National Diploma in Turfculture

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This was the Institute of Groundsmanship’s premier qualification (being referred to as the NDT), for which only a few candidates would typically achieve this each year. The candidate was expected to hold the NID and have at least 6-years relevant experience. This was in existence until about 2004. If the qualification was on the RQF then it would equate to a Level 5, with possibly some elements at Level 6.

The qualification was typically offered as distance learning course by a select few colleges, starting in September, for an academic year, or as self-study, however, many people would take at least 2 or 3 years to successfully pass the qualification. The course syllabus covered the following:

Paper 1
• Soils.
• Fertilisers and manures.
• Turf botany.
• Turf weeds, pests and diseases.

Paper 2
• Construction.
• Drainage and levelling.
• Non-turf surfaces.
• Buildings: workshops, stores, changing rooms etc.
• Landscape and amenity horticulture.

Paper 3
• Management.
• Personnel management.
• Financial management.
• Management of sportsgrounds and amenity areas.

Paper 4
• Tractors.
• Grass mowing machinery.
• Rollers.
• Aerating equipment.
• Spraying machines and distributors.
• Miscellaneous equipment.
• Costings.
• Maintenance schedules.
• Workshop organisation.
• Safety precautions.

Practical aspects of the course covered a range of tasks which candidates would be assessed from each of the following:
• Sports ground / golf course management.
• Soils and fertilisers.
• Grasses, seeds and weeds.
• Bowling greens.
• Cricket surfaces.
• Golf surfaces.
• Winter pitches, athletics and tennis.
• Machinery.
• Drainage and levelling.

This qualification was assessed by means of four 3-hour written papers and a series of practical and oral tests over 7-hours (typically spaced out over one or two-days), with the latter being assessed typically at Cheshire College of Agriculture, Reaseheath. To pass the course a candidate needed a minimum of (55-60% ?) in the written papers and pass all of the practical-oral assessments.