--- title: "Snohomish Valley: Two Range Pickers, One Busy Range | OnPar Automation" description: After a year with one Range Picker, Snohomish Valley Golf Center added a second robot and a ball-handling system. Here’s how it works day to day. image: https://www.onparautomation.com/hubfs/Two%20Robots%20Vet%20and%20Rookie%201200x627.jpg --- [![OnPar Automation Primary Logo](https://www.onparautomation.com/hubfs/Marketing/OPA%20Logos/OPA-Primary-RGB-Logo.svg "OnPar Automation Primary Logo")](https://www.onparautomation.com?hsLang=en) - Range Picker - [Overview](https://www.onparautomation.com/rangepicker) - [Drop-Off Solutions](https://www.onparautomation.com/range-picker-drop-off-solutions) - [Cost Calculator](https://www.onparautomation.com/cost-comparison-calculator) - [Locations](https://www.onparautomation.com/range-picker-locations) - [Case Study](https://www.onparautomation.com/case-studies/snohomish-valley-golf-center) - [Quiet Operation](https://www.onparautomation.com/quiet-robotic-golf-ball-range-picker) - [FAQ](https://www.onparautomation.com/faq) - Inrange® Golf - [Inrange Technology](https://www.onparautomation.com/inrange-golf) - [FAQ](https://www.onparautomation.com/inrange-faq) - Support - [Support Services](https://www.onparautomation.com/support-services) - [Customer Portal](https://www.onparautomation.com/support) - About Us - [Our Team](https://www.onparautomation.com/about-us) - [Blog](https://www.onparautomation.com/blog) - [Job Posts](https://www.onparautomation.com/career) - [Contact Us](https://www.onparautomation.com/contact) - [Resources](https://www.onparautomation.com/driving-range-automation) [Get In Touch](https://www.onparautomation.com/contact?hsLang=en) # Snohomish Valley Golf Center: Two Range Pickers, One Busy Range Snohomish Valley Golf Center is a family-owned driving range in Snohomish, Washington. After nearly a year with one [Relox Robotics Range Picker](https://www.onparautomation.com/rangepicker?hsLang=en), the family added a second robot and a [Range Servant ball-handling system](https://www.onparautomation.com/range-picker-drop-off-solutions?hsLang=en), both installed by OnPar Automation. They’re now the first range in the U.S. running two Range Pickers on one range. #### Driving Range **78 Hitting Stations** 28 covered · 20 outdoor · 30 seasonal grass #### Ball Collection **2 Autonomous Range Pickers** Relox Robotics  #### Ball Handling **Range Servant System** Ditch, Washer & 50,000-Ball Hopper #### Established **2001 · Family-Owned** Snohomish, Washington ![Snohomish Valley Golf Center entrance sign](https://www.onparautomation.com/hubfs/Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Center%20Sign%201200x627.jpg "Snohomish Valley Golf Center entrance sign") ## Keeping Up with a Busy Range Since opening in 2001, the family-owned facility has grown into a busy driving range with 78 hitting stations and up to 100,000 balls hit a day in summer. > “Pre-robot was early mornings, four or five o’clock… call it three hours of picking in the morning, and then you’d spend the next three, four hours washing the balls, and then start picking again about one or two o’clock, and pick until we closed at 10.”— Stubby Stocker, Owner The job took two people, and the owners often covered the early mornings themselves. As finding staff for those hours got harder every year, the family started looking at automation. ![Four people standing behind a Range Picker on a concrete pad at Snohomish Valley Golf Center.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hubfs/Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20and%20OnPar%20Brothers.jpg "Four people standing behind a Range Picker on a concrete pad at Snohomish Valley Golf Center.") Tyler Rolling and David Moore of OnPar Automation, with brothers Stubby and TJ Stocker of Snohomish Valley Golf Center. --- ## Starting with One Range Picker In November 2025, OnPar Automation installed Snohomish’s first autonomous Range Picker with an 18,000-ball Bridge drop-off system, the largest setup in the U.S. so far. The family named the robot Tim, after Stubby and TJ’s father, who started the business with them. The robot collects balls within its mapped work areas and deposits them into the Bridge, where staff can retrieve them. This let Snohomish automate collection while keeping its existing ball-handling process. > “The best part about the first robot was that it’s working all night long. We would start the day with 18,000 picked balls, which obviously we had zero before.” > — Stubby Stocker, Owner In summer, staff emptied the Bridge around 9:45 p.m. By 3:30 a.m., it was usually full again. The team quickly became comfortable operating and maintaining the equipment. Their attention to routine maintenance has played an important role in keeping the system running well. ![Range Picker auto-charging next to the original 18,000-ball Bridge drop-off at Snohomish Valley Golf Center.