GETC: Horticulture (Sports Turf) NQF Level 1	SAQA ID. No. 49668
National Certificate: Horticulture (Sports Turf) NQF Level 2	SAQA ID. No. 66589
National Certificate: Landscape Irrigation (Sports Turf) NQF Level 2	SAQA ID. No. 66429
National Certificate: Sports Turf Maintenance NQF Level 4	SAQA ID. No. 21024

THE LEVEL 4 QUALIFICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE

Short skills programmes deliver targeted industry needs, preparing a trainee to have specific skills.

Our Level 1 – 4 skills programmes contain 10 unit standards that are formulated to deliver training within Sports Turf specialisations. Importantly, the skills programmes are endorsed by the TGMASA (Turf Grass Managers Association of South Africa). A student can earn credits towards full qualifications.

• Arboricultural Practices
• Operate Specialised Walk Behind Mowers
• Maintain Bunkers
• Tee Maintenance
• Rough Maintenance
• Putting Green Maintenance
• Mowing Practices
• Irrigation
• Chainsaw Operation
• Brushcutter Maintenance
• Health and Safety
• Pesticide Application and Control

The requirements of the Health and Safety Act are covered in individual modules.

Through the TGMASA’s commitment to improving the standard of education in the Sports Turf Maintenance Industry for existing employees, as well as people wishing to enter the industry, we have constructed a Level 1, 2 and 3 Skills Programme that is delivered through correspondence throughout Southern Africa.

The correspondence programme is run in conjunction with BC Landscape Training Sports Turf Skills Development who are a fully accredited training provider with Agri Seta. The programme will be conducted through registered industry Unit Standards.

SPORTS TURF MAINTENANCE NQF LEVEL 1 CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

The correspondence programme is made up of 10 modules of tuition.

Module 1 – Soils – Unit Standard 119696
Module 2 – Drainage – Unit Standard 14395
Module 3 – Grass Growth – Unit Standard 119690
Module 4 – Grass Plant – Unit Standard 119711
Module 5 – Fertilizers – Unit Standard 116206
Module 6 – Pesticide Application – Unit Standard 264185
Module 7 – Combustion Engine – Unit Standard 246759
Module 8 – Mowing Machines – Unit Standard 119697
Module 9 – Tractors – Unit Standard 117076
Module 10 – Brushcutters – Unit Standard 264182

SPORTS TURF MAINTENANCE NQF LEVEL 2 CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

The correspondence programme is made up of 12 modules of tuition.

Module 1 – Site Preparation – Unit Standard 116158
Module 2 – Drainage (continued) – Unit Standard 14395
Module 3 – Establish Grass by Vegetative & Non Vegetative methods – Unit Standard 119690
Module 4 – Grass Growth – Planting & Establishment by Seed – Unit Standard 119704
Module 5 – Advanced Fertilizers – Unit Standard 119695
Module 6 – Advanced Pesticide Application – Unit Standard 264185
Module 7 – Managing Chemicals – Unit Standard 116065
Module 8 – Health & Safety – Unit Standard 264058
Module 9 – Irrigation – Unit Standard 264107
Module 10 – Advanced Mowers – Unit Standard 264194
Module 11 – Hydraulic Systems – Unit Standard 251923
Module 12 – General Equipment Handling & Storage – Unit Standard 116275

SPORTS TURF MAINTENANCE NQF LEVEL 3 CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

The correspondence programme is made up of 11 modules of tuition.

Module 1 – Maintaining Bunkers
Module 2 – Identify and control common pests in the horticultural environment – Unit Standard 264236
Module 3 – Identify and control nutrient deficiencies – Unit Standard 264258
Module 4 – Monitor and maintain health and safety standards – Unit Standard 264234
Module 5 – Transplant and establish trees – Unit Standard 264315
Module 6 – Putting Greens
Module 7 – Operate specialised mowers – Unit Standard 264195
Module 8 – Operate and maintain specific Irrigation Systems – Unit Standard 116066
Module 9 – Budgeting
Module 10 – The Rough
Module 11 – Tee & Tee Maintenance

At the end of each module is a Question and Answer paper that needs to be completed by the student in order to assess their level of understanding in each module. Each question should consist of a minimum of 100 words to a maximum of 500 words. All of the information required is contained in the learning material.

Once registered on the programme you will receive your learning material and a student reference number. Your completed question and answer sheet can be forwarded by email to bob@bclandcape.co.za or posted to P O Box 7579, Weltevreden Park, 1715, or faxed to 086 513 4445. On receipt of the question and answer paper, and it being marked, you will receive a mark out of 10 for each question answered. You would be expected to obtain at least a 50% pass rate. On completion of your Level 1 Skills programme you will receive a certificate endorsed by the TGMASA (Turf Grass Managers Association of South Africa) and you will be registered on the database as successfully completing the programme.

BC Sports Turf Skills Development, in conjunction with the TGMASA (Turf Grass Managers Association of South Africa), has developed a qualification in Sports Turf Maintenance that has been aligned with international standards.

The qualification is available to existing employees within the industry or to individuals who wish to enter the industry. The qualification can be conducted through distance learning or at a golf course facility, where the student can gain practical exposure.

The student within the qualification can select a Sports Turf discipline of their choice. These include Cricket, Horseracing, Field Sports and Bowling.

The qualification is broken down into 10 modules of instruction, which include:

1.	The Grass Plant and Soils – grass plant biology, warm season grasses, cool season grasses, the effects of mowing and playing stress, soil profiles, soils and their characteristics, organic soil amendments, all weather surfaces.
2.	Fertilization – how the grass plant utilizes nutrients, macro nutrients, micro nutrients, fertilizer types, fertilizer application.
3.	Prepare and Establish Natural Grass Surfaces – prepare levels, final grading, surface preparation, vegetative establishment, establishment from seed.
4.	Basic Principles of Mowers and Secondary Cultural Practices – mower range, productivity and mowing, first parades and machine maintenance, mower safety code, secondary cultural practices, winter overseeding.
5.	Pest and Disease Control – insect entomology, basic study of mycophyta, recognition of insect damage, insect pest identification, recognition of grass plant diseases, pest and disease control, insecticides, fungicides, application, safety/storage/issuing, weed anatomy, perennial weeds, annual weeds, the impact of weeds, poa annua control, herbicides.
6.	Sports Turf Equipment and Maintenance – four and two stroke engines, the diesel engine, maintenance principles, tractors, secondary cultivation equipment, electrical hand held equipment.
7.	Golf Course Specific Practices – golf course design and construction, the putting green, the tee, the fairway, the rough, bunker construction and maintenance, championship/tournament, competition preparation.
8.	Irrigation – principles of design, irrigation components, working from irrigation plans, installation, maintenance of irrigation systems, LIA code of standards.
9.	Golf Course Management – general golf course management.
10.	Grass Species and Plant Identification – principles of classification, naming of cultivated plants (plant identification test).

Existing Sports Turf employees, who have a minimum of three years working experience in the industry at managerial level, can participate in the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) programme.