TRAINING & education Higher Education Courses
Here is a very small selection of the Higher Education courses available from many of the land-based colleges, but please note that attendance formats may vary from college to college.
FOUNDATION DEGREE IN GOLF AND SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT
Short Courses
As Training Coordinator for Pitchcare, I work closely with a network of Lantra registered Training Providers all over the UK to provide a wide range of courses for Pitchcare’s members and associates. The most popular topics include Safe Use of Pesticides, Chainsaws and other arboriculture machinery and tools, Pedestrian and Cylinder Mowers, Tractors, vertebrae pest control and so on.
Once training has been completed, assessments are available on most topics to either Lantra Integrated Training and Assessment (ITA), where the test takes place at the end of the training session, or to NPTC standards where the assessment may be a few days after the course. Lantra ITA is not available for pesticide courses. Having built up excellent working relationships with Pitchcare’s training provider partners over the past couple of years, it’s now often possible to find a place on a course
Here are some examples of courses for which we are currently taking bookings: Safe Use of Pesticides PA1 / PA6
Betteshanger, Kent
Chainsaws CS31, Felling of Small Trees Working at Heights
Safe Use of Pesticides PA6 Basic Chainsaw
Safe Use of Pesticides PA2 Safe Use of Pesticides PA1
01/02 May
Betteshanger, Kent or Mayfield, Sussex 06 May Skelmersdale, Lancashire Romsey, Hampshire E Sussex
E Sussex E Sussex
06 May 14/15 May
02-06 June and16-20 June 06 June 13 June
local to the individual candidate, although this might mean having to wait a little while for the next course availability. The most popular courses, such as pesticide application, do get booked up very quickly, especially in early spring, so I would suggest making enquiries as early as possible. A full list of courses currently available appears on the
Training section of the Pitchcare website. It is regularly updated, so do take a look next time you are looking for a course.
In addition, I am always happy to arrange bespoke training courses for groups of candidates, usually 4 or more. So if several people in your team require training or you can join up with your colleagues from nearby sports facilities, do let me have details of your requirements and I’ll give you a competitive proposal for carrying out the training at your own venue, thus cutting right down on travelling time (subject to appropriate facilities and machinery/tools being available).
UCAS codes HND – 23NK, Foundation Degree KN32
2 year course including a ten week work placement
Appeals to motivated students who wish to develop practical skills complemented by relevant theory. Career options: • Golf course management • Sports facility management • Agronomist • Technical/advisory roles 16 Modules including: • Principles of Horticultural Science • Surveying and levelling • Conservation in a horticultural setting
• Golf course maintenance and mechanisation
• Turf science • Sports turf design and construction
HIGHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 2 year part-time course (typically one day per week) Appeals to those already working in the industry who wish to continue their professional development, or who are considering a career change.
Career Options: • Head greenkeeper • Grounds manager 10 Modules including: • Principles of Horticultural Science • Surveying and levelling • Event organisation • Rootzone technology • Turf grass science • Marketing and HR Management
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN AMENITY HORTICULTURE, GREENKEEPING AND SPORTS TURF Two year, full time course Leads to opportunities to work as a greenkeeper or groundsperson in the UK or abroad.
Modules include: • Landscape • Sports Turf • Turf Botany • Sports Turf Construction • Golf Course Management • Business Management
NVQ LEVEL 2 SPORTS TURF One block of three days per month, for six months. Students are expected to provide supporting evidence from their place of employment and assessments can be carried out in college or in the workplace.
Students include school leavers, employees keen for further training, and mature people who have made a career change. What’s in the course? • Establish and maintain plants outdoors
• Maintain sports turf surfaces for play
• Present and repair sports turf surfaces
• Maintain equipment and machines • Emphasis on health and safety of self and others
NVQ LEVEL 3 SPORTS TURF One block of three days per month, for six months.
Includes advanced techniques such as construction, drainage, maintenance planning, developing skills in self management etc.
Can be completed in one year of part time study. Ideal for those who have
progressed from NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf and have some supervisory management experience in the workplace. Also for experienced groundsmen/greenkeepers without formal qualifications. The course includes: • Estimate resource requirements and programme work
• Create grassed and planted areas • Manage sports turf areas • Manage drainage and irrigation systems
• Prepare for and maintain equipment and machines
• Prepare and apply pesticides
APPRENTICESHIPS AND ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS IN SPORTS TURF AND GREENKEEPING Foundation 18-24 months, Advanced 30-36 months
If you are aged between 16 and 24 you can Earn while you Learn, spending one day at college and a minimum of 18 hours working and earning a wage. If you are someone working on a sports ground or golf course, this could be the ideal course for you! The courses include: • Maintenance and repair of sportsturf surfaces
• Health and disease of grass/plants • Grass/plant establishment • Machinery and equipment Health and Safety
(Apprenticeship information courtesy of Reaseheath College).
HIGHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE (SPORTS TURF) Typically delivered one
afternoon/evening a week over two academic years.
The Higher National Diploma qualification is offered as an option to those who have followed the HNC Sports Turf. It is run over one year and covers six units.
It would be possible to progress to a Horticulture (Sports Turf) Management BSc(Hons) upon completion of the HND.
(Information courtesy of Guildford College/Merrist Wood Campus)
If you are interested in courses such as these I would be happy to help you with further information. Just e-mail me
chris@pitchcare.com with some idea of the course you are interested in and where you live, and I’ll source your nearest training provider.
pitchcare TRAINING & education
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