How to Make a Golf Putting Green

Whether you are a serious golfer or are simply looking for a new way to enjoy your backyard, a putting green is a fun project that is not too complicated for a beginning do-it-yourselfer, yet one that still offers ample opportunity for plenty of creativity for even the most experienced weekend expert. Having your own putting green will allow you to practice and hone your golfing skills in the privacy of your own backyard, as well as provide recreation and enjoyment at those times when you are unable to visit the local golf course. Weekend amateurs, golfing professionals, and children new to the sport can all benefit from having access to a putting green located on their own property.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Grass seed (specially designed for putting greens)
• Quality topsoil
• Sand
• various lawn-care products
• Irrigation tubing
• bobcat/shovel
• metal rake
• hose(s)
• wheelbarrow (to carry soil and sand to your working area)

Make a Golf Putting Green

1. Choose your site and layout. If you are building a backyard green, you’ll need to decide where it can go. High traffic areas are poor places for putting greens.
2. Remove all poor soil, large roots, and rocks using a shovel. Keep in mind that when you put new clean soil back on, you will be forming new obstacles for your putts.
3. Lay down a 1” thick bed of fresh, clean sand. Starting with a bed of sand will provide for better drainage. Next, lay out your topsoil in a layer that is at least one inch thick. Make sure that even the most insignificant of dirt lumps is removed. Contour the green to your liking, remembering that the soil will settle over time.
4. Provide irrigation. Running irrigation tubing from your home or installing a system from scratch can easily be done by a do-it-yourselfer. This system, however, will either make or break your backyard putting green, so getting professional advice is a good idea. Grass always responds best to a consistent program of care and watering, so make sure you water at the same time daily. This is especially necessary for putting-green grass. Once irrigation is in place, rake the soil, put down your seeds, and water them in.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of using putting-green grass seeds, you may choose instead to purchase fresh sod with newly sprouted grass. This will allow you to use your putting green sooner. Ask an expert what type of grass sod would suit your purposes best according to the climate in your area.
• Caring for putting-green grass is not the same as taking care of the front lawn. The mowing cycle, and even the mower itself, will be different. Most importantly, its chemical treatments will also be different. At this stage, a good conversation with a professional greens keeper is advisable.