Apprentice Golf Greenkeeper
ROWLANDS CASTLE GOLF CLUB
HANTS (PO9 6AE)
Closes in 4 days (Monday 28 April 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 April 2025
Contents
Summary
We are recruiting a new Greenkeeper - NO previous experience required! Whether you're looking for a career change or an apprenticeship - we want to hear from you!
- Wage
-
£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
- Hours
-
Average working week of 40 hours The successful candidate will be required to work weekdays and weekends on a shared rota basis. TBC.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 12 May 2025
- Duration
-
2 years 3 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
This is a fantastic opportunity to kickstart your career in the greenkeeping industry, learning from experienced professionals and gaining valuable hands-on experience in all aspects of course maintenance.
Below lists a wide range of tasks due to the flexibility required for the post:
- Mowing all golf course areas
- Undertake bunker maintenance weeding, mowing and raking
- General course set up, setting out tee markers, hole changing etc.
- Renovations to play areas including verti-draining, brushing, coring, scarifying and top dressing
- Repairing divits
- Identifying common pests, diseases and weeds in turf areas
- Competently operating all turf equipment, including pre-checks
- Checking height of cut & quality of cut on mowing units
- Involvement in course construction on tee, bunkers and greens
- Irrigation repairs, hosing and checking moisture readings
We're looking for someone with a strong work ethic and attention to detail, a positive attitude, good communication skills, and a passion for the outdoors, as well as the ability to work in all weather conditions.
Where you’ll work
LINKS LANE
ROWLANDS CASTLE
HANTS
PO9 6AE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Your training course
Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
- Identify and maintain natural habitats and areas of biodiversity.
- Apply irrigation to achieve appropriate soil conditions and golf course playability.
- Handle, store and dispose of golf course waste materials in accordance with environmental or waste management policies.
- Monitor and maintain standards of health, safety and security for oneself, colleagues, golfers and visitors on the golf course and surrounding areas, in line with legislation and company policy and procedures.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with greenkeeping staff, colleagues and others within the golf club environment.
- Keep up to date with advances in working practices and technologies to maintain and develop personal performance.
- Communicate golf course related information to stakeholders, including greenkeeping staff, colleagues and golfers.
- Mark and maintain golf areas in line with the Rules of Golf (including drop zones, hazard/ penalty areas, out of bounds and tee markers).
- Measure, record and communicate green speeds applying the United States Golf Association (USGA) Stimpmeter instructions.
- Position and change golf holes to the required finish and in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
- Set up mowers and mow areas of the golf course in accordance with golf course standards.
- Maintain and present bunkers for play.
- Switch and brush golf course turf.
- Set up equipment and aerate and scarify areas of the golf course.
- Repair damaged golf turf in play (for example, by turfing, plugging or patching).
- Use a range of integrated methods to control weeds, moss, fungal diseases, pests and turf disorder
- Apply top dressing in accordance with golf course requirements.
- Apply fertiliser to playing surfaces.
- Prepare, set up, operate and store tools, equipment and machinery in line with manufacturers' instructions and to the required specifications, to ensure their safe and effective use on golf turf surfaces and surrounding areas.
- Carry out routine maintenance to tools, equipment and machinery used for greenkeeping practices, in line with manufacturers' instructions and company policies and procedures.
- Prepare and operate a tractor with attachments in line with manufacturers instructions, legislation and company policies and procedures (including risk assessment, hitching, and safe stop).
- Maintain and renovate non-turf areas such as pathways, penalty areas.
- Monitor and record soil and plant health data.
- Prepare ground and establish turf and seed.
- Identification of grass type through seed inspection and physical inspection of the plant using either common or botanical names.
- Identify and maintain natural habitats and areas of biodiversity.
- Apply irrigation to achieve appropriate soil conditions and golf course playability.
- Handle, store and dispose of golf course waste materials in accordance with environmental or waste management policies.
- Monitor and maintain standards of health, safety and security for oneself, colleagues, golfers and visitors on the golf course and surrounding areas, in line with legislation and company policy and procedures.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with greenkeeping staff, colleagues and others within the golf club environment.
- Keep up to date with advances in working practices and technologies to maintain and develop personal performance.
- Communicate golf course related information to stakeholders, including greenkeeping staff, colleagues and golfers.
- Mark and maintain golf areas in line with the Rules of Golf (including drop zones, hazard/ penalty areas, out of bounds and tee markers).
- Measure, record and communicate green speeds applying the United States Golf Association (USGA) Stimpmeter instructions.
- Position and change golf holes to the required finish and in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
- Set up mowers and mow areas of the golf course in accordance with golf course standards.
- Maintain and present bunkers for play.
- Switch and brush golf course turf.
- Set up equipment and aerate and scarify areas of the golf course.
- Repair damaged golf turf in play (for example, by turfing, plugging or patching).
- Use a range of integrated methods to control weeds, moss, fungal diseases, pests and turf disorder
- Apply top dressing in accordance with golf course requirements.
- Apply fertiliser to playing surfaces.
- Prepare, set up, operate and store tools, equipment and machinery in line with manufacturers' instructions and to the required specifications, to ensure their safe and effective use on golf turf surfaces and surrounding areas.
- Carry out routine maintenance to tools, equipment and machinery used for greenkeeping practices, in line with manufacturers' instructions and company policies and procedures.
- Prepare and operate a tractor with attachments in line with manufacturers instructions, legislation and company policies and procedures (including risk assessment, hitching, and safe stop).
- Maintain and renovate non-turf areas such as pathways, penalty areas.
- Monitor and record soil and plant health data.
- Prepare ground and establish turf and seed.
- Identification of grass type through seed inspection and physical inspection of the plant using either common or botanical names.
Your training plan
- You will be required to attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis during term time
More training information
Once you have completed your End Point Assessment you will have achieved a Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard and a Level 2 Diploma in Golf greenkeeping.
The EPA consists of three distinct elements:
- Online knowledge test
- Professional discussion on the Golf Course
- Practical assessments
- You will also have achieved you Pa1 Handling and Application of Pesticides Training
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4(C) or above)
- Maths (grade 4 (C) or above)
Other in:
- License (grade Full)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- an interest in Golf
- Can do attitude
- Reliable
- Good timekeeping
- Able to get up early
Other requirements
This is a physically demanding role where you will be required to work outside in all weathers. Early starts. You will be required to have a full driving license for insurance purposes.
About this company
Founded in 1902, Rowlands Castle Golf Club shares its heritage with several esteemed courses such as Sunningdale and Wentworth, all designed by the international course designer Harry Colt. A gem of a course situated on the fringe of South Downs National Park, Rowlands Castle Golf Club is an example of a quality and desirable parkland course, extending to 6642 yards from the white tees. The course provides a wonderful, exciting challenge for all levels of golfer. There are a fair proportion of great par 5 holes, several challenging par 4 holes, with some risk and reward shorter holes. This results in a combination of ingredients which make for a memorable and enjoyable golfing experience.
After this apprenticeship
- A permanent position may be offered upon successful completion of apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Karen Jackson
karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk
01962 797452
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314774.
Apply now
Closes in 4 days (Monday 28 April 2025 at 11:59pm)
When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.