Apprentice Greenkeeper

PERSOL|Programmed; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Trade school paid by employer

Above award wages with overtime Penalt

Job summary

Sandhurst Club, located 35 minutes from Melbourne CBD, is seeking an apprentice Sports Turf Management professional to join our new course management team. You will learn all aspects of sports turf management while maintaining the golf course to high standards and supporting tournament preparations.

You must be motivated to learn, with a willingness to attend trade school paid by the employer. The role requires weekend roster work and ability to work in all weather; a current driver's license is

Qualifications

• Desire to succeed and commit to a trade apprenticeship.
• Willingness to learn all aspects of sports turf management.
• Ability to commute to Sandhurst Club and attend trade school.

Responsibilities

• Maintain golf course and surrounds to high standards.
• Learn course setup, marker placement, and hole locations.
• Operate equipment including mowers and tractors.
• Apply fertilizers and chemicals safely.
• Assist with bunker maintenance, renovation, and irrigation work.
• Support tournament and event preparations.
• Contribute to irrigation installation and repairs.

Skills

Willingness to learn

Punctuality

Physical fitness

Team player

Education

Interest in sport/golf

Tools

Mower operation

Tractor operation

Job description

Apprentice Sports Turf Management Position – Sandhurst Club

Programmed Turnpoint are Australia’s premier Golf Course Maintenance Contractor servicing more than 8 courses around Australia. The 36 hole, Peter Thomson designed Sandhurst Club is situated 35min from the Melbourne CBD in the South Eastern suburbs and a fantastic opportunity has arisen for a motivated and dedicated turf management professional to take on the role as qualified greenkeeper, amongst a new course management team.
The club currently host several PGA events annually- most recently the 2026 Final Round of Qualifying School this March, and Golf Australia Australian All Abilities Championship in November 2026, which will enable the successful applicant to gain valuable experience in tournament preparations.

We are looking for an apprentice, who has a strong desire to succeed and a willingness to be able to strive for continuous improvement – a keen interest in golf or sports in general would be advantageous but is not a requirement.

The main responsibility of this position will be to maintain the golf course and surrounds to the highest possible standards, learning all aspects of sports turf management including:

Golf course setup – Changing hole locations, moving markers for play.

Using a wide variety of equipment including mower and tractor operation.

Chemical and fertiliser application and safe practices.

Bunker preparation and maintenance.

Tournament and event preparation.

Golf course renovation practices.

Irrigation& Drainage installation and repairs.

The successful applicant shall be self-motivated, punctual and be willing to work in all conditions.
The successful applicant must be able to commute to and from work independently, so a current driver’s license and vehicle is advantageous.

Employment will be on a full-time basis and include rostered weekend work, with above award wages and penalty rates applicable for overtime hours.

Apprentices will attend trade school paid for by the employer during normal working hours on a scheduled basis.

Weekend overtime is required on a rostered basis, as well as intermittent weekday overtime around important events and course works.

Our Commitment

Programmed and PERSOL are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, underpinned by a culture of zero harm. We value diversity and seek to build a workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, backgrounds, genders, ages, abilities, sexual orientations and life experiences. We also recognise that great candidates come from a range of life stages and circumstances and, where operationally feasible, we welcome discussions regarding flexible working arrangements, including part-time and job-share opportunities. If flexibility would support your success in this role, we encourage you to apply.

The honest preview

The good

• Your employer pays for your trade school, and you go during normal working hours.

The hard parts

• You have to work weekends on a roster, plus some extra weekday hours around big events.
• You need to be ready to work in any weather.

What surprises people

• The club hosts professional golf (PGA) events, so you could help get the course ready for them.

Industry averages for a qualified Gardener General, across all employers — not this employer’s offer, and after you finish the apprenticeship, not during.