Establishes and maintains fine turf, grassed areas and synthetic surfaces used for sporting events. May also be known as Sports Turf Trades Worker or Turf Tradesperson. Specialisations include Grounds Curator and Sportsground Foreperson.

Prepares seedbeds for new turf; establishes and maintains turf by watering, over-sowing or over-seeding, and repairing green damage; mows, rolls, and levels turf; pegs and marks out lines and logos, installs nets, posts, and stumps, and places other sports equipment on playing areas; operates and maintains hand and power driven equipment such as mowers, aerators, cultivators, corers, and line-marking equipment; constructs cricket wickets, tennis courts, and bowling, croquet, and golf greens; replants, repairs, aerates, fertilises, and top-dresses lawns; diagnoses, treats, and prevents turf pests and diseases; installs and maintains synthetic surfaces; may maintain buildings, fences, and surrounding gardens; may keep basic records; and may oversee and coordinate other workers.

• Works outdoors at sports grounds or other amenity areas and carries out turf culture and maintenance. Works in most weather conditions, and often may carry out a range of other gardening and general maintenance activities on buildings and surrounding areas.
• Will use horticultural pesticides and fertilisers and various soil mixture additives frequently. Protective clothing and breathing apparatus may be required.

• Medium to very heavy physical demand level. Lifting and carrying of bags of fertiliser and other items of equipment or materials is likely to be necessary on an occasional basis, up to the level of very heavy physical demand.
• Stands and walks frequently unless driving machinery. Occasionally stretches up or across for some general maintenance tasks. Occasionally squats, crouches, bends, and kneels in relation to lifting and planting. Occasionally twists the body or neck if operating tractors, ride-on mowers, rollers, or other equipment.
• Repetitive movements will be occasional for activities such as levelling of ground or other general maintenance work such as painting or hammering. The use of hand tools both manual and mechanical is likely to be frequent. Will need to spray fertilisers and pesticides on an occasional to frequent basis.
• Driving and/or operation of a variety of vehicles and tractor-driven or hand-held cultivating machinery equipment is likely to be required, particularly in a golf course context.
• Mental skills necessary include practical, organisational, problem-solving, measuring, and basic record-keeping skills.

A NZQF Level 4 qualification or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3). In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient. A minimum of a Class 1 Driver Licence is likely to be required for many roles. A spray and/or chemical handling certification is likely to be required for many roles, and may be able to be obtained while on-the-job.

• There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.
• Some tasks may be constant on a seasonal or rotational basis but only occur periodically.