In November 2024, Wiltshire College & University Centre hosted a hands-on masterclass for its Sports Turf students, supported by International Greenkeepers for Hire and Dennis Mowers. Held at Swindon Supermarine Football Club, the event gave Level 2 students the opportunity to refine their practical skills, essential for their end-point assessments.
The day began with introductions and a briefing on on-site safety and etiquette. Students then learned about repairing sports turf surfaces, addressing issues like bare patches, dew removal, and seeding. They had the opportunity to seed a bare area and cover it with a grow sheet, and we discussed the benefits of retaining the heat and moisture during seed germination.
Later in the morning, Robert Jack from Howardson Group and Dennis Mowers led a session on cylinder mower setup. This involved calibrating equipment for the precise and efficient mowing of a sports pitch. Students practiced setting up the mowers and mowing the pitch, while staff took photos and videos for their portfolios.
The afternoon introduced additional challenges, including material application. Using kiln-dried sand, students calibrated and applied the material evenly across the turf, focusing on attention to detail and maintaining consistency across large areas.
Line marking rounded off the day, with students using the 3-4-5 method to mark precise corners and straight lines. They worked on youth pitches and practiced marking a short section of a field, focusing on producing sharp, professional results.
All in all, the masterclass was a success, and we’re well aware that days like this don’t happen without support. Thanks to Swindon Supermarine Football Club for providing the venue, and to Robert from Dennis Mowers for demonstrating a cylinder cassette setup for the students.
We’re always interested in working with anyone who might be interested in supporting future events, whether by offering a venue or sharing expertise. We want to give emerging sports turf professionals every opportunity to enter the industry fully prepared.
Interested in collaborating on a future turf masterclass? Contact Bradley at info@internationalgreenkeepers.com.