Golf Course Greenkeeper

What is a greenkeeper?

The greenkeeper is the specialized gardener who maintains the golf course. The English word literally means “keeper of the green”: in 19th-century Scotland, “the green” referred to the entire playing field, not just the area around the hole. In St. Andrews, the title of Keeper of the Green was already worn in the 19th century by Old Tom Morris.

In a club, the term refers to two levels:

• golf course groundskeepers, who perform the maintenance on a daily basis;
• the field manager, who leads the team, plans the work, and manages the maintenance budget. This is the equivalent of the head greenkeeper British or the golf course superintendent American.

What does a greenkeeper do on a daily basis?

Much of the work is done early in the morning so that the course is ready before the first tee times and so that the machines cause as little disruption as possible to the players.

• Mowing: Greens, tees, fairways, and roughs are mowed to different heights, using machines suited to each surface. The greens are by far the shortest.
• Changing Holes: The hole is moved regularly around the green, and the tee markers are moved within the tee areas, to distribute wear and add variety to the game.
• The bunkers: raking, leveling the sand, and maintaining the edges.
• Watering: Irrigation scheduling based on weather conditions and the needs of each zone.
• Turf Health: fertilization, disease and pest monitoring.
• Markup: penalty area markers, out-of-bounds markers, and markers delineating the repair area.
• Equipment: Maintenance and adjustment of lawn mowers and other machinery.

What are the major construction projects this year?

In addition to routine maintenance, the team carries out more extensive work, often in the spring and in late summer or fall, when the grass grows quickly and heals well:

• Core Drilling: Remove small clumps of soil to aerate the soil and improve drainage.
• Sandblasting (top dressing): Spread a thin layer of sand to level the surface and improve drainage.
• Scarifying: Vertical blades cut through the thatch—the layer of dead organic matter that accumulates under the grass.
• Decompression: Drill deep into the ground to prevent compaction caused by foot traffic and machinery.

This work temporarily damages the playing surface, which is why the greens will have small holes and sand on them for a few weeks.

How does one become a field manager?

In France, the profession of golf course superintendent is subject to a Level 6 (bac + 3) professional certification issued by the French Golf Federation, which is listed in the National Register of Professional Certifications. It covers the maintenance of playing surfaces, irrigation, turf protection, and team and budget management.

How can we make the greenkeeper's job easier?

• Improve Your Pitches on the greens, and another one along the way.
• Replace or fill in your divots on the fairway, using the sand mix provided when it's available.
• Rake the bunker After you've made your move, cover your tracks.
• Please respect the ropes and closed-off areas, as well as the guidelines for golf carts.
• Wait until a gardener has seen you and taken cover before passing the ball in his direction.