THIS week's official opening of the Greenkeeping and Golfing Academy at CAFRE's Greenmount campus by Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew represents the beginning of a unique partnership between the college and the highest echelons of sport on this island and, possibly, beyond.
In essence, the arrangement between CAFRE and the Golfing Union of Ireland will allow the very cream of Ireland's golfing young talent to learn their trade whilst, at the same time, provide staff and students at Greenmount with the opportunity to gau
ge the impact of the 'cutting edge' greenkeeping and sports turf techniques they are committed to developing.
But as CAFRE lecturer Paul Campbell told Farming Life it is not just golf that will benefit from the work now underway at the College.
"Our courses are geared to allow students develop the skills and knowledge they need to develop and maintain the grass based playing surfaces required by any sporting organisation," he added.
"Different sports require different turf-based surfaces. We are now set up as a centre of excellence to teach young people the skills they need to work at the highest levels within the various sporting organisations. What's more, the qualifications on offer at CAFRE, from NVQ to Degree level, will allow our students to ply their trade anywhere in the world.
"We are already working with over 70 greenkeeping and sportsturf students each year. The courses are structured to address a wide range of issues including the relevance of various grass seed mixtures, sward management and weed control. We also teach a number of turf performance assessment techniques. This is particularly important within the world of golf where the speed of greens and the management systems that impact on this aspect of the game are so important.
"Our students are also made aware of the conservation and ecological dimensions to golf courses and other locations where sport and best land use management practices interface with one another."
The facilities at Greenmount have recently been used by the Northern Ireland football team, plus a number of senior County gaelic football and hurling panels.
"By working with the top sports people in Northern Ireland we will get excellent feedback on how our turf management systems are performing," concluded Paul Campbell.
Speaking at the opening of the Greenkeeping Academy the Farm Minister said: "Golf is a very popular sport and the development of these cutting edge training facilities at Greenmount will offer a further boost to the sport locally. Ireland, as we know, is one of the world's leading destinations for golf and excellent golfing facilities, such as this, can only further help enhance tourism in rural areas.
"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.
"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, 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 eight 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."
