My new backyard putting green

[pchaney301]

Thats awesome. We've been talking about possibly putting one in the back yard, but just havn't pulled the trigger yet.

Have fun with it.

[TD22057]

Thanks everyone - I'm totally stoked about this. FYI cost was just under $10/sq ft.

I don't think it's all that difficult to do - the expertise is in the cutting and seaming. It starts with a bed of heavily compacted decomposed granite that's sets the slope. Then the grass is nailed (big stainless steel nails) down to that. The expertise is in getting the seams done right. I didn't watch that part so I'm not sure how it's done. The heavy labor is in filling the green w/ sand - put down a layer of sand w/ a fertilizer spreader and then work it in with brooms (they had a snow blower like machine w/ big bristles to do this). When done, top dress it with green sand to make it look nicer and roll it to lock the fibers down and get the desired green speed.

There are basically two kinds of artificial greens. A carpet like version that's just unrolled. It's smoother and more uniform but over time the fibers lay down and you can't fluff them up easily, and it won't react to chips very well. The sand/grass version (what I have), is 1-1.5" long grass that's filled with sand and rolled. It's harder (impossible) to get a completely uniform surface like the carpet but it should last longer and reacts more realistically to chips. There is more maintenance w/ this model (refill sand, brush with broom to fluff fibers up (slower green), roll to heavy roller to smooth (faster green) but I think it's better in the longer run.

I put in some gentle slope but in hind sight I'd do more. I was worried about that part - too much slope and it would be unusable - not enough and it's a little boring. Since it was really hard to tell how much the grass was going to dampen the slope when forming the decomposed granite, I opted for less slope since that was the safer choice. I went a little too far on the "less slope" path but I think it was the right way to go w/ the information I had at the time.

[billm408]

Great job! That's sweet!!

[CG031]

I put in some gentle slope but in hind sight I'd do more. I was worried about that part - too much slope and it would be unusable - not enough and it's a little boring. Since it was really hard to tell how much the grass was going to dampen the slope when forming the decomposed granite, I opted for less slope since that was the safer choice. I went a little too far on the "less slope" path but I think it was the right way to go w/ the information I had at the time.

Yeah, that's another thing I was wondering. IMO, if you had put too much slope in, it really wouldn't be much practice...you can really grove your stroke with just a slight 'break' in putts or slope.

[iacas]

Note: I've contemplated doing something like this myself, but I get snow in the winter and springs and falls can often result in a lot of rain. It wouldn't be worth it - I'm better off with something in my basement.

I dare say most everyone in the northern states probably feels the same way about a $6k to $8k investment.

[GolferGeek]

I hope you don't have any dogs. That would make for some difficult putts indeed!

[Marinemike]

Note: I've contemplated doing something like this myself, but I get snow in the winter and springs and falls can often result in a lot of rain. It wouldn't be worth it - I'm better off with something in my basement.

Agreed. I lived in a dumpy little town in Erie County for 14 years. I would

never do something like this where lake effect snow is a fact of life. Now in FL-GA...If I was going to stay in one place for a long time(and it wasn't already on a golf course) I might get myself a reel mower and make my property a practice facility.

[David in FL]

I'm thinkin' that after a couple of adult beverages, it'd be fun to go out into the front yard with the 60* and get some "closest to the pin" contests going!

Wife would need to be out of town for that, of course........

[TD22057]

Note: I've contemplated doing something like this myself, but I get snow in the winter and springs and falls can often result in a lot of rain. It wouldn't be worth it - I'm better off with something in my basement.

There's a simple solution to this -- dome your backyard

[ECT]

i'm thinkin' that after a couple of adult beverages, it'd be fun to go out into the

***rothflmo***

[Iowa Hawkeye]

You should have shaved one side a little and added more rough/fringe area to work chips and pitches. Do you have an area you could land pitches from there? Or are you short on grassy area?

[BirdIsTheWord]

Pitch out your 2nd floor window...just don't "big break" the glass!

[hokiebound]

This is some awesome stuff. I hope you enjoy it. :D

[Ed_Bighead]

Cool stuff. I wish I had one of those :-p

Unrelated @ hokiebound: Not that it's terribly important, but we play the same irons and the same golfball!

[Sandplay]

That is awesome the way you have put it in that area.
What do the neighbours think? haha

[rckwd]

Here's our new backward w/ a sand filled artificial putting green. 4 holes and about 600 sq ft. The small area near the patio serves as a chipping area. Overall it turned out great (after the usual contractor head aches). The lava rock beds are going to end up containing cactus and succulents (very low maintenance and low water).

I hate you already....

[capo]

That is so cool. Wish I could do that with my place. Enjoy it.

[bogeyhitter25]

that is so cool. if i had a couple grand to drop, i'd do so on a practice putting green.