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HomeCoursesHorticultureDiploma of Sports Turf Management

Diploma of Sports Turf Management

This diploma is for people who already work on sports turf and want to run the place rather than just care for it.

Illustration of a person working as sports turf manager
  • Study mode: On campus
  • Course code: AHC51024

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 Queensland

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

    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.

  • Holmesglen Institute

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    Glen Waverley
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $17,385
    Eligible students: subsidised from $7,320

    What students say

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

  • 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.

  • Aro College

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    ARO College – RTO 40056.
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

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Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

To commence this qualification an individual must have: completed a Certificate III in Sports Turf Management or an equivalent turf management trade level qualification or a certificate III level qualification in amenity horticulture combined with two years current work experience in a trade level role at a sports turf facility.

  • 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.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:

  • an interest in planning and managing sports turf facilities
  • a willingness to take responsibility for the work of others
  • good communication skills for leading a team
  • an eye for detail when checking surfaces and systems

What will you learn?

You learn to plan and manage the playing surfaces themselves, from establishing new fields to renovating worn ones, and to build programs for soil health, plant nutrition and irrigation that hold up season after season. Much of the study sits on the management side: preparing budgets and financial reports, planning staff requirements, auditing irrigation systems, and managing chemical use safely and legally. It suits grounds staff moving into head curator, golf course superintendent or facility manager roles, where you are accountable for other people's work and for the condition of surfaces that get heavy use.

  • Managing sports turf programs
  • Planning playing surface construction
  • Renovating worn turf surfaces
  • Soil health and nutrition
  • Irrigation system auditing
  • Budgets, reports and staffing

Units of competency (10 core, 4 elective)

The qualification is made up of 14 units. Everyone completes the 10 core units below, and the remaining 4 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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Career pathways

Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.

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