Skill

The practical application of knowledge, acquired through practice and/or training, by utilising physical and mental qualities to achieve a defined level of performance.

A skilled worker will be able to achieve an appropriate and consistent standard of work on a regular basis. Speed, quality, accuracy, as well as improved problem solving, and decision-making abilities are enhanced as skill levels are developed further.

The minimum level of skill expected from an industry worker is that of Competence, whilst a more experienced and knowledgeable worker will have enhanced levels of skill and would be referred to as having developed Capability.

An example of the skills expected from occupations involved with turf maintenance are:

1. Sports Turf Operative (Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard) (2025) requires an individual to be capable of the following skills:
“S1: Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
S2: Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
S3: Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
S4: Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
S5: Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
S6: Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
S7: Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
S8: Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
S9: Prepare and safely operate a tractor and its attachments.
S10: Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
S11: Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
S12: Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
S13: Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
S14: Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.”
(Sports Turf Operative (Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard), accessed 24th September 2025)


2. Golf Greenkeeper (Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard) (2025) requires an individual to be capable of the following skills:

“S1: Identify and maintain natural habitats and areas of biodiversity.
S2: Apply irrigation to achieve appropriate soil conditions and golf course playability.
S3: Handle, store and dispose of golf course waste materials in accordance with environmental or waste management policies.
S4: 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.
S5: Establish and maintain working relationships with greenkeeping staff, colleagues and others within the golf club environment.
S6: Keep up to date with advances in working practices and technologies to maintain and develop personal performance.
S7: Communicate golf course related information to stakeholders, including greenkeeping staff, colleagues and golfers.
S8: Mark and maintain golf areas in line with the Rules of Golf (including drop zones, hazard/ penalty areas, out of bounds and tee markers).
S9: Measure, record and communicate green speeds applying the United States Golf Association (USGA) Stimpmeter instructions.
S10: Position and change golf holes to the required finish and in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
S11: Set up mowers and mow areas of the golf course in accordance with golf course standards.
S12: Maintain and present bunkers for play.
S13: Switch and brush golf course turf.
S14: Set up equipment and aerate and scarify areas of the golf course.
S15: Repair damaged golf turf in play (for example, by turfing, plugging or patching).
S16: Use a range of integrated methods to control weeds, moss, fungal diseases, pests and turf disorder
S17: Apply top dressing in accordance with golf course requirements.
S18: Apply fertiliser to playing surfaces.
S19: 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.
S20: Carry out routine maintenance to tools, equipment and machinery used for greenkeeping practices, in line with manufacturers' instructions and company policies and procedures.
S21: 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).
S22: Maintain and renovate non-turf areas such as pathways, penalty areas.
S23: Monitor and record soil and plant health data.
S24: Prepare ground and establish turf and seed.
S25: Identification of grass type through seed inspection and physical inspection of the plant using either common or botanical names.”
(Golf Greenkeeper (Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard), accessed 24th September 2025)


As a contrast a Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard (the Advanced Sports Turf Technician) (2025), which is for supervisory and skilled operatives, requires an individual to be capable of the following skills:
“S1: Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self, team and others. Implement safe working practices in accordance with statutory legislation and regulations (including carrying out risk assessments).
S2: Allocate work and supervise staff in accordance with agreed maintenance plans.
S3: Oversee the preparation of playing surfaces in accordance with relevant governing body rules/regulations.
S4: Monitor sports turf surfaces and oversee the control of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders to an agreed plan. Develop a basic Integrated Pest Management plan.
S5: Develop a basic maintenance plan for the facility, for a determined time period (for example, preparation for key competitions or events).
S6: Apply a range of turfgrass growth and plant protection products (pesticides) in line with the agreed plan.
S7: Set run times and precipitation rates (irrigation) and drainage fall.
S8: Apply a range of techniques to gather agronomic and playability data by recording, interpreting and communicating in suitable formats (for example, electronic soil moisture, salinity, pH probes, soil sampler, thermometer, surface firmness testing equipment and playability testing).
S9: Evaluate sports turf surfaces and make recommendations for improvements based on findings.
S10: Promote environmental best practice and sustainable working practices.
S11: Estimate and programme resource requirements to meet the scope of the turfgrass maintenance plan.
S12: Oversee the preparation, general maintenance and storage of machines for use.
S13: Apply basic fault finding techniques in order to identify problems with powered machinery and equipment.
S14: Source information from suppliers/distributors/dealers to inform selection or tender services and or resources.
S15: Contribute to the development and implementation of the maintenance budgets.
S16: Identify, evaluate, plan and prepare sites for renovation.
S17: Supervise and monitor the renovation or establishment of a sports turf facility.
S18: Communicate information to stakeholders utilising formal and informal methods.
S19: Supervise meetings and brief colleagues.
S20: Assist with the training and mentoring of staff.
S21: Use information technology to assist with effective communication and record keeping.
S22: Manage own Continuing Professional Development, keeping up to date with working practices, environmental developments and advances in technology.
S23: Oversee and undertake the operation, maintenance and servicing of irrigation or drainage systems, including minor repairs and problem solving issues.”
(Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard (the Advanced Sports Turf Technician), accessed 24th September 2025)


A Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard for a Grounds Manager (titled ‘Sports Turf Technical Manager’) is currently in development (2025), but has the following skill requirements for an individual:
“S1: Apply agronomic principles of plant, turfgrass and soil science in the context of sports turf management.
S2: Evaluate and apply scientific and technical developments to sports turf industry practices.
S3: Record and evaluate sports turf scientific test results for use in planning, construction, establishment or maintenance of sports turf.
S4: Conduct laboratory and field investigations relating to developments in sports turf science to improve current sports turf practices.
S5: Analyse problems associated with sports turf areas and formulate appropriate solutions.
S6: Apply specialist sports turf technology and equipment.
S7: Investigate, analyse and evaluate sports turf management information and recommend practical options and solutions to resolve problems.
S8: Prepare written reports and present sports turf management recommendations and findings.
S9: Work independently and as a member of a team.
S10: Review, evaluate and plan own personal development.
S11: Identify appropriate machinery and equipment for turf maintenance practices.
S12: Prepare maintenance plans for identified sports turf grass surfaces.
S13: Review the quality of sports turf surfaces and evaluate results from a range of equipment.
S14: Review the breeding and development of new grass cultivars.
S15: Review the use of benchmarking and surface testing for sports turf management.
S16: Carry out performance testing of a sports surface and apply problem solving and data analysis to performance testing.
S17: Recommend improvements to sports turf management based on objective testing data.
S18: Produce a testable hypothesis or specific research questions for sports turf management.
S19: Design an experiment that will effectively test a hypothesis or answer sports turf management research questions.
S20: Select appropriate statistical tests, analyse data using appropriate software, interpret the results and draw conclusions.
S21: Propose and develop creative solutions for sports turf management research projects and evaluate project outcomes.
S22: Review and apply the concepts of a sustainable Integrated Pest Management approach to turfgrass areas, diagnose common pest, disease and weed species in turfgrass surfaces and evaluate the efficacy of available control options.
S23: Appraise a range of habitats relating to a particular site in order to establish specific conservation objectives.
S24: Evaluate selected sports turf resource management approaches taking into account sustainability.
S25: Apply mathematical formulae to evaluate construction problems and perform calculations.
S26: Manage employees, contractors and supplier relationships.
S27: Create and manage budgets, allocating resources efficiently, and setting spending priorities.
S28: Interpret profit and loss statements to monitor financial performance and make informed decisions.”
(Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard for a grounds manager (titled ‘Sports Turf Technical Manager’), accessed 24th September 2025)


The Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard for Golf Course Manager (2025) requires an individual to be capable of the following 22 skills:
• “Manage, promote and maintain a healthy, safe and secure maintenance facility and golf course for their staff, golfers and members of the public.
• Plan, monitor, evaluate and manage golf course maintenance and the environment in accordance with the Golf Course Policy document.
• Manage the allocation of human and physical resources, equipment and supply chain for projects and tasks on a day to day basis.
• Plan and manage the maintenance and replacement of machinery and equipment.
• Plan and manage the control of weeds, pests and diseases and their impact on plant health and pathology.
• Analyse and interpret a range of data collected from the golf course and the management of sustainable playing surfaces.
• Plan and manage projects, including the construction of golf course features and events.
• Manage water applied and removed from the golf course, including irrigation and drainage.
• Develop and review a Golf Course Policy document in co-operation with the employer.
• Identify and determine policies and strategies for the development of the golf course, in line with Golf Course Policy document.
• Prepare, submit and manage maintenance budgets and capital expenditure proposals.
• Conduct, manage and review risk assessments on equipment, materials, people and facilities.
• Communicate to golf course staff, colleagues, golfers and others on a range of subjects.
• Manage the recruitment, selection and induction of staff and the performance, training, equality and diversity of the greenkeeping team.
• Manage conflict, discipline and grievances within the team and others.
• Motivate and encourage excellence within the greenkeeping team.
• Organise and manage meetings with the greenkeeping team and others.
• Promote the golf club and its core values, as determined by the employer.
• Encourage a customer service culture within the greenkeeping team.
• Manage their own Continuing Professional Development.
• Make presentations both written and verbal to the greenkeeping team, management and golfers.
• Use information technology to manage the golf course through data collection and analysis.”
Level 5 Apprenticeship Standard for Golf Course Manager, accessed 24th September 2025)