Husqvarna has strengthened its commitment to Irish golf through a new partnership with Golf Ireland and the launch of a pioneering Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme that combines investment in technology with the skills needed to support the sport’s evolving needs.
The multi-year partnership will see Husqvarna become Official Turf Technology Partner of Golf Ireland, with category exclusivity across autonomous mowing, robotic ball collection and professional turf technology.
Alongside this, the Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme will develop the next generation of technicians, equipping them with expertise in robotics, battery technology, GPS-guided systems, connectivity and digital diagnostics.
Richard Wynne, National Sales and Business Development Manager for Husqvarna Ireland, said: “Our commitment to Irish golf is about much more than supplying equipment. It is about understanding where the industry is heading and investing in the technology and people that will help it get there.
“Golf courses are facing a changing set of demands, from efficiency and sustainability to labour availability and the adoption of new technology. We want to work alongside Golf Ireland, greenkeepers, clubs and our dealer network to help address those challenges and ensure Ireland is well placed to embrace the opportunities technology can bring,” he said.
As Official Turf Technology Partner, Husqvarna will work with Golf Ireland to demonstrate how autonomous and battery-powered technology can support the changing needs of golf facilities.
As part of the agreement, Husqvarna will supply a RELOX Ball Picker, CEORA and Automower for use at the Golf Ireland Academy, allowing the technology to be demonstrated in a live golf environment and experienced by customers visiting the facility.
The partnership will also include activity across Golf Ireland’s digital and social channels, alongside collaborative multimedia content designed to share knowledge and highlight the role of technology in modern turf management. “We are delighted to partner with Husqvarna Ireland and together help shape the future of Irish golf,” said Mark Kennelly, Chief Executive Officer at Golf Ireland.
“As clubs look to manage resources more efficiently while maintaining the quality and consistency players expect, this partnership will provide valuable access to Husqvarna’s expertise and technology. We hope it will deliver practical benefits for greenkeepers and course managers across the country,” he added.
The relationship with Golf Ireland will also see Husqvarna support initiatives recognising the contribution of greenkeepers, including activity around Thank a Greenkeeper Day. As autonomous robotic technology becomes increasingly prominent within turf management, the partnership is positioned as a tool to support greenkeeping teams rather than replace the expertise they bring to the golf course.
Technology is transforming the way outdoor spaces and sports facilities are managed, but Husqvarna believes successful adoption also depends on having the right technical skills in place. Its new Robotics and Battery Apprenticeship Programme addresses that need through a structured three-year development pathway for technicians within the Irish dealer network. Ireland has been selected to host the first pilot of its kind across the Husqvarna global network, with the potential to become a blueprint for other international markets.
The blended programme combines 60% dealer-based workplace learning, 25% digital learning through Husqvarna University and 15% instructor-led technical and academy training. Apprentices will develop expertise across mechanical and electrical systems, battery technology, robotic mower installation and servicing, GPS and EPOS technology, connected products, software, fault tracing and customer support.
The inaugural cohort includes nine apprentices from eight businesses across Ireland, creating a new generation of technical talent for the dealer network. With many participating dealerships based in regional and rural communities, the programme is also creating opportunities for skilled employment and career development beyond Ireland’s major urban centres.
“The future of golf technology depends on more than the technology itself. We need skilled people who understand how to install it, maintain it, diagnose it and get the very best from it,” added Wynne. “That is why this apprenticeship programme is such an important part of our wider commitment. By investing in the next generation of technicians, introducing new technology and working with Golf Ireland, we are looking at the future from both sides – investing in innovation, investing in people and working with the industry to build a stronger, more sustainable future for Irish golf.”
By becoming the first market in the Husqvarna global network to pilot the apprenticeship programme, while also developing a dedicated relationship with Golf Ireland around turf technology, Ireland is becoming an important market for demonstrating how innovation, skills and collaboration can work together.
That commitment was reflected at Husqvarna’s recent Turf & Tech Conference at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, which brought together course superintendents and managers, members of the press, representatives from the ATPI Group and Golf Ireland, plus the global Husqvarna leadership team and Husqvarna Ireland staff.
The event was held during the 2026 Amgen Irish Open and focused on how autonomous technology can support better playing surfaces, more sustainable practices and a more highly skilled greenkeeping workforce.