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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Sports Turf Management

This trade qualification trains you to look after the playing surfaces at sports grounds, golf courses, racecourses and council ovals, from the weekly mowing and marking through to building and renovating a whole surface.

Compare 11 providers
Illustration of a person working as greenkeeper
How long it takes
2.5 to 3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,190
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $28,907
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Greenkeeper
$76,300 median pay
Taught by
11 providers
7 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Sports Turf Management asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in looking after living turf surfaces
  • a willingness to work outdoors in all weather
  • an eye for spotting problems with plants and soil
  • confidence with machinery and practical maintenance tasks

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Certificate III or Diploma?

The Diploma of Sports Turf Management is the higher level. This Certificate III covers trade level tasks under general direction, with discretion and judgement in planning tasks.

See the course

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Greenkeeper

    Greenkeepers look after the turf on golf courses, bowling greens and sports ovals, mowing, watering and repairing the surface so it plays consistently.

    What else you need

    A pesticide licence is also needed for the work and is separate from the award. Check the provider's course details and whether an apprenticeship with a golf club or similar employer is available. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$76,300

  • Turf Grower

    Turf growers produce the rolls of instant lawn that landscapers, sports grounds and home owners lay as a finished surface.

    A step towards this job. What else you need

    Median pay$67,600 (estimate)

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $2,190

at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$8,165 to $28,907

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,190
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $15,850
    How long
    2.5 to 3 years

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $5,538
    Concession
    $1,108
    Full fee
    $8,165

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,603
    Concession
    $1,315
    Full fee
    $28,907

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 11 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

23 units: 18 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • Preparing sports surfaces for play
  • Irrigation and drainage systems
  • Safe handling of chemicals
  • Weed, pest and disease control
  • Turf establishment and renovation
  • Machinery and equipment operation
See all 18 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for AHCCHM304…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It suits people who want a trade role caring for sports grounds, golf courses, racecourses and council ovals. You learn to plan your own tasks and work without close supervision.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Providers can set their own conditions, so check with the one you choose.

Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?

Yes. Rules for installing irrigation and for storing, handling and applying chemicals apply in some states and territories.

How is it different from the Diploma of Sports Turf Management?

The Diploma of Sports Turf Management is the higher level. This Certificate III covers trade level tasks under general direction, with discretion and judgement in planning tasks.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.