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Groundsperson

A groundsperson looks after the pitches, tracks and courses used in sports like golf, cricket, football and racing.

Annual Salary

£19,000 to £28,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

39 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; flexibly

1.8%
Future employment

There will be 1.8% more Groundsperson jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a groundperson you could:

  • care for playing surfaces by seeding, fertilizing, watering and mowing
  • control weeds, grass diseases and pests
  • repair or renovate damaged areas
  • operate horticultural equipment and machinery
  • maintain racecourse turf, fences and drainage
  • mark lines on pitches, cut holes on greens and make sure goalposts, flagpoles and other equipment is in good order

Working environment

You could work on a sports field, at a sports arena or in a park.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • specialist courses run by a professional body
University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • turfgrass science
  • sportsturf management
  • horticulture

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You could take a college course to get some of the skills and knowledge needed for this job.

Courses include:

  • golf greenkeeping
  • horticulture skills
  • horticulture

Apprenticeship

You could apply for an apprenticeship to become a groundsperson, for example:

  • Sports Turf Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Golf Greenkeeper Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Sports Turf Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships typically take around 2 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You might be able to find work as an assistant groundsperson, if you can show the right personal qualities and enthusiasm for the career. You could then work your way up by getting experience and studying on the job.

Volunteering and work experience

You may be able to find volunteering opportunities with a local sports club, track or golf course. This could help you when you start applying for jobs.

Other routes

You could do a qualification with the Grounds Management Association. They offer courses at different levels in turf surface maintenance and management.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • You might need a driving licence for some jobs.
  • pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

More information

Career tips

As a groundsperson, you may work with hybrid or artificial sports surfaces, for example, like those used in tennis, hockey and athletics.

Further information

You can find more advice about working as a groundsperson from the Grounds Management Association.

If you're interested in golf course management, you'll find more information about the career through the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association.

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With experience, you could become a supervisor, head groundsperson or headkeeper at a sports ground or course.

You might also find opportunities in:landscaping; horticultural management; mobile machinery servicing and repairs; equipment sales; course or sports facility management

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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