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Robot%201%20Setup%202.jpg?width=1280&height=720&name=Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Robot%201%20Setup%202.jpg) Tim and the original 18,000-ball Bridge, November 2025. --- ## Working Through Wet Conditions Located in the Snohomish River Valley, the facility is no stranger to wet ground and seasonal flooding. In December 2025, just one month after the Range Picker was installed, the area faced severe flooding that affected businesses throughout the valley. Knowing what was coming, Stubby contacted OnPar to ask how best to protect the new robot. OnPar's team advised disconnecting the equipment from power, including the charging station, and moving the robot to higher ground, away from potential floodwaters. The Snohomish team took those precautions before the flooding arrived. Tim came through the flood and is still running today, day and night. Wet ground remains an ongoing consideration for the facility, making regular maintenance, monitoring, and attention to changing conditions an important part of operating the system. ![Floodwater covering the driving range and hitting bays at sunset.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Flooding%201.jpg?width=1280&height=720&name=Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Flooding%201.jpg) ![Floodwater inside the bar area, rising to counter height.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Flooding%202.jpg?width=1280&height=720&name=Snohomish%20Valley%20Golf%20Flooding%202.jpg) Flooding at Snohomish Valley Golf Center, December 2025. Water reached 3 feet in the bar area. Photo: Stubby Stocker. --- ## Adding a Second Robot and Ball Handling After nearly a year with Tim, Snohomish Valley Golf Center decided to expand its system in October 2026. > “Because of the volume we do, one robot just couldn’t keep up… After watching the performance of the first one, we thought adding a second one would probably fill that gap to where we wouldn’t have to do any picking whatsoever.” > — Stubby Stocker, Owner OnPar Automation installed a second Range Picker, along with a complete Range Servant ball-handling system that replaced the original Bridge. The family named the new robot Tracy, after Stubby and TJ’s mother. ![Two Range Pickers parked side by side on concrete pads at the edge of the driving range.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Snohomish%202nd%20Install%20Two%20Range%20Pickers%201200x628.jpg?width=1200&height=627&name=Snohomish%202nd%20Install%20Two%20Range%20Pickers%201200x628.jpg) Tim and Tracy auto-charging at Snohomish Valley Golf Center. Now, both robots deposit collected balls into the Range Servant Ditch. From there, the balls are washed and carried by an elevator into a new 50,000-ball storage hopper. The hopper is housed in a new building constructed near the original Bridge location. Staff continue transporting balls to the pro shop, where they’re scooped into baskets for customers. The family’s goal is to start each summer day with about 35,000 washed balls ready to go, and no hand picking, even at 100,000 balls a day. The expansion automates collection, washing, and storage while allowing Snohomish to keep its existing process for getting balls to golfers. ![Installer kneeling in a metal ball trough next to a lift that carries balls into the hopper building.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/David%20Working%20on%20the%20Range%20Servant%20Ditch%201200x627.jpg?width=1200&height=627&name=David%20Working%20on%20the%20Range%20Servant%20Ditch%201200x627.jpg) ![David on a ladder fastening the top of a large metal Range Servant ball hopper inside the new building.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/David%20Working%20on%20the%20Range%20Servant%20Hopper%201200x627.jpg?width=1200&height=627&name=David%20Working%20on%20the%20Range%20Servant%20Hopper%201200x627.jpg) Installing the Range Servant Ditch and the 50,000-ball hopper, October 2026. --- ## Built Around the Way They Work For Snohomish Valley Golf Center, automation has been a gradual process. The family started with one Range Picker, learned how it fit into their daily routine, and decided to expand after nearly a year of operating experience. Throughout that process, OnPar has worked with the team on installation, system adjustments, and ongoing support. > “It’s definitely a win, particularly going with this specific Relox picker. Looking at some of the other ones that could potentially hold more balls, or maybe pick a little bit faster… they didn’t drop the balls themselves… We’d still have to have somebody out there to unload the baskets, which kind of eliminates the point of having an automatic picker… This specific robot worked out perfect for us.” > — Stubby Stocker, Owner ![Golfer hitting from a covered bay while a Range Picker collects balls on the range behind him.](https://www.onparautomation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Relox%20Range%20Picker%20in%20Background%20Snohomish%201200x627.jpg?width=1200&height=627&name=Relox%20Range%20Picker%20in%20Background%20Snohomish%201200x627.jpg) A Range Picker at work while golfers hit at Snohomish Valley Golf Center. --- ### [Visit Snohomish Valley Golf Center →](https://www.snohomishvalleygolfcenter.com) --- ## Considering Automation for Your Range? Every facility operates differently. Our team can help you explore options for ball collection, mowing, and ball handling based on your range's needs. 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