While the greenkeeper carries on working, the SmartTrike takes care of the bunkers

ARTICLE

Wijnand Meijboom, Wednesday 17 June 2026

152 sec

For the past few weeks, TurfTronic's SmartTrike has been operating at Prise d'Eau Golf Club, travelling across the course and through the bunkers to keep the sand neatly raked. The robot can be seen as the smaller sibling of the SmartMow. Head greenkeeper Jeroen Vingerhoets and greenkeeper Harm Kuijsten of De Enk discuss the SmartTrike in this edition of People and Machines.

Harm Kuijsten and Jeroen Vingerhoets with the SmartTrike

Kuijsten is the person who programmed the SmartTrike at Prise d'Eau, teaching the robot exactly where to drive and which routes to follow. This was quite a task, as the robot now rakes 45 renovated bunkers. Thanks to its 'teach-and-play' functionality, the SmartTrike records routes driven via the controller and can later repeat them with precision. 'I drove the route bunker by bunker. I paid attention to things such as whether the robot could easily enter and leave the bunker and whether it stayed clear of the bunker edges.' Digital hubs were then created in the software outside the bunkers and connected to one another, forming a network of fixed routes. 'We can also run these routes clockwise or counter-clockwise. That's useful if, for example, a tournament is taking place on part of the course,' explains Vingerhoets. 'Other robots can also make use of these hubs, so we are building a network of robots.'

'It is genuinely an improvement in quality.'

The robot is equipped with sensors and a bumper at the front. Before starting, it always requires an additional confirmation to ensure safety. If, for example, a rake holder or bunker rake is left in its path, the robot stops automatically. Greenkeepers receive a notification via the app and can then investigate the situation. Through the same app, they can monitor, stop and restart the robot at any time. Beneath a cover on the machine itself is a digital display showing, among other things, the planned routes. Three powered wheels allow the robot to move effortlessly across the terrain. 'We filled the wheels with water to improve grip. At the same time, we removed some weights from the rake so it would carry less sand. It's a learning process, but ultimately it is a very useful tool that allows us, as greenkeepers, to focus on other tasks while the robot takes care of the bunkers,' say Vingerhoets and Kuijsten. 'It is genuinely an improvement in quality.'

The SmartTrike can be regarded as the smaller sibling of the SmartMow.

A charming little machine

The new bunker-raking assistant has not only been well received by Vingerhoets, Kuijsten and their colleagues, but also by golfers. Two female golfers arriving with their trolleys during the photo session admire the neatly raked bunker. 'How beautiful,' one of them remarks. Kuijsten enjoys the compliment. 'Players often say, "What a cute little machine",' Vingerhoets adds.

The golf course is divided into two sections by a public road. The SmartTrike works on one side until the morning break and then moves to the other side, ensuring that all bunkers are completed by one o'clock before the robot returns to its charging station. And it does this five days a week. 'The battery is often still at sixty percent by then. So when all bunkers are added later on, that should not be a problem,' says Kuijsten. The fact that a robot now rakes the bunkers once a day does not mean golfers no longer have responsibilities. According to golf etiquette, players are still required to rake the bunker after use. To prevent misunderstandings, members are reminded of this through social media. 'This autonomous raking is really an extra service,' says Vingerhoets.

Other applications

Vingerhoets already sees plenty of possibilities for additional applications. For example, the SmartTrike could be used for sweeping by removing the rake and fitting other attachments. Course scanning could also be an option. Arthur Berends, operations manager at De Enk, is present as well and openly speculates about the possibility of changing tyres to provide the SmartTrike with the right level of grip under different weather conditions. 'Compare it with Formula 1; it's completely normal there. Why shouldn't we do the same?' For now, the next step will be the autonomous raking of bunkers scheduled for renovation later this autumn. This latest automation fits perfectly within De Enk's sustainable business philosophy. Fourteen years ago, the company introduced the first autonomous mowers at Prise d'Eau. With the SmartTrike, another step has been taken in the robotisation of the greenkeeping profession. The SmartTrike can also be seen in operation at Het Rijk van Nijmegen and De Haenen Golf Club.

This article was previously published on 15 June 2026 on the Greenkeeper](https://www.greenkeeper.nl/article/54382/terwijl-de-greenkeeper-doorwerkt-doet-de-smarttrike-de-bunkers]Greenkeeper) website.

De Enk Groen & Golf B.V.

COMMENTS

There are no comments yet.

tip the editors