Hello Caddy, which supports golfers’ convenient
self-play like professional caddies
Robot carts developed with domestic technology are revitalizing golf courses where self-play is being activated.
TNG Co., Ltd. (CEO Lee Bae-hee), a golf course IT venture, has developed and supplied a robot cart called
“HelloCaddy” that automatically carries golf bags and provides round information. The product automatically
follows golfers, carries golf bags, and provides key information necessary for the round, such as course information
and safety distance between teams.
As golf is rapidly transforming from business to leisure and sports due to the growth of the golf population
and market reform centered on popular golf courses, more and more golf courses are not mandatory for caddies
due to cost burdens and employment problems. Golf courses trying to break away from the caddie system
are making various attempts, including single-person electric full-karts, driverless golf cars, one or two-seater
boarding carts, and marshal caddies, and more than 100 golf courses have already implemented
the no-caddie or caddie option system.
TTNG has developed HelloCaddy by incorporating the latest IT technology into electric
full-karts to maximize the enjoyment of golf and minimize the inconvenience of playing without caddies.
While the existing electric full-kart was a way for a golfer to walk while holding a handle, HelloCaddy follows
the golfer by himself according to the name of the robot cart and frees the golfer’s hand. On top of that,
it is said that it has created the golf experience closest to playing with a caddie by providing information
on the course or necessary for the round provided by the existing caddie.
HelloCaddy is equipped with various technologies such as tracking driving technology based on positioning,
LiDAR sensors, motion direction control technology, and support for caddy services using GPS to implement stable
automatic driving. The lidar sensor mounted on the cart moves while maintaining a certain distance from the golfer,
and if an obstacle is found, it secures the safety of the golfer and the cart with an emergency stop function.
Motion assist driving allows a slope to appear only by changing the direction of the cart handle without
much force when driving is difficult, such as a steep slope of about 15 degrees or more.
The display terminal mounted on the cart supports services such as course information,
safe distance between teams, and score registration to relieve the inconvenience of caddy absence.
HelloCaddy can provide more diverse services by linking with the golf course operation platform “POPGOLF”
developed by TTNG. Through the game control system, convenient service functions for golfers and golf courses
such as exchanging cart location information and communication messages, game records, ordering food and
beverages, unmanned settlement, and sending emergency response messages (in case of a golfer safety accident)
will be expanded. The cart body looks like a conventional full cart or has a structure with the top of the golf bag
facing the front, making it easy for golfers to take out the club. It is equipped with a dual BLDC 350W motor,
has a maximum speed of 9km/h, a capacity of 15 degrees, and is equipped with a 36V 10Ah lithium-ion battery,
which can run up to 25km. It can be loaded up to 50kg and can be equipped with cup holders, baskets,
putter holders, divot containers and holders as accessories.
The introduction of HelloCaddy can provide benefits not only to the operation of no-caddy but also to golf
courses and golfers. Golf courses can solve the problem of caddie supply and demand, and at the same time,
improve the workload of existing caddies. In addition, it is possible to try various types of game management, away
from the existing four-person round such as a 2/3/5 self-round, thereby securing potential customers and improving
profitability.
Golfers can drastically reduce round costs such as caddie and cart fees, and enjoy new golf through self-play.
The “working golf” experience, in which people walk directly on the course instead of the existing boarding golf car,
is also a big change, allowing them to take emotional stability as well as exercise effects. TTNG believes that if the
spread of Hello Caddie expands, golf will become a reasonable living sport and reduce social awareness that has
been negative about golf.
HelloCaddy is currently being introduced at Kolon Golf Garden in Gyeongju, Gochang, Lotte Skyhill Jeju, Blue Heron,
Sagewood, Cheonan Sangnok, Army Sangmu University Physical Training Center, and Yeosu Maritime Police Education
Center Physical Training Center. TTNG has six patents related to HelloCady, and U.S. patent registration, application,
and PCT application are also in progress. In addition, the quality is recognized by completing the Public Procurement
Service’s competitive bidding procurement registration certification, excellent R&D innovative product certification
(Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Support), and FCC and KC certification. In order to advance the cart and
system in the future, it is also planning to develop real-time cart road autonomous driving
and course obstacle detection technology through camera image data analysis.
Lee Bae-hee, CEO of TTNG, said, “HelloCaddy will be the smartest choice for realizing no-caddy
self-play and a groundbreaking solution with infinite scalability to improve the constitution of golf course operation
and even build an integrated golf course operation system.”
