How to Build Backyard Golf Putting Greens

The whole family can enjoy a backyard putting green.

Few luxuries compare to a backyard putting green, where avid golfers can work endlessly on their short game just a few steps from the back door. A putting green made of synthetic turf can be laid out to the golfer’s preferences, requires no maintenance, and modern synthetic turf surfaces look and feel as nice as the real thing. This type of putting surface is green in another way as well: Artificial grasses use none of the water and fertilizer that would be necessary to keep a real lawn healthy and thriving.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Paper and pencil
• Garden hose
• Lime or biodegradable spray paint
• Synthetic turf and hole cups
• Square-point shovel
• Crushed gravel
• Vibratory plate compactor
• Post-hole digger
• Coarse gravel or rocks
• Torpedo level
• Fast-setting concrete mix
• Stick or rod
• Utility knife
• Heavy-duty snips
• Infill material
• Drop spreader
• Push broom

Instructions

Design

1. Choose a site for your putting green. The best areas are those in which real grass and gardens struggle to grow, such as deep shade. However, avoid low-lying areas into which water drains from other parts of the yard.

2. Measure the area and use the dimensions to work out the size and shape of your putting green on paper. Kidney-shaped greens are the most natural looking. Synthetic turf is sold in standard 12- and 15-foot widths; keep your design within these maximums to avoid seams and make installation easier.

3. Define the shape of the putting green you’ve designed in the ground, using a garden hose or long extension cord. Adjust as necessary and, when you’re completely satisfied with the shape, mark the outline of the putting green with lime or landscape spray paint.

4. Order the synthetic turf, cup or cups, aggregate base material, and infill material. Don’t begin installation until you have all the materials on hand to complete the project.

Preparation

1. Dig up the area inside the marked outline. Remove all the sod in the area and excavate down 4 inches.

2. Spread crushed gravel to form the base of the putting green. Use a rake to smooth out the surface and form the terrain with whatever breaks you want in it. The final surface should be about 1/4 inch lower than the surrounding lawn around the edges.

3. Tamp the gravel base down with a vibratory plate compactor.

4. Dig out the cup holes with a post-hole digger. Dig a hole about 10 inches deep, add 4 inches of coarse gravel or rocks to the bottom of the hole for drainage, and set the plastic cup in position. The lip of the cup should be 1/4 inch above the prepared surface.

5. Check the cup for level with a torpedo level and adjust as necessary. Mix fast-setting concrete mix per package directions and pour around the cup. Poke the wet mix with stick or rod to eliminate air pockets and ensure the mix is saturated and wet. Check the cup for level again before the concrete sets up.

Surfacing

1. Unroll the synthetic turf over the prepared base. Use a utility knife to cut the turf back to the edge of the prepared base at one point, revealing the border underneath the turf.

2. Cut the turf to match the outline of the putting green shape you’ve excavated, using heavy-duty snips.

3. Mark an X over each hole cup with a utility knife. Carefully cut out the turf around the cup, so that it fits snug to the edges of the cup.

4. Spread the infill recommended by the turf manufacturer with a drop spreader. Use the amount specified by the manufacturer because the infill will help keep the turf in place and make the synthetic material look and feel more like real grass.

5. Sweep the infill across the green, distributing it evenly. Use a soft push broom and sweep until all the infill has sifted down to the base of the turf.

Tips & Warnings

• Define the edges of your putting green more crisply by installing thin plastic or metal border edging between the prepared base and the surrounding lawn.

• Make the green “faster” by rolling the surface with a water-filled sod roller. Slow it down by roughly sweeping the surface with a coarse-bristled push broom.

• Pick the site for your putting green carefully, and form the surface without deep depressions, to avoid collecting water on the green. Standing water will make the putting green unusable, and can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

References

• Association of Synthetic Grass Installers: Artificial Grass Installation Video

Resources

• DIY Network; Outdoor Recreation Room