Skip to content News Back Issues Features Subscriptions About Us Contact Us Facebook X LinkedIn Search This robotic golf ball picker frees up range staff and keeps golfers happier September 23, 2026 · Features Alistair Dunsmuir For any driving range, ball collection is one of the most time-consuming and repetitive jobs on the daily maintenance list – and one that pulls staff away from work that adds value for members and visitors. Wayrobo’s WayPick 2 robotic ball picker is designed to take that task off the to-do list entirely. Set-and-forget autonomy WayPick 2 is built for genuine “zero human intervention” operation. Powered by a high-capacity lithium battery, it delivers up to 10 hours of continuous running between charges, covering up to 50,000 square metres of range and collecting as many as 40,000 balls in a single day. Using integrated GNSS RTK and inertial navigation, it accurately tracks its own position and keeps working even through brief signal loss under tree cover. Once its basket is full, it automatically docks at the unloading point to empty itself and carries on – no staff involvement required at any stage. Time and money back for the club That autonomy translates directly into savings. Wayrobo estimates clubs can save up to £30,000 annually in labour costs, with zero overtime pay needed to keep the range clear. Freed from ball-picking duties, staff can focus on higher-value work – course presentation, member service or other tasks that actually benefit from a human touch. The battery-powered system also cuts fuel costs and emissions compared with traditional tractor-based collection. A better experience for golfers Because WayPick 2 can operate at night – using LiDAR, GNSS and headlights to work reliably in the dark – ball collection doesn’t have to interrupt daytime play at all. That means a consistently well-stocked, tidy range for members and visitors, with less downtime for maintenance and lower demand for spare ball inventory. The robot’s anti-projectile structure and advanced obstacle avoidance, combining LiDAR and binocular vision with automatic emergency braking, mean it can work safely even while golfers are present. Smart, flexible operation WayPick 2 “thinks” like a human range manager: its 180° binocular camera scans ball density across the range and prioritises collection routes accordingly, while a voice-controlled AI assistant lets staff issue commands in plain language. Range managers can mark hot zones for priority collection, set temporary no-go areas around tee boxes or bunkers, and choose between efficiency-focused or turf-protection modes depending on what the course needs that day. Multiple units can also run as a coordinated fleet across larger sites without staff needing to manage their routes manually. The result is a system built to quietly take one of the range’s most labour-intensive jobs off staff’s hands – freeing up time, cutting costs, and keeping the range in top shape for the people who use it. For more information, click here. LATEST NEWS Your clubhouse is costing you money – and you don’t even know it September 22, 2026 This robotic golf ball picker frees up range staff and keeps golfers happier September 23, 2026 Rockliffe reopens after multi-million-pound transformation into luxury golf destination September 23, 2026 Procurement launched to secure future of Solent Meads’ golf course September 22, 2026 ADVERTISE WITH US For editorial enquiries in the magazine or online, contact Alistair Dunsmuir: adunsmuir@clearcourse.co.uk For advertising enquiries in the magazine or online, contact Nelli Kovanen: NKovanen@clearcourse.co.uk RECENT COMMENTS 1. Mark Twogood on Two ’30 metre’ driving ranges set to be builtSeptember 18, 2026 Interested in a 10 bay 30 metre golf range for a Norfolk base golf club. 2. John Hayes on Why golf needs more outsiders in the boardroomSeptember 18, 2026 Brilliant and more clubs should do the same. A fresh set of eyes and new ways of thinking is excellent… 3. Tax Accounting on Steven Brown: How to calculate profit and loss in the bar and restaurantSeptember 13, 2026 Good read! The break even calculation for events is especially useful. Knowing how much revenue is needed before an event… 4. Ron Tomlin on Meet the resort director: Richard WoolleySeptember 11, 2026 Well done Richard seems you’re doing a fantastic job, good luck from someone in the distant past . 5. Josh W. on The Alto Club completes its golf offering with new Par-3 courseSeptember 4, 2026 This would be on my short course bucket list! ←Rockliffe reopens after multi-million-pound transformation into luxury golf destination Comments Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked Comment Name Email Website - [x] Notify me of follow-up comments by email. - [x] Notify me of new posts by email. Δ News Back Issues Features Subscriptions About Us Contact Us Facebook X LinkedIn Search
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: thegolfbusiness.co.uk