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HomeCoursesHorticultureCertificate III in Sports Turf Management

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.

  • Duration: 30 months to 3 years
  • Study mode: On campus
  • Course code: AHC31324

Where you can study this course

Where

  • Melbourne Polytechnic

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    Campuses
    13 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.

  • TAFE NSW

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    Campuses
    6 campuses
    Duration
    30 months to 3 years
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $15,850
    Eligible students: subsidised from $2,190, concession $240

    What students say

    Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.

  • TAFE Queensland

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    2 campuses
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    Not stated by provider
    Full fee
    Not stated by provider

    What students say

    Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.

  • The Gordon

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    East Geelong Campus
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    Not stated by provider
    Full fee
    $28,907
    Eligible students: subsidised from $6,603, concession $1,315

    What students say

    Students rate the trainers and teaching highly, along with the student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on student support and course content.

  • Holmesglen Institute

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    Campuses
    Glen Waverley
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $8,165
    Eligible students: subsidised from $5,538, concession $1,108

    What students say

    Students have mixed views on the trainers and teaching, and many also mention problems with communication and with organisation and admin.

  • TasTAFE

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    12 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • Canberra Institute of Technology

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    6 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Most students praise the trainers and teaching highly, and most also rate the cost and value well. Many like the course content, though a number of students had mixed views on the teaching.

  • South Metropolitan TAFE

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    Campuses
    Murdoch
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    Not stated by provider

    What students say

    Students often rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on both teaching and campus facilities. Some also found student support frustrating to access.

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

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Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

  • Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
  • Yes. Rules for installing irrigation and for storing, handling and applying chemicals apply in some states and territories.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, 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

What will you learn?

You learn to prepare turf for play, keep it healthy, and work out what has gone wrong when it hasn't, which means testing soils, planning nutrition and dealing with weeds, pests and disease. A lot of the practical work sits around water and machinery: installing and running irrigation, laying drainage, and operating the equipment that maintains a ground. You finish able to plan your own tasks and work without close supervision, and the rules for handling chemicals and installing irrigation vary by state and territory.

  • 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

Units of competency (18 core, 5 elective)

The qualification is made up of 23 units. Everyone completes the 18 core units below, and the remaining 5 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).