08 June 2009

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA congratulated CAFRE and the Golfing Union of Ireland on the opening of a Greenkeeping and Golf Academy at Greenmount Campus.

Speaking at the opening, which she performed jointly with P J Collins, President of the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Minister said: “Golf is a very popular sport across these islands and the development of these cutting edge training facilities at Greenmount will offer a further boost to the sport locally. The development of this project provides a great illustration of the benefits which can materialise when industry and my Department work closely together. This facility will enhance the training of green keepers, facilitate technology work in sportsturf and help train the next generation of top golfers.   

“I would like to thank the Golfing Union of Ireland for their support in this project and for funding cadetships for two trainee greenkeepers each year. These new facilities are very impressive and offer an excellent resource to the local golfing fraternity, placing the new academy right up there with the best in Ireland and Britain. The ultimate goal with these new facilities is that not only can existing golfers take advantage, but that future generations of greenkeeping students and young golfers will benefit for many years to come”.  

P J Collins, President of the Golfing Union of Ireland spoke of his delight at seeing the project come to fruition. P J said “I am delighted to be here today to see this project materialise, a project which I was involved in at its inception back in 2005. It offers a wonderful resource for our elite young golfers to raise their game to world standards. We in the GUI appreciate the work of CAFRE in producing highly skilled greenkeepers to maintain and manage our golf courses. I look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with the College”.

The facility includes an 8 bay driving range, a short game practice area, as well as three complete holes including water hazards and bunkers so that the golfers can experience the normal challenges of a course. First to drive off was Rory McIlroy, a product of the Ulster Branch training scheme, and a world champion in his own right having won on the European Tour for the first time in 2009. Rory complimented the GUI and CAFRE saying “This facility will ensure that there will be many young golfers from the North prepared to challenge for the game’s honours in years to come. It is a truly excellent facility with top class greens and tees which are a real credit to the college staff who are training our greenkeepers”.  

New Greenkeeping and Golf Academy at Greenmount Campus