Golf Greenkeeping Apprenticeship

A golf greenkeeper is responsible for the maintenance, care and overall appearance of a golf course in line with employers requirements. It is their job along with colleagues to maintain a good quality playing surface and ensure the course offers a consistent challenge and an enjoyable experience for golfers. There are four key turfgrass areas on a golf course greens, tees, fairways and rough. Each of which requires a different type of maintenance. Using a range of equipment and machinery safely and competently will play a major part within an apprentices training programme. Golf Greenkeepers will also be involved in hazard, environmental and ecological operations which may include bunker maintenance, planting turf, trees, shrubs and developing wildlife habitats. The skills required to become a competent greenkeeper will be acquired whilst working as an apprentice on the golf course. By the end of the programme, you will know when, how and why the range of maintenance operations are carried out. A Golf Greenkeeper will be able to:

• Maintain good standards of health and safety for self and others
• Prepare the golf course for play which will include removing early morning dew and debris from the greens, raking bunkers, moving tee markers, cutting new holes on greens
• Prepare and use equipment and machinery to maintain and renovate all turf surfaces within the golf course, including the use of tractors, ride-on machines and specialist equipment
• Apply turf treatments to help produce quality playing surfaces, including fertilisers and top dressing
• Use a variety of integrated methods to control weeds, fungal diseases, pests and turf disorders
• Maintain and renovate bunkers and other hazards such as water features
• Maintain drainage and irrigation systems
• Prepare ground to establish turf and plants when maintaining, renovating and constructing golf course features
An Apprentice Golf Greenkeeper will develop and learn to understand the following technical knowledge:
• Identify their role in monitoring and maintaining health and safety within the workplace
• Identify a number of grasses, weeds, pests, diseases, turf disorders, plants and trees
• The primary aspects of soil and plant biology to include the process of germination: photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration
• The principles of mowing and machine maintenance and their operation
• The need and implications of rolling, verti-cutting, scarification and aeration
• The strategies for controlling weeds, pests, diseases and turf disorders
• How fertilisers, top dressing and chemicals affect playing surfaces
• How course maintenance practices affect the environment
• Be aware of the importance of the Rules of Golf and golf course etiquette
• Recognise the importance of environmental and ecological best practice
• The operation of irrigation, drainage systems and their maintenance