Welcome to my semi-regular column in GCM. In discussing with the editorial staff what I would call this column on new technology and changes occurring in the golf management industry, I settled on the rule change to leave the flagstick in to speed up play. The key word here is change.
I use the metaphor of flagstick in or out to distinguish between changes I think are changes that should be made compared to changes that should not be made. Moving in a new direction? Flagstick In. Should we just stay the same? Flagstick Out.
I have been somewhat of an autonomous equipment evangelist over the past five years. As the technology has developed, it has become obvious that automated equipment, especially mowers, will become part of course management. I realize that there has been autonomous technology available for well over a decade. But neither the market nor the equipment was ready for mass deployment.
The year 2023 ushered in the use of GPS-RTK units that allowed for the broad global launch of virtual boundaries and systematic, directional movement. With reliable GPS, long-distance RTK (on ground antennas) mowers that work with millimeter precision have now become commonplace. New technology is layering on cameras and LiDAR to create maps that can function for positioning in space when GPS-RTK fails. Companies like Husqvarna, Kress, Echo Robotics and Nexmow are well established and starting to thrive in the market.
Semi-autonomous systems (traditional mowers that can function autonomously but must be driven to a work location for deployment) became more prevalent in 2025. Firefly Automatix is in full launch with its fairway mower. Companies like Greenzie, Havenshine and TurfTroniq are creating autonomous-manual hybrids. Scythe has launched a stand-on rotary. The Toro Co. and John Deere seem to be close to launching semi-autonomous mowers. It seems 2026 will be filled with semi-autonomous equipment.
Autonomous mowers of all types are going to revolutionize golf course management. When I say revolutionize, I mean they are going to fundamentally change numerous aspects of how courses are managed — not just how the turfgrass is managed, but how personnel are hired, the number hired and training needed. They will also likely change how turfgrass is fertilized, the prevalence of weeds and diseases and how water is managed. That is what I mean by revolutionary.
There seem to be so many factors to evaluate to decide whether you should make a purchase. But really there are only two: Does it produce the mowed surface that you want, and does it make economic sense? All the other “revolutionary” benefits are secondary.
Fully autonomous mowers produce a cut quality that is different than traditional mowers. There are no indications that there is a decrease in ball lie, ball response, club response or player preference, although data in these areas is largely observational, and quantifiable metrics are needed. When it comes to economics, there are four aspects to consider: initial purchase price, operational labor costs, maintenance and energy consumption. For fully autonomous equipment, labor, maintenance and energy costs drop to close to zero until batteries need to be replaced.
For semi-autonomous mowers, the mowing response is exactly what was produced before; after all, they are cutting with the same reels and rotary blades that were used before. The economics seems to be more complicated. Maintenance and energy will vary if it is a combustion engine or battery powered. Operational costs are more complicated because this equipment must be driven to the work location; thus, a person is not eliminated from the work calculation. Instead, a semi-autonomous mower replaces about 60% to 80% of an employee, depending on how much work can be done by that individual while the mower is operating autonomously.
The main takeaway is this: Autonomous technology is here to stay. I teach students about technology in my advanced turfgrass class at Auburn and research how the equipment impact on turfgrass is increasing and that autonomous deployments are growing. This equipment is no longer a gadget; they are legitimate tools that are going to change how courses are managed.
Flagstick In.
For more detailed information, check out this recent scientific publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70081.
Scott McElroy is a professor of turfgrass management and weed science in the Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences at Auburn University, Auburn, Ala. He is a 23-year member of GCSAA.