Skip to main content

Greenkeeping Cadetship Programme

Horticulture > Greenkeeping Cadetship Programme

Horticulture
Course Duration

Full-time: 1 year

Course Location

Greenmount Campus

Greenkeeping Cadetship Programme

In association with Golf Ireland, CAFRE offers a Greenkeeping Cadetship programme.The programme is aimed at people aged 16-24 who have a keen interest in developing a career in greenkeeping. Golf Ireland supports two or three greenkeeping students per year with a generous financial bursary. Each year cadets are selected on the basis of competitive interview by a panel of Golf Ireland and CAFRE representatives. The Cadetship is a full-time programme completed over the course of one year.The candidates selected complete the City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture (Sports Turf Greenkeeper) programme and gain practical experience while working on the sports turf areas and campus grounds.

Course content

Main areas of study are:

  • Effective working relationships
  • Health and safety
  • Maintain the health and condition of sports turf surfaces
  • Personal development
  • Repair of sports turf surfaces
  • Site preparation, seeding and planting
  • Tractor operation
  • Use of machinery and equipment

The Cadetship programme gives each cadet the opportunity to meet and interact with the industry professionals at seminars, demonstrations and turf trade events including national events such as BTME (Harrogate), SALTEX (Birmingham NEC) and GLAS (Dublin).

Cadets also assist at in-house CAFRE events such as Sports Turf Matters and information events where they are ambassadors for the Golf Greenkeeping sector.

Course Progression

This course may provide students with an opportunity to progress onto the Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture, Sports Turf Management.

The Level 2 qualification produces skilled operatives who can quickly become key workers within the grounds care and sports turf sectors. This qualification may allow students to obtain better rates of pay, permanent positions or alternative job roles within the industry.

Course Entry Requirements

Applicants must have relevant practical experience and a minimum of four GCSE Grade Cs or equivalent including English Language and Mathematics and a keen interest in the game of golf.

The course offers a blend of practical instruction and classroom based learning centred on the Golf and Greenkeeping Academy at Greenmount Campus, Antrim.

Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Foundation Level are not considered as meeting entry requirements for CAFRE programmes.  If you require guidance on entry qualifications please email the Key Contact for this course.

Apply for this Course
Interested in this course, but have a few questions?

Get in touch for helpful advice.

Contact us
Greenmount Campus

Greenmount Campus is the centre of all things green – that’s agricultural, horticultural and environmental providing an idyllic rural setting for your land-based studies.

      Interested in this course, but have a few questions?

      Get in touch for helpful advice.

      Contact us

      Course validated by:

      city & guilds logo

      Offered in association with:

      Golf Ireland logo
      Adam Ferguson

      Key Contact

      Adam Ferguson
      Senior Lecturer (Horticulture)

      Adam.Ferguson@daera-ni.gov.uk

      Publications

      FAQ

      Frequently Asked Questions