How to become a groundsman or greenkeeper
Official title: Groundsmen and greenkeepers
Also called: Greenkeeper, Turf layer, Turf cutter, Turf digger, Grass keeper, Green keeper, Ground keeper, Turf supplier, Green improver, Grounds keeper, Turf contractor, Golf course man
Groundsmen and greenkeepers cut and lay turf and maintain areas for golf courses and other sports grounds.
Main tasks
- Levels ground and installs drainage system as required
- Cuts and lays turf using hand and machine tools and repairs damaged turf
- Moves soil to alter surface contour of land using mechanical equipment and constructs appropriate landscaping features and maintains such features
- Monitors and maintains the quality and condition of turf
- Rolls, mows and waters grass, marks out pitches
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements. NVQs/SVQs in Sports Turf Management are available at level 4. Apprenticeships and professional qualifications are also available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Golf greenkeeper (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0209.
- Apprenticeship (England): Sports turf operative (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0210.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,288 a year The middle half earn £25,114 to £33,482.
- About 31,700 people work in this job now, and about 34,800 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a groundsman or greenkeeper?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. NVQs/SVQs in Sports Turf Management are available at level 4. Apprenticeships and professional qualifications are also available.
How much does a groundsman or greenkeeper earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,288 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £25,114 to £33,482.
Is a groundsman or greenkeeper a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 31,700 to about 34,800 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a groundsman or greenkeeper?
Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Golf greenkeeper (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03