Golf Greenkeeping Apprenticeship Level 2
NEW MILLS GOLF CLUB
HIGH PEAK (SK22 4QE)
Closes tomorrow (Saturday 7 February 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 January 2026
Contents
Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team as an Apprentice Greenkeeper. The role will be varied and rewarding, you must be able to work in all weather conditions, be physically fit with the ability to follow oral and written instructions, as well as being able to start work early in the mornings, and sometimes work at weekends.
- Wage
-
£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Pay will be dependent on experience and age.
- Training course
- Golf greenkeeper (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday
6.00am- 2.00pm
Friday
6.00am- 12.00pm
Earlier starts and finish in the Summer.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 February 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
Vacancy description:
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
Where you'll work
SHAW MARSH
NEW MILLS
HIGH PEAK
SK22 4QE
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
- Golf Greenkeeping Apprenticeship Standard
- Off-the-job training, will be with your Oldham College Tutor/Assessor in the workplace
Requirements
Desirable 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
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Punctual
- 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
New Mills Golf Club is one of the friendliest and most welcoming clubs around. Situated above the town of New Mills in the beautiful Peak District it has stunning views towards Kinder Scout and over the Cheshire Plain.
After this apprenticeship
- Level 3 Greenkeeping Apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009583.
Apply now
Closes tomorrow (Saturday 7 February 2026 at 11:59pm)