First Green: Inspiring the next generation of greenkeepers

Golf courses are awesome - they are living, growing habitats and havens for wildlife. Greenkeepers are the professionals who look after the golf course, using STEM skills daily to help them promote nature and the environment.

First Green trips provide fun outdoor learning activities, with a bit of golf thrown in, on golf courses nationwide.

What is First Green?

First Green brings real-world STEM learning to life on local golf courses, helping young people see how science, technology, engineering, and maths play out in nature and careers. It’s a fun, inclusive field trip using learning stations connecting classroom learning with outdoor exploration and real industry skills.

Practical STEM learning

The First Green initiative benefits young people by helping them apply their classroom knowledge in an outdoor setting, all delivered in a safe, real-world workplace environment, surrounded by nature. Each station on a field trip features science, technology, engineering or maths skills used by professional greenkeepers every , with all stations linked to the current UK curriculum and endorsed by STEM Learning. To find out more about the lesson plans we have designed check out the First Green Toolkit and take a look at how they map to the UK curriculum here

Creating new learning opportunities

The aim of First Green is to help young people learn about careers in golf, what those roles actually involve, and the skills and knowledge needed to do them well. By seeing how STEM concepts are used in real world golf course settings, students can better understand how classroom learning connects to working life. This approach helps build awareness, curiosity and confidence, allowing young people to picture themselves in these roles and recognise the relevance of their school subjects to future careers.

Career opportunities

STEM education opens doors to a wide range of career pathways, many of which are accessible to students from all socio-economic backgrounds and offer long term, rewarding prospects. Through First Green, we want to help our members show young people that careers in golf are not limited to the more obvious STEM roles, but include greenkeeping as a skilled, technical and professional career. This programme supports and complements the advice given by teachers and parents, and aims to spark the realisation that greenkeeping is a viable, fulfilling and respected career choice.

How can I get involved?

Are you interested in hosting a First Green field trip at your Golf Club or are you a school or group interested in attending an event? If so, please click the links below to get started!