Apprentice Greenkeeper
COWSLIP VALLEY FARMS LTD
Ipswich (IP6 9JA)
Closes on Monday 31 August 2026
Posted on 9 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Opportunity to join our developing team of skilled golf course greenkeepers. You will assist the team in producing and developing our ever-improving site and will be involved in all aspects of golf course maintenance. We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking individual interested in pursuing physical outdoor work.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday-Friday
Summer 6am-3pm
Winter 7am-3pm
(Including 1/2 hr paid lunch).
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 14 September 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
As an apprentice greenkeeper, you will be taught all aspects of golf course maintenance. You will use hand-held tools and powered tools and progress to ride-on machinery. We firmly believe that all of our staff should be capable of doing every task required on the course. You will not be stuck on one job; you will be given training and an opportunity on all aspects of the job. Your role will be extensively golf course based, but you may be asked to do some maintenance tasks around the clubhouse and our other facilities, all falling within the greenkeeping teams' remit.
- Daily golf course preparation including dew removal, moving tee markers, raking bunkers, changing holes, hand watering
- Strategies of fertilisation, weed control, disease and pest identification and control
- Cutting greens, tees, fairways and rough using ride on machinery
- Machinery maintenance including daily pre-start checks, basic maintenance and an understanding of why these are so important
- Learn the rules and etiquette associated with the game
- Understand health and safety procedures needed by the greenkeepers and site users, and implement these daily
Where you'll work
Fynn Valley Golf Club
Witnesham
Ipswich
IP6 9JA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SUFFOLK NEW 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
- Golf Greenkeeper Standard
- English and maths (if required) Level 2
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English or Equivalent (grade A-C or 9-4)
- Maths or Equivalent (grade A-C or 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
- Presentation skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Open to learning
- Enjoy being outdoors
- Excellent timekeeping
- Time management
- Reliable
About this employer
Golf Club with an 18-hole golf course, 9-hole par 3 course, driving range, hospitality venue, holiday lodges, caravan site
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
A position within the greenkeeping team upon completion of the apprenticeship, with scope to gain further education and qualifications within the industry.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE
Catherine Townsend
apprenticeshipapplication@suffolk.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041582.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 31 August 2026