NAW 2025: Michael Russell

In our next instalment for National Apprentice Week 2025, we have a case study account from Deputy Head Greenkeeper, Michael Russell (Poulton Park Golf Club). He paid thanks to his apprenticeship for what he has achieved so far... 

Why did you decide to study the Golf Greenkeeping apprenticeship? Why did you choose Oldham College?

Prior to commencing my Level 2 apprenticeship in Golf Greenkeeping in October 2019, I was a Civil Servant in UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for six years. Although a steady and stable career and I’d progressed very well, I don’t feel that I ever had a passion and I always felt a change may be needed in future  - although I didn’t know what this would be!

I have a love for the outdoors and, after seeing some pictures posted by a friend (Course Manager of The Warrington Golf Club) and a couple of phone calls later, he invited me for two morning shifts. I still remember my first morning doing set up with simple tasks like moving tee markers, edging and cleaning tee plates, switching tees etc. Being outside on a summer morning, learning new things - I was already hooked.

Following my second morning shift, John informed me that a trainee greenkeeper position was available if I felt the time was right. I handed my notice in at UKVI that week and started full time four weeks later. Having now been in the career over five years, about to undergo assessment for completion of my Level 3 certificate in Golf Greenkeeping, and recently gaining promotion to deputy head greenkeeper, it’s safe to say I’ve never looked back.

Other greenkeepers within Warrington Golf Club had completed their apprenticeship through an alternative college, however, the organisation of tutor-learner meetings; communication between the club and the college; progress assessments etc, had been quite poor. John chose to contact Oldham college as another option. My tutor, Phil Lomas, attended the club to introduce himself to myself and John and could not have been more professional. My relationship with Phil has grown from strength to strength. I hugely value his knowledge, planning and organisation, and I think he values the passion I have for the career and appreciates that it was a brave decision to move in to greenkeeping.

I think the fact that I chose to continue my learning with him for my Level 3 and also recommended him to my Course Manager Jonny Roberts when I was at Preston Golf Club (who then ultimately signed up three additional learners to Phil) speaks volumes. I could not have made a better decision in choosing Phil and Oldham college to complete my studies.

What day-to-day tasks would you complete on your apprenticeship?

With regards to Level 2, this would be “learning the basics”. This was everything from personal and professional development; health and safety, preparing machinery and understanding safe and correct usage, renovation and repair of turf, grass, seed, weed, trees and shrubs identification etc. More specifically, it would be completing various practical assessments to display my competence, i.e. applying fertiliser, changing holes, cutting greens, moving tee markers, preparing ground for seed/turf, rolling turf etc.

In terms of Level 3, some of the content was quite similar but this would be project management and leading teams completing such tasks. Moreover, it would be in-depth planning of environmental management, consideration of finance and budgeting, planning an integrated pest management (IPM) programme, organising winter projects assessing drainage, irrigation, machinery servicing/upgrades etc. Having a passion for the career, I’ve then chosen to complete further research and supplement my learning with attendance at BTME, research of specific learning areas etc. 

Give some examples of knowledge, skills and behaviours developed on your apprenticeship

I think most are outlined in the previous answers, but one skill extremely important in greenkeeping is constant communication. Whether this be with your team on a daily basis, planning future work and winter projects, discussion with committees, interaction with members etc. Without this, I feel that it is extremely hard to be successful in the career. 

Tell us about the highlight(s) of your apprenticeship

I wouldn’t say that I have one overall highlight of my apprenticeship, but what stands out most for me is that I’ve never felt that I’ve stopped learning. Whether this be with consideration of agronomy and how to understand and manage hundreds of different living species, how the management of land is vastly different on a parkland, to heathland, to downland, to links, the understanding of an IPM programme and how to make it most environmentally and sustainably friendly, machinery and adjusting cut setup to ensure the best quality, turf physiology, turf entomology, turf pathology, soil science, irrigation, drainage, arboriculture etc. 

The industry is full of passionate people who want to present the best golf course they can. Just discussing greenkeeping with each and every greenkeeper out there is so beneficial and completing my apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to do that.   

Moreover, the apprenticeship itself gave me the baseline for what greenkeeping is all about and given me career progression. Through Phil at Oldham College and BIGGA, I have had additional opportunities including: 

• Part of the Warrington Golf Club team that won Environmental golf club of the year in January 2020
• Attendance of British Turf Management Exhibition in January each year.
• Completion of PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates February 2020.
• Awarding of an ICL scholarship in January 2021 which allowed me to complete £350 worth of educational classes at BTME.
•  National finalist of the TORO Student Greenkeeper of the Year (SGOTY) award September 2021.
• Completion of CS30 and CS31 chainsaw licence in November 2021.
• Completion of PA2 spraying certificate November 2022.
• Completion of the Jacobsen Future Turf Managers Initiative (FTMI) in January 2023.
• Winner of the TORO SGOTY 2023
• Completion of Winter Turf School through University of Massachussets (UMASS) Amherst January-March 2024.
•  Winner of the Oldham College apprentice of the year for horticulture 2024.
• Attendance at the TORO machinery HQ, research and development centre and factories in Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA, August 2024
• Completion of a two week work program at Adare golf club (Adare Manor, ROI) in November 2024.

Describe the support you received from Oldham College

Completion of my Level 2 during the timing of COVID-19 was difficult due to limited site visits, being furloughed, the delay in learning opportunities etc. However, Phil constantly communicated with me during this time through phone calls/zoom chats and when site visits were possible, he was there to provide in-person support at the earliest opportunity when it was safe to do so. I think the way Phil handled my apprenticeship throughout this time, as I’m sure they did with every apprenticeship within the college, says how organised and professional an establishment they are.

I also didn’t make it easy for Phil when I changed from Warrington Golf Club where I was a trainee greenkeeper to Greenkeeper and Ecology Manager at Preston Golf Club whilst still undertaking my Level 2. I’ve then recently done this again during my Level 3 when changing from First Assistant Greenkeeper at Ormskirk Golf Club to Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Poulton Park Golf club! I know this has created additional work for Phil and Oldham college with transferring all the relevant information and communicating with the new club, but Phil has handled this professionally and courteously (which I’m extremely grateful for!). 

Myself and Phil have a professional relationship but having now known him for over five years, I’ve got married and had two children in that time. I’ve felt that Phil has always appreciated the difficulty of me starting my career again and been there on both a professional and personal level whenever I’ve needed that support, i.e. some additional time to complete certain sections of the apprenticeship or a break in learning when completing winter turf school to allow me to focus on what was most important at that time. I couldn’t have asked for more.

What have your next steps been since completing your apprenticeship?

The information I’ve stated above probably outlines my career path, but I’m currently Deputy Head greenkeeper at Poulton Park golf club and about to complete my Level 3 apprenticeship in December 2024. I will be considering the Level 5 certificate or online Sportsturf science degree going forward.

I can envisage myself as course manager in the future, however, I have never worked on a links course and I feel that this would be needed in a position such as first assistant/senior greenkeeper to “learn my trade” on the links if I ultimately wanted to manage an Open Championship course one day. We’ll see what the future holds.