Golf Greenkeeping Level 2 Apprentice
MANCHESTER GOLF CLUB LTD
MANCHESTER (M24 6QP)
Closes in 3 days (Friday 6 March 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 24 February 2026
Contents
Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team as an Apprentice Greenkeeper at The Manchester Golf Club. The role is varied and rewarding. You must be able to work in all weather conditions, be physically fit with the ability to follow instructions, as well as being able to start work early in the mornings, and sometimes work at weekends.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
- Hours
-
April - September 6am - 2pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 6am - 10am Wednesday & Saturday. October - March 7am - 3pm
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 March 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- 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
- 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
- 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
Where you'll work
HOPWOOD COTTAGE
ROCHDALE ROAD
MIDDLETON
MANCHESTER
M24 6QP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
Training course
Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
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.
Training schedule
- Level 2- Golf Greenkeeping Standard
- The skills required to become a competent greenkeeper will be acquired whilst working as an apprentice on the golf course
- Training schedule has yet to be agreed. Details will be made available at a later date
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A*-C/9-4)
- Maths (grade A*-C/9-4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Polite and friendly
- Enthusiastic
- Self-motivated
- Hardworking and thorough
- Punctual and reliable
Other requirements
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.
About this employer
Set in over 240 acres of moorland and heathland, The Manchester Golf Club has welcomed golfers of all categories for 144 years. We have hosted European Tour Qualification tournaments and major amateur events including the Reid Trophy, Northern Counties Championship and English Women’s Open Amateur Championship – In 2026 we are hosting the Ladies European Tour Access Series and the Lancashire Amateur Championship.
After this apprenticeship
Advanced Sports Turf Technician Apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
Andrea Kearns
andrea.kearns@oldham.ac.uk
01617854072
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016558.
Apply now
Closes in 3 days (Friday 6 March 2026 at 11:59pm)