Level One Certificate / Diploma in Sports Turf Maintenance (14-16 Programme)

About the course

This course is a very practical course for pupils interested in sports turf e.g. grounds maintenance of a golf course or football pitch which will provide you with the basic skills to be able to carry out the maintenance of these surfaces. The course is designed to help you to get a job connected with the sports turf industry or move on to full-time study. You will learn and practice maintenance skills in practical sessions with relevant background information also covered. The course is assessed by practical assessment and theory based assessment work.

Year 1
Year 2

Year 1

Prepare ground for seeding or planting

Students will prepare a site for planting or seed sowing.

Sow grass seeds by hand

Learners will develop the skills required to calculate the area to be sown, mark it out, weigh out the grass seed and sow it evenly.

Apply fertiliser by hand to bare ground

Students will develop the skills required to weigh out and apply fertiliser accurately by hand and incorporate it into the soil surface ready for sowing/planting.

Repair areas of damaged turf with seed

Students will learn how to repair damaged area with grass seed to meet facility requirements

Use of litter/leaf blower

Students will learn how to prepare the machine for a task and clear an area of litter/leaves to produce a visual acceptable appearance

Use wheeled rotary mowers

The learner will prepare a machine for a task and mow the area to produce visually acceptable appearance.

Scarify turf by hand

Students will scarify turf, collect and dispose of debris

Aerate turf by hand

The learner will aerate turf to a specified depth.

Edge turf with shears

Using hand-operated edging shears the student will learn how to edge lawns, leaving a visually acceptable appearance.

Prepare soil and apply an organic mulch

Students will develop the skills in the application of an organic mulch to an appropriate and consistent thickness.

Care for a planted area

The aim of the unit is to enable learners to develop the skills required to recognise and remove unwanted weeds, leaves or other debris, cultivate the soil surface and maintain an acceptable visual appearance.

Year 2

Prune hedges by hand

Students will learn to prune hedges using hand shears, loppers and secateurs

Prune shrubs for winter stem colour

The aim of the unit is to enable learners to develop the skills required to prune shrubs for winter stem colour, maintaining the health and vigour of the plants

Use cylinder mowers

This unit covers the skills necessary for a learner to prepare a machine for a task and mow the area to produce visually acceptable appearance.

Use a nylon cord strimmer

Students will learn how to prepare the machine for the task, cut growth to produce visually acceptable appearance and maintain turf health.

Edge and rake golf bunkers

This unit covers the skills necessary to maintain a golf bunker/sand trap and leave it ready for play.

Over mark sports lines

In this unit, students will learn to apply marking materials and correctly measure basic shapes.

Remove dew from fine turf

Students will remove dew from the turf surface to maintain plant health and facilitate further operations.

Place sports equipment

The aim of the unit is to enable learners to develop the skills required to place sports equipment safely and effectively to meet appropriate sports governing body requirements

Maintain wooden structures with water based preservativ

The aim of the unit is to enable learners to develop the skills required to prepare wooden structures and apply surface treatments with water-based preservative to prevent decay and maintain the visual appearance

Principles of the maintenance of equipment

The candidate will be able to describe the maintenance of tools, equipment and machinery using hand tools and how to comply with all health and safety requirements

Principles of maintaining grass surfaces

This unit will enable to candidate to describe how to maintain grass surfaces by mowing, edging and watering; using pedestrian-operated machinery and hand tools and comply with all health and safety requirements

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Learners need to be 14 years of age or over and be interested in maintenance of sports surfaces e.g. cricket, football and golf with functional English, Maths and Science skills.

Your school or Home Educating Parent or Guardian must complete Application Form Part B before your application will be processed.

For home educated applicants your Parent or Guardian must complete the Home Educated Form and return before your application will be processed.

Learning and assessment

You will learn and practice maintenance skills in practical sessions with relevant background information also covered. The course is assessed by practical assessment and theory based assessment work.

Progression

The successfully completion of course will lead to progression on to Further Education courses at the College or work based apprenticeships.

Careers

The knowledge and practical skills gained through this course would allow entry into the sports turf sector.

Special requirements

Sensible outdoor clothing is expected for practical work. Steel toe capped boots/Wellingtons are essential. Tetanus vaccination up to date.

Sportsturf studies

There are fantastic opportunities both in the UK and overseas for people who are trained and qualified in sportsturf. Careers exist at all levels, from assistant groundspersons and greenkeepers to managers of international sports facilities such as Premier League Football Clubs and the major elite Golf Courses. Our courses will equip you with the skills that are necessary to build, maintain and manage quality turf surfaces to a high standard.

Students learn the science behind how grasses grow, as well as soils, drainage and a wide range of maintenance practices. You will gain an understanding of the demands of sport and what players need or expect from turf surfaces. You will be taught how to provide these conditions all year round and in all weather conditions.

A solid reputation

Myerscough College enjoys a fantastic reputation across the UK and Europe as one of the leading providers of sportsturf education. Ex-students from the programmes can be found at some of the top sporting venues across the country including Wimbledon, the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and St Andrews.

Excellent Facilities

Myerscough benefits from superb sportsturf facilities including a nine-hole golf course, fully automated irrigation systems with various controllers and fittings, turfgrass research laboratory and more. The department has also recently had a brand new turfgrass unit built, offering specialist workshops, classrooms and research facilities.

A World of Opportunity

There are fantastic opportunities throughout the world for people who have training and qualifications in sportsturf. All our course equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience to progress to either the next level of education, or a career within the industry.