Golf Greenkeeper Apprenticeship
Course Details
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Department
Horticulture -
Qualification
Level 2 -
Length
1 Year -
Location(s)
York
Course at a glance
An apprenticeship is a job with training. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to embed and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career.
Entry Requirements
GCSEs
As a minimum requirement, all new Apprentices are expected to have already have attained L1 Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 2 (or old GCSE Grade E) or above
Cost for students aged Under 19
Free
for students over the age of 19 please contact us
Course summary
The greenkeeping profession is highly skilled and training takes many years. The opportunities available are life-changing and greenkeepers can find themselves travelling the world, helping out at golf’s most prestigious events and coming face to face with top golfers. This apprenticeship is the ideal starting point for your career in the industry.
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 turf grass areas on a golf course – greens, tees, fairways and areas of rough, each of which requires a different type of maintenance. 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 career as a Golf Greenkeeper can take you wherever the game of golf is played and allows you to work in a healthy outdoor environment . New countries are embracing the sport and more golf courses are being built. There is no better time to consider joining this great profession than now.
Askham Bryan College is proud to be a GTC Approved Training Provider. The Greenkeepers Training Committee (the GTC) is the independent organisation representing British golf club employers and greenkeepers.
Upon completion of this standard, the apprentice will be eligible to join BIGGA as a full member and become a BIGGA Accredited Greenkeeper. They can also progress to the Advanced Golf Greenkeeper apprenticeship, where they have sufficient responsibility within their job role.
Key Information
Through your daily work with your employer and your training sessions with the college, you will learn the core content covering the generic requirements of being a golf greenkeeper:
- Maintaining good standards of health and safety for self and others
- Preparing 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
- Preparing and using 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
- Using 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
- Preparing ground to establish turf and plants when maintaining, renovating and constructing golf course feature
On successful completion of the training period, you will move through End Point Assessment Gateway and be in a position to undertake the assessments required in order to achieve your apprenticeship.
The End Point Assessment will only start once the employer is satisfied that you are consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, the pre-requisite gateway requirements have been met and that they can be evidenced to an End Point Assessment Organisation.
The End Point Assessor will be appointed by the EPAO and will be entirely independent to the college.
For this apprenticeship the End Point Assessment will include:
- Multiple choice exam, usually taken at college
- Practical assessment of tasks in your workplace
- Personal Statement
Your apprenticeship will be graded Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.
The duration of the apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis and the development opportunities within the business.
The maximum duration for this apprenticeship training period is 24 months, with up to a further six months to undertake the End Point Assessment.
This could be reduced where an apprentice holds previous experience.
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria.
As a minimum requirement, all new Apprentices are expected to have already have attained L1 Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 2 (or old GCSE Grade E) or above
All Apprentices will also be required to work towards L2 Maths & English where not previously attained.
Employers pay for apprenticeship training, where fees are applicable. We will discuss this with your employer when we complete a set-up with them.
The fees charged for the apprenticeship include any awarding body registration costs, all on-programme teaching, assessment and support delivered by the college, support materials, access to college facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre, Student Moodle, and access to wider college student support services where required.
Employers must pay apprentices at least the minimum rate set out by current National Minimum Wage Legislation. This includes payment for all off-job learning and any associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Information about the National Minimum Wage can be found at:
Employer involvement
Your employer must enable you to spend a minimum of 20% of your usual work hours undertaking off-job learning. This is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of the apprenticeship. This can include training that is delivered at your normal place of work but must not be delivered as part of your normal working duties, and must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard.
Off-job learning could include the following:
– Teaching of theory such as lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning or manufacturer training
– Practical training such as shadowing experienced staff or mentoring, industry visits and attendance at competitions
– Study support and time spent writing assessments/assignments
Your employer must commit to supporting you in the workplace, participating in progress review meetings, providing use of ICT facilities so you can access your e-portfolio and agreeing/ensuring your readiness for the End Point Assessment. They may be required to provide further supporting evidence/endorsements about your performance, which form part of the End Point Assessment.
Further details of the End Point Assessment will be made available to you during your induction.
College input
We will support you through regular Apprenticeship Progress Review meetings with you and your manager, provide well planned vocational training and theory delivery by block release model and support your theory learning in the workplace with a range of learning materials.
This programme is delivered at our York Campus on block-release.
How to apply
Applications should be made using the college application form or via the college website.
This form can be found at: https://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/application/register. www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/application/register
Upon receipt of your application you will have an interview with the Course Manager
Further information
Further information about the Standard is available at:
Golf greenkeeper / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Further information about the industry is available at:
- The Greenkeepers Training Committee|GTC|Home (the-gtc.co.uk)
- The British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association | BIGGA | BIGGA
Or, for more information, contact the Apprenticeship Admin team on:
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York Campus
York is one of the College's two residential campuses and is located just four miles from York city centre. At York we offer a full range of subject areas and levels including Apprenticeships, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Foundation, Top Up and BSc Honours Degrees.
Student Stories
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