshire, near Ascot – one of the most exclusive clubs in the South East.
Held to support golfing great Sir Nick Faldo’s Foundation, the event celebrated youth development in golf and featured a charity competition packed with star power.
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman, football pundit and ex-player Jermaine Jenas and a host of other sporting celebrities including Danny Mills, Andrew Cole, Paul Merson and Lee Dixon teed off for a friendly round on the championship course. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of industry guests, dealers and youth players, offering a vibrant mix of sport and networking.
Sir Nick, now a course architect and media pundit, was present and led a live clinic, sharing insights into his game and offering tips on technique and focus. “It was brilliant to be part of the day,” he said. “Helping young players grow their love for the game is what this Foundation is all about.”
The day not only highlighted Husqvarna’s cutting-edge technology but also reinforced its ties with the sporting community and its support for the next generation of talent.