From car care to turf care at CAFRE!

February 3, 2025

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) delivers Northern Ireland Apprenticeship training to support those working in the Horticulture sector.

CAFRE Greenmount Campus in Antrim offers Level 2 and Level 3 courses in Horticulture. These courses enable Apprentices to specialise in Sports Turf or Landscaping.

Alex Kane, from Bushmills, lives in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the North Antrim coast. He decided to swap his car care profession to specialise in turf care. Alex is surrounded by golf courses, with some of the most spectacular scenery on the island.

Following sixteen years in the motor industry, Alex gained employment with Bushfoot Golf Club, Portballintrae. As part of his training Alex enrolled on the Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture, specialising in Sports Turf at Greenmount Campus, Antrim.

Alex said, “I have always been a keen golfer. So, whenever the greenkeeping opportunity at Bushfoot Golf Club became available, I went for it! It has been the best decision I have ever made.” Working on a course that combines links and parkland elements Alex has found that there is huge amount to learn in turf care. “Studying one day a week at CAFRE has given me an excellent foundation of knowledge. I am excited to see where my new career in the industry could take me”.

Alex’s story is a fantastic example of how an Apprenticeship course is suitable for all ages. If you are interested in working in the sports turf industry, discover if our full-time programme or Apprenticeship training suits you. You can view our horticulture courses here to learn more. CAFRE’s Open Day for Horticulture courses is on Wednesday 26 March. Book now to attend by clicking here.