As the Solheim Cup is being played at Bernardus Golf here in Brabant, we are sharing the story behind a project we are proud of. Avular is SGL's partner for the autonomy of the SGL GreenGuard, the autonomous robot that keeps golf greens healthy using UVC light instead of pesticides. With the GreenGuard now entering commercial rollout, the technology is moving from pilot to the field.

The GreenGuard does its work at night, while the course is empty. It follows a route to move from green to green, stops for anything in its path, and treats each green with a precisely calibrated dose of UVC light before returning to its charging station on its own. The UVC light prevents turf disease by disrupting the DNA of fungi so they can no longer reproduce, at a dose that is safe for the grass itself. The result is consistent, pesticide-free disease prevention that runs without an operator on the machine and without taking greens out of play during the day.

The GreenGuard is part of SGL's work on sustainable, data-driven solutions for golf course management. Turning that vision into a robot that operates on its own calls for close collaboration across the chain, combining SGL's deep knowledge of turf health with specialist expertise in autonomy.

From first pilot to first commercial rollout

The first GreenGuard pilot took place at Bernardus Golf, the course that also sets the stage for the Solheim Cup. It is a fitting setting for a technology built to keep greens in top condition, and one where the collaboration between SGL and Avular came together in practice. With the commercial rollout now underway, the GreenGuard is finding its way to more courses, and the collaboration continues as it does.

Avular: the autonomy behind it

As SGL's partner for autonomy, Avular develops the navigation and control that let the GreenGuard do its work on its own: finding its way across the course, staying within the boundaries of each green, responding to its surroundings, and carrying out its treatment without anyone at the controls.

It is a clear example of what Avular's modular robotic platforms are made for: helping partners turn a real operational need into a dependable autonomous system that is ready to work, and to scale, in the real world.