Golf Greenkeeping Apprentice Level 2

A Golf Greenkeeper is responsible for the maintenance, care and overall appearance of a golf course in line with employer’s requirements. It is their job 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 areas of 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 

Training will take place in the work place and attendance at Oldham College.

Level 3 Sports Turf Technician Apprenticeship.

• You must have a strong work ethic including pride in work, attention to detail, integrity and time management 
• Have a flexible positive attitude to work 
• Ability to work as a lone worker and as a member of a team 
• A willingness to learn and contribute to their own continuing professional development 
• Having a safety mindset for self, colleagues and golfers 
• A clear and effective communicator who can use a variety of communication methods to give/receive information accurately and in a timely and positive manner 
• Problem solving and effective decision making 

The course is situated at the edge of the Pennines between the towns of Rochdale and Oldham, providing sprawling views of the countryside and city landscape.  Golf at CRGC can be enjoyed by everybody regardless of age or ability and we actively encourage all to get involved.