Groundskeeper

Groundskeepers work in areas such as public open spaces, golf courses or sporting fields maintaining turf areas and basic gardening duties.  On a golf course, for example, a groundskeeper will assist greenkeepers in maintaining the playing surface and roughs of the course. Depending on the area of work a groundskeeper will be required to perform numerous tasks.

Where They Work

Groundskeepers are employed in areas such as golf courses, sporting complexes, by local councils maintaining parks and gardens, turf farms, large private residences and maintaining bowling greens. Duties will include turf renovation, maintaining large and small turf areas, spraying for weeds, pests, and diseases, repairing and maintaining irrigation.
Many different machines are used to help maintain some of these areas. Depending on the size of the area being maintained some of the equipment can range in size from a small push mower to a large ride on cylinder mower.   

What is Needed

Groundskeepers need to have a good understanding of horticulture. A course in Horticulture or Amenity Horticulture is certainly helpful if a person is interested in starting a career in this area.  Part of maintaining turf areas and gardens, groundsman need to be able to identify weeds, pests and diseases and the methods required to control them. 

Opportunities

In the horticulture/turf industry, groundskeepers play a significant role in being responsible for the maintenance of many golf courses, public parks, sporting fields, private acreage estates just to name a few. There is a lot of practical work involved in being a groundskeeper with the majority of the work being physical and hands on. Having a good level of knowledge in horticulture is beneficial. Occasionally some groundskeepers pursue further education and become greenkeepers, turf farm managers, or turf consultants.

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