Need advice on size/shape of basement putting green/mat...

[zanemoseley]

So my second season of golf is nearing its end and I'm looking at something to keep me doing something this Winter. I have a large basement although half (1000 sq/ft) is already a dedicated woodworking shop. I cannot get by with a full swing due to the ceiling height but a putting mat/green would be an option.

I work for a production cabinet plant so I can build the green platform relatively inexpensive or even free from scraps but the synthetic turf is $2.50+ per sq/ft delivered from what I've seen, not using crappy green outdoor carpet. The material I've found is in 15' widths,  you just buy the length in the other direction you want. http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Wide-Artificial-Synthetic-Turf-Putting-Green-Grass-/220812487341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var;=&hash;=item7914e636f7

What I can't decide is the shape of the green. I may be able to fit something as large as 7' x 15' (turf cost $240) with 3-4 holes, I could also shape it a bit but that would be for looks more than anything. Alternatively I could do a straight 2' x 15' (turf cost $80) that would only have one hole, I could move closer/further from the hole to practice different length putts.

So would I gain much of anything from a larger multi-hole green in which the longest putt is not much longer than 15' and many of the holes for the most part are redundant? I guess more than anything the larger green would just have the "cool" factor that a smaller straight green would lack.

[mikelegacy]

I have a 14x4' putting green in my bed room that I bought from birdie ball. It's like a synthetic foam surface. Kind of weird but it rolls JUST like a green. Anyways the advantage to a wider surface is being able to add contour surfaces that have break instead of a straight putt all the time. For me I wanted the opportunity to create hills and breaks in my green so it's more like a real roll. The 7x15 sounds like the winner to me. In wish I found that surface you did. I paid $130 for my green and it's not synthetic turf, more like a foam. It's squishy when you walk on it hahaha

[zanemoseley]

Well thats part of the issue, how do I add contour to an indoor putting green? And if I were to add contour to the substrate how do you then cover it with the synthetic turf without getting wrinkling or other problems. I guess if the contour was gradual then it wouldn't pose a problem with covering. Otherwise its just redundant straight putts.

[UnderdogGolf]

Here is an article from a few years ago that might give you some ideas for the indoor putting green as well as ways to add contour to it: http://thesandtrap.com/b/training/build_your_own_8_x_8_indoor_putting_green_cheaply

[zanemoseley]

Yeah I saw that tutorial the other night, I saw how he just shimmed it to create break.. I have access to some pretty capable software at work as well as a CNC panel router for cutting curves in parts but that would mainly be for making the perimeter shape cool. I had an idea of somehow trying to blend/slope the height of the main putting surface (say 6") with the concrete basement floor with some type of material and apply a rough type turf for some short chipping. I could possibly get away with some 15-16' chips.

I also checked out the Birdie Ball putting mat. It looked a bit promising. I even looked and I could fit the 27' x 4' mat in my basement if I could fold it up when I wanted to play pool. But I searched for some reviews of it and some are better than others. Sounds like the consensus is that they putt ok but look kind of cheapy. Not great considering I was looking at spending almost $200 for the long one to get my putting in shape. I know $200 isn't much for a mat but I don't like wasting money on something that doesn't last.

[mikelegacy]

Yeah I saw that tutorial the other night, I saw how he just shimmed it to create break.. I have access to some pretty capable software at work as well as a CNC panel router for cutting curves in parts but that would mainly be for making the perimeter shape cool. I had an idea of somehow trying to blend/slope the height of the main putting surface (say 6") with the concrete basement floor with some type of material and apply a rough type turf for some short chipping. I could possibly get away with some 15-16' chips.

I also checked out the Birdie Ball putting mat. It looked a bit promising. I even looked and I could fit the 27' x 4' mat in my basement if I could fold it up when I wanted to play pool. But I searched for some reviews of it and some are better than others. Sounds like the consensus is that they putt ok but look kind of cheapy. Not great considering I was looking at spending almost $200 for the long one to get my putting in shape. I know $200 isn't much for a mat but I don't like wasting money on something that doesn't last.

No that turf you were looking at on Ebay or whatever was probably better than the birdieball one. Im in college and broke, so the birdie ball one worked for me. I didn't have $500 to spend on the materials for a nice one ;)

[zanemoseley]

Ok well I've decided I'm just going to make my own outdoor putting green in my backyard lol. I live on a a 2 acre sloped lot and my backyard/sideyard already has a 1000 sqft vegi garden but I have plenty of room left for a green. It should have plenty of nice breaks. I was worried about the cost of the greens mower but I've found a McLane push greens mower for just over $300, or I may look at used powered unit but repair costs scare me. My biggest hurdle is going to be my crappy TN clay soil, I'll have to heavily amend the soil to improve its drainage.

I will probably get a small indoor green to practice on this winter though.