Launch date set for BIGGA Professional Leadership Programme

 Our new Professional Leadership Programme will launch in September 2026, marking a significant step forward in the association’s commitment to developing confident, capable leaders across the golf and turf management sector.

Mapped at Level 4, the programme has been specifically designed to bridge the gap between Level 3 supervisory and technical and Level 5 management and agronomic qualifications. It provides a vital progression route for those who have moved beyond technical competence, and are beginning to take on leadership, supervisory and management responsibilities, but who may not yet be ready for, or yet suited to, a full Level 5 apprenticeship or equivalent.

Developed in collaboration with St Andrews Management Centre and EPIC Ltd, the programme is tailored to the realities of golf course and club operations. Rather than traditional classroom-based learning, it focuses on applied leadership, real-world management scenarios, reflective practice and practical activities that are directly relevant to participants’ day-to-day roles.

The programme is recognised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), ensuring it meets nationally recognised standards for leadership and management excellence. Upon successful completion, graduates will achieve Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status, providing formal professional recognition and a strong platform for future progression to higher-level study or apprenticeships.

The Professional Leadership Programme is aimed at current and aspiring supervisors, team leaders, deputy head greenkeepers, first assistants and those transitioning into management roles, as well as experienced practitioners who have developed leadership responsibility organically but are seeking structured development and professional recognition.

“The Professional Leadership Programme represents a significant step forward in how we support the development of leaders within greenkeeping and golf club operations,” said Rob Phillips, BIGGA’s education director. “By working closely with St Andrews Management Centre and EPIC Ltd, and securing recognition from the Chartered Management Institute, we have created a programme that is practical, credible and genuinely relevant to the realities of our industry. This is about equipping people with the confidence, skills and professional recognition they need to lead teams, manage change and shape the future of golf.”

The launch of the Professional Leadership Programme reinforces our wider ambition to provide clear, high- quality education and development pathways for our members, supporting both individual career progression and the long-term sustainability of golf clubs and facilities across the UK and internationally.