Backyard putting green...

[SuaSponteMn]

So last year we had a really bad storm that knocked down a 75' Black Walnut tree in my back yard. I've spent the entire summer contemplating what to do with the hole that was left after the stump grinder did it's job; I've decided it's going to be a sand trap that will eventually have a packyard putting green right next to it. My questions are:

A) Are there more afforable synthetic options to the midwestputtinggreen.com 4000.00 scenario? Has anyone put one in themselves?

B) Does anyone have any suggestions on how to start preparing the area to grow bent grass, when I can buy the seed, etc? Would it be a bad idea to start now?

Any input would great
Thanks!
-Mike

[knock-down]

I've thought about doing this myself and it's just not worth the hassle- IMO.

It's super-expensive and way too time-consuming.

Instead, I joined a local club's (Prairie Landing in Illinois) practice facility. For $1,000/year I get two large buckets of balls per day, unlimited use of their practice holes, putting greens and short game areas. And greens free green's fees after 4PM.

[SuaSponteMn]

It's super-expensive and way too time-consuming.

So is having children.

Add to that they're both under the age of 7 and one is still an infant, they really aren't as welcome at practice facilities, especially those of the private club variety. Thanks for the feeback though, at this point I'm leaning more towards an actual bent grass green, a little more time consuming but substancially cheaper initially...

[knock-down]

.So is having children.

That's what I've been telling my wife and it's been working so far. ;)

... at this point I'm leaning more towards an actual bent grass green, a little more time consuming but substancially cheaper initially...

Is it cheaper though? You would need a special mower, fertalizers, pesticides, herbicides and the expertise to properly apply all of it.

I would go the synthetic route. Possibly even something indoors so you could use it all year long.

[georgep]

From what I've heard and seen (I know of someone who tried ... the experiment lasted about 3 months), unless you have experience setting up a bent grass green is difficult at best, and gettting a good final product even harder. Plus, it's susceptable to disease, fungi, etc. Look at how many courses lose greens every year, and they know what they're doing (presumably).

Putting in a synthetic green is quite a bit of work and you need to be careful to get things laid right, but once it's in there's not much to take care of. Personally, that's the way I'd go.

Here's a few other companies to check out. I don't sell any of these nor do I know anyone who does (I've just been dreaming of putting one in myself). Check out www.backyard-putting-greens.com/ (some prepackaged options for under $1K); www.synlawngolf.com/ (they sell turf, you install, lots of info); or just google putting greens. There are a ton of companies out there doing this now.

[SuaSponteMn]

Thanks for the links, I'll keep you updated on my progress. If I get the approval from the 'finance department' I'll post pics as I complete the process.

[knock-down]

Thanks for the links, I'll keep you updated on my progress. If I get the approval from the 'finance department' I'll post pics as I complete the process.

Your wife handles that stuff too?

[SuaSponteMn]

Your wife handles that stuff too?

Hey Hey Hey We're a partnership... or something I just don't really wanna have to worry about buying a tent and heater to place on said putting green for my permanent residence. After buying: 2 new drivers 2 new hybrids 5 new wedges The CG4 experiment that lead to the RAC Lt purchase And I topped it off with a new bag All this season, the same golf season we had our second little boy... Yeah, it's tough to get funding approval in this particular session, lol.

[knock-down]

After buying:

Yikes! I gotta show this to my wife....it'll maybe make her lighten up on me a bit. Our living room currently looks like a little pro shop from all of the crapp I've purchased this year. BTW- Anyone need a putter?

[SuaSponteMn]

Yikes! I gotta show this to my wife....it'll maybe make her lighten up on me a bit. Our living room currently looks like a little pro shop from all of the crapp I've purchased this year.

Bah, they're all facing the wrong direction

[Steven McFarlane]

So is having children.

Haha .. Backyard putting green would be nice :D

[Jarno]

Alright so to the subject at hand, our greens at my course (or job) cost roughly $100k to build, with proper drainage and seeding and all that fun stuff, but your thinking of around 1/3-1/4 that size? Probably $3-5k, without maintenance which my guys mow each green every morning. But you can get away with a day or two.

Now my second worry, your climate. Down here one of our local private clubs just changed a 18 of their 36 hole fairways to bent grass instead of bermuda or rye in the winter. I went over there during the renovation to talk to the supervision and he said they might have some trouble in the winter, but they've taken every step to insure nothing severe happens. Now I'm talking about at the most 20 degree nights in the Mid-Atlantic, not below 0's in the north. Because I think that will be your number one problem.

Good luck, I'm actually thinking of getting one of these now!

[golfchief]

I also got new RAC LT's, the seems to fly a littel higher and has more spin when they hit the green. Now I must try hitting closer to the hole on the fly because I get very little roll if any.

If you put in a grass putting green remember all the chemicals you'll hafe to store at home.

[kippax]

it wouldnt be too difficult to have a proper green in your garden. Well it wouldnt where im from,but im unsure of your climates & weather patterns.

drainage would be pretty easy to set up, drainage would be essential in UK.
drainage can be inexpensive if you know how.

a decent cylinder mower wouldnt be that exensive all you'd have to worry about with that is keeping the blades sharp. and cutting height would be crutial at winter.

scarifying often would encourage good growth.

chemicals are an issue, the best ones need the user to be licenced to use.
offer a local greenkeeper a few $'s to sort it for you.

[shakogolfer78]

I am looking to install one in my backyard and I am wondering what is the best company to do it through. Next, I was wondering what materials I would need to install it on my own. I am off to college this fall so money is tight I want a green, but money is an issue I dont want to spend over 4K. What can I get for 2-3 thousand dollars and have a fringe for chipping and a small bunker to get the full sjort game benefit. Thanks for the suggestions.

[BigBoy]

I am close to putting an offer on a house that has nice sized backyard, and this crossed my mind as well so I will be keeping an eye on this thread -

[deronsizemore]

Here are some company's that offer putting greens outside:

http://www.actionsportscompany.com/p...ens_index.html
http://www.southwestgreens.com/

Here's a company with a portable indoor/outdoor green:

http://www.greenmakergreens.com/

The GreenMakerGreens indoor green I think looks the best. Would definitely require the least amount of work. I'd love to have one.

[umpiremark]

I've always been intrigued by the D-I-Y look of these backyard green kits:
http://www.backyard-putting-greens.c...FQIfswodqjR9nQ

P.S. When I was off to college, all I thought about was girls, beer and girls ... but maybe the 70's were different than the 21st century!! St. John's? Good luck!!

EDIT: (Sorry) ... click on the link on the left of the page for "Signature putting greens" to see the various styles of D-I-Y greens.