Challenge
The golf course superintendent at Willow Country Club faced a familiar challenge: maintaining high-quality turf conditions while navigating rising labor costs and limited staffing availability. As member expectations continued to climb, the pressure to find innovative solutions that could deliver consistent results with fewer resources became critical. Traditional mowing required significant crew hours each week, and finding skilled labor for repetitive, time-consuming tasks was becoming increasingly difficult. The superintendent began looking for smarter, tech-forward ways to streamline operations without compromising course conditions.
The Central Difference Solution
Through an ongoing partnership with Central, the superintendent was introduced to a new line of robotic mowers from Husqvarna, which are tailored for golf course applications. Central’s team provided an on-site demonstration and worked closely with the Willow staff to assess the course layout, identify ideal deployment zones, and develop a hybrid mowing strategy that integrated robotic units with traditional maintenance practices. Central also facilitated training sessions to get the maintenance crew comfortable with the software, controls, and daily operations of the new equipment.
Results
The implementation of robotic mowers led to a measurable increase in efficiency across the course. Key areas—such as tee surrounds, out-of-play rough, and perimeter zones—were now maintained autonomously, freeing up labor for more technical tasks like bunker detailing, irrigation adjustments, and turf health monitoring. The course reduced its weekly mowing hours by 25%, resulting in significant labor savings during peak season. Additionally, the superintendent and crew gained valuable experience integrating smart technology into daily operations, positioning the club as a forward-thinking facility committed to innovation and sustainability. With Central’s support, Willow not only improved day-to-day efficiency, but also took a meaningful step toward the future of golf course management.
