Autonomous and reel mowers in golf course fairway maintenance: A case study in Italy

The golf industry is undergoing a technological transformation with the integration of autonomous solutions for turf maintenance. The implementation of autonomous mowers (AMs) offers the potential for maintaining low cutting heights at high frequencies, thereby reducing soil compaction and labor requirements. In this case study conducted at Montecchia Golf Course in Italy, a comparative analysis was performed between AMs set to work with a daily mowing frequency and reel mowers set to work two times per week at 16 mm mowing height focusing on turf quality, color, normalized difference vegetation index, root growth, and soil moisture, temperature, and surface hardness. Economic and environmental evaluations, including cost analysis and local CO2 emissions, were also taken into account to assess the two mowing managements. Results indicate that although the reel mower exhibited superior turf quality in May, July, August, and September and turf color during all the study period (May, June, July, August, and September), AMs maintained acceptable standards while providing significant cost and environmental advantages, notably reduced CO2 emissions. This research supports informed decision-making for turf managers contemplating the adoption of autonomous mowing technology.