The winner of the ICL & Syngenta sponsored Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year award has been announced as William Fitzpatrick.

The award is part of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board’s (KWETB) Greenkeeping Training Course run at Naas Golf Club in Kerdiffstown, County Kildare. For a period of 48 weeks participants incorporate theory training while gaining valuable hands on practical greenkeeping experience at a number of golf courses.


L to R. David Perdisatt the assistant Course Co-ordinator, William Fitzpatrick, Colman Warde – Country Manager, ICL and Aisling Mahon, Course Co-ordinator.

The theory aspect of the course covers eight Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) modules including Establishing Turfgrass, Horticultural Science, Plant Identification Care and Maintenance, Safe Horticultural Practice and Establishing Trees and Shrubs. The course, which has been running for ten years, leads to a FETAC Level 4 Certification in Horticulture specialising in greenkeeping.

It provides an opportunity for aspiring greenkeepers and opens the door to a number of options such as employment, further education or even an internship in Ohio, USA, where students have the chance to work at golf courses like Bay Hill and Pebble Beach.

Each year one of the participants is selected as the student of the year, which recognises the individual who has performed the best – both academically and practically. This year saw William Fitzpatrick, from Laois; pick up the award after he demonstrated great practical skills as well as receiving a distinction in all eight modules.

While on the course William proved to be a very diligent student who also picked up practical experience by working at Dunmurry Springs Golf Club. He was a model student always willing to go the extra mile and is now looking forward to starting his new job at Portarlington Golf Club in Laoise. William, who has recently become a father for the first time, plans to continue with his studies in Sportsturf Science and someday hopes to fulfil his aspirations to be a Course Superintendent.

The presentation took place at Naas Golf Club, where William was presented with his award by Colman Warde, ICL’s Country Manager for Ireland.