The Master Greenkeeper Certificate is awarded to those members of BIGGA who have reached the highest standards of greenkeeping and golf course management.
Recognised as a prestigious greenkeeping industry award, the Master Greenkeeper Certificate is achieved through a three-stage process:
• Stage One – Education, training and experience
Candidates must earn a minimum of 200 Credits to complete Stage One. Credits are awarded for a range of formal and informal education and training and for years of greenkeeping experience. BIGGA CPD Credits can be used toward Stage One.
Stage One of the Master Greenkeeper Certificate is open to all Full members and International members of BIGGA.
To progress to Stages Two and Three, applicants must be Course Manager, Head Greenkeeper, or Superintendent and meet the following requirements:
- 10 years working as a greenkeeper
- 3 years working as a Head Greenkeeper/Course Manager/Superintendent
- 2 years on their current golf course in the position of Head Greenkeeper/Course Manager/Superintendent
- Be at CPD Approved status
• Stage Two - Assessment of golf course operation
Carried out by two Master Greenkeepers during the growing season, the candidate will undergo an inspection to assess the operation of the golf course. The inspection comprises eight areas: Staff Organisation; Financial Management; Record and Stock Control; Management Communication; Course Development Programme; Maintenance Compound; Machinery and Irrigation and Course Presentation.
• Stage Three – Case Study and Technical examination

2024 Examination dates:
25-26 April 2024
24-25 October 2024
Candidates will sit two, three hour examinations, a Case Study and a Technical paper. Held twice a year, the examinations are written and marked by a panel of assessors. Both examinations must be passed for successful completion of the Master Greenkeeper Certificate.
The Stages must be done in order i.e. the Assessment of golf course operation must be completed before the candidate becomes eligible to take the examinations.
All Master Greenkeepers are expected to be part of BIGGA's CPD Programme. All BIGGA members have their own online CPD account that can be accessed in the My BIGGA pages. Anyone joining the Master Greenkeeper scheme after 31 January 2005 will, on becoming a Master Greenkeeper, be expected to maintain a BIGGA CPD Approved status. For further details on BIGGA's CPD Programme visit the Continuing Professional Development page.
Download the Master Greenkeeper Certificate Brochure and Application Form below. Past exam papers, inspection forms and all other relevant documents are sent once a candidate has progressed to stage 2. All personal data collected from the application form is used for the processing and maintenance of your Master Greenkeeper application process and subsequently, the MG status once achieved. Data is not shared with any third party.
Master Greenkeeper Brochure
**Please note - BIGGA have moved premises, if you are posting in your Master Greenkeeper application form and certificates, please use the new address: BIGGA, Coxwold House, Easingwold Business Park, Birch Way, Easingwold, York, YO61 3FB.