Work Environment
Greenkeeperss typically work in the following Career Sectors:
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Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
The Work
Did you know that there are over 300 golf courts in Ireland and that they bring thousands of tourists from all over the world every year? A famous golf writer and commentator once said that Ireland has "the greatest courses in the world, not only in layout but in scenery and atmosphere". One important occupation which can take some credit for this is the greenkeepers!
Greenkeeper is a term mostly used in relation to golf courts, but it can sometimes also refer to the maintenance, care and overall appearance of playing fields for other sports. However, ‘ground staff’ or ‘ground maintenance staff’ are more commonly used in relation to other playing fields.
Your main responsibility as a greenkeeper is to manage the soil and grass to make sure it is always in top condition. The different types of areas on a golf course, such as tees, fairways, and greens, require different types of maintenance, but some of the common tasks include watering and irrigating turf, controlling weeds and pests, and renovating worn and damaged turf.
You may also be responsible for the maintenance and planting of trees, shrubs and flower beds. Other common tasks include setting up the golf course by changing holes, moving tee markers, emptying bins, and cleaning surfaces of leafs etc.
As you use machinery for many aspects of your work you need to be health and safety conscious. You also have to consider the environmental impact of the work, by using water conservation methods and limiting the use of chemicals for example.
Golf clubs often employ a team of greenkeepers, and they report to the head greenkeeper or the assistant head greenkeeper. Although greenkeepers are part of a larger team, they often work on tasks alone.
You may work early mornings and weekends and tasks will vary according to the season and weather conditions. Although golf is played all year round in Ireland, the work is more intense during spring and summer, so there is often seasonable work on offer.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Gather and remove litter.
- Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
- Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
- Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
- Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
- Mix and spray or spread fertilisers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
- Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
- Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
- Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
- Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
Qualities - Greenkeepers
Greenkeepers spend most of their time outside, and the work is very physical so you need a good level of fitness. Allergies, such as hay fever, could make this job difficult.
Understanding the rules of golf is necessary where it relates to the types of maintenance needed in different parts of the golf court, and understanding plans, maps and drawings may be required.
As a greenkeeper, you need to pay attention to what is going on around you, where there are golfers on the course, to make sure your work doesn’t interfere with their play, and you must keep health and safety at the forefront of all your activities.
You need to be able to communicate effectively with both other staff and to golfers on the course.
When operating heavy machinery you need to be aware of health and safety issues.
Interests - Greenkeepers
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry - Greenkeepers
Apprenticeship Route
The official entry route for a Greenkeepers is through undertaking an apprenticeship.
Click here to find information on the Sports Turf Management apprenticeship
Specific qualifications for entry vary, but experience in Horticulture and agriculture, and a good understanding of sport is an advantage.
Some employers provide health & safety or key skills cert training to new employees, but some employers require that you have completed such training prior to employment:
Key Skill certs
Health & safety & First aid
Safepass
Manual Handlng
B-licenses driving (incl tractor)
Safe Pesticide spray NFQ level 5
These course may be available at low or no cost around Ireland via FET Centres Search FET Courses
Training & Development
FET Centre Traineeship Greenkeeping NFQ level 5 Search FET courses
FET Centree PLC course Golf & Sports Turf Management, horiculture, landscaping NFQ level 5-6 Search PLC Courses
Apprenticeships Sports Turf Management & Applied Horticulture NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships
Training & Development
With experience, you can progress to an ‘assistant head greenkeeper’, and eventually a ‘head greenkeeper’ position where you have more responsibilities and may be in charge of a team of greenkeepers. Likewise explore options of setting up your own business.
You may also want to progress into other related areas where you can use similar skills, such as Grounds maintenance, Horticulture or Landscaping.
Last Updated: May, 2023
Pay & Salary - Greenkeepers
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €45k
Salaries vary based on employer, location, and duties.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Glassdoor/ Excel
Last Updated: March, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - Greenkeepers
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Although the employment growth over the five-year period was negative for this occupation, employment levels have remained static since 2020. At 37%, the share aged 55 years or older was almost double the national average of 19%.
A relatively high share of persons employed in this occupation were employed part-time. The administrative and support services sector accounted for the largest share of employment for this occupation at almost two-fifths.
Useful Contacts - Greenkeepers
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Golf Ireland
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The Confederation of Golf in Ireland
