Learn to Manage Turf Surfaces for Sport
Master sports turf maintenance, irrigation, drainage, mowing, cultivation, and turf management for golf courses, bowling greens, cricket wickets, and sporting facilities.
This course assumes students have some prior knowledge of turf grasses and maintenance or industry experience. It covers a range of different sports grounds including tennis, bowls, cricket, golf, and football. It is intended to provide a solid foundation in the selection, management, and maintenance of different types of sports grasses under a range of conditions.
Course Duration: 100 hours. Self-paced study.
Course Content
There are 10 lessons in this course.
Lesson 1 - Turf Variety Selection
- Introduction
- Turf Varieties in Parks
- Sowing
- Feature Lawns
- Picnic Areas
- Sports Grounds
- Gardens
- Parks
- Turf Species; bent, fescue, rye, kentucky, couch, etc
- Turf Cultivar Selection Criteria
- Mixing Varieties
Lesson 2 - Mowing
- Introduction
- Types of Mowing Equipment
- Mower Types; slasher, cylinder, flail
- Preparation before mowing
- How to Mow
- Leaf Rakes and Vacuums
- After Mowing
- Changing Mower Blades
- Mowing Sports Turf
- Sports Turf Mowers
- Problems that can Occur when Mowing
- Edging
- Options for Mower Power Systems; 2 stroke, 4 stroke, electric
- Hover Mowers, Ride on Mowers
- Choosing a Mower
Lesson 3 - Cultivation Techniques
- When to Cultivate
- Methods of Cultivation
- Spiking, coring, drilling, grooving, forking, raking, air blast, etc.
- Coring and hollow tinning for Sports Turf
- Scarifying (Grooving)
- Dethatching (Vertical Mowing)
Lesson 4 - Preparing for Play on Sports grounds
- Introduction
- Dew Removal
- Water Removal
- Combing
- Vertical Mowing
- Mowing
- Rolling
- Marking for Play
Lesson 5 - Preparing for Play of Greens
- Golf, Croquet, Lawn Tennis, Lawn Bowls
- Cricket Wicket Preparation
Lesson 6 - Turf Protection and Preservation
- Managing Use
- Minimising Damage on Turf
- Why Repair Turf
- How to Repair Turf
- Reconditioning Soil
- Reducing weed populations in turf
- Managing turf Pests
- Managing Demand
- Repairing Turf
Lesson 7 - Irrigation and Drainage
- Introduction
- Travelling Sprinkler Systems
- Quick Coupling Valve Systems
- Manually Operated Irrigation Systems
- Semi-automatic Irrigation Systems
- Automatic Irrigation Systems
- Sprinklers, Valves, Controllers
- Management of Water Features on Golf Courses
- Improving Surface Drainage after Construction
- Understanding Soils and Drainage, and Soil Compaction
Lesson 8 - Soil Treatment and Sprays
- Major Nutrients and Trace Elements
- Fertiliser Types
- Fertiliser Application
- Soil pH and Soil Amendments
- Cation Exchange Capacity
- Pest Control; ants, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers and crickets, leatherjackets
- Disease Control; viruses, bacteria, fungi
Lesson 9 - Evaluate Maintenance Facilities
- Bent Grass for Bowling Greens
- Couch Grass Greens
- Analysis of Park Maintenance
- Park Maintenance Tasks
Lesson 10 - Develop a Management Plan
- Common Environmental Problems; foliage burn, pollution, lack of water
- Drainage Problems in Turf
- Frost
- Temperature
- Wind
- Plants have Varying Tolerance Levels
- Programming Works; maintenance, new works, construction crew
- Weeds
- Weed Control Methods
- Developing a Management Plan for a Specific Site
Workload & Assessment
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed in 100 hours or less.
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. You will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect and can work out what you need to focus on.
Assignments are completed at the end of each lesson. Assignments are marked by a turf care professional and returned with feedback.
A Final Exam is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will receive a Statement of Attainment in Sports Turf Management. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Employment Pathways
This course may benefit people seeking employment or advancement in:
- sports turf management,
- greenkeeping,
- grounds maintenance,
- golf course management,
- local government parks services,
- sports facility maintenance,
- or landscape maintenance businesses.
Students may also use the knowledge gained to establish or expand their own turf care or grounds maintenance business.
The skills covered in turf selection, mowing, cultivation, irrigation, drainage, pest management, soil treatment, turf renovation, and maintenance planning provide a strong foundation for managing and maintaining high-quality sports surfaces across a wide range of recreational and professional sporting environments.
Got Questions? Get in Touch!
Our friendly staff understand the importance of making the right choices when it comes to studying. We want to help you choose the right course!
Enquire here | Email admin@acs.edu.au | Call (Australia) 07 5562 1088