For golfers such as yourself, finding time to improve your game can be a challenge. You can visit driving ranges to work on your swing. But for your short game, you’ll need to visit a local golf course to practice.
Instead of going out every time you want to work on your golf game, consider building a putting green in your backyard.
Aside from helping you practice your putting stroke, a backyard green can add value to your property. It’s also an excellent outdoor feature for entertaining — invite your golf-loving friends over and you can all practice together.
If you’re interested in building a backyard putting green, there are a few things you’ll want to know before starting. This guide will help you determine what factors to consider, the cost of installing your putting green turf, all the materials you'll need, and the actual steps in creating a DIY putting green in your yard.
What Is a Putting Green?
A putting green is a place for golfers to practice and improve their game. If you have one in your yard, you can use it yourself, and you can invite friends over for some friendly competition.
When you install a backyard putting green, you'll have an opportunity to improve your golf skills and relax on your schedule. You can also use a DIY putting green for lawn games, when hosting parties, or simply to enjoy some fresh air on the weekend with friends and family.
At the same time, a putting green increases your backyard’s aesthetic appeal and makes your outdoor living space more inviting.
How to Make a Putting Green in Your Yard: Four Considerations
Building backyard putting greens does require careful planning. Here’s what you need to determine before getting started:
1. The Size of Your Backyard Putting Green
The size of your green will depend on the space you have and how much time you want to dedicate to your project. A residential putting green typically ranges between 600-1,800 square feet with a sand trap.
If your lawn is too small for that project, you can still make a putting green using the space you have. However, aim for at least 100-200 square feet of space with good soil drainage.
2. Type of Grass to Use
San Diego Bentgrass (agrostis pallens) is a cool-season grass that can be used as a quality putting green. The finely textured blades provide minimal resistance and allow balls to roll freely, making this variety ideal for avid putters looking to play with ease.
However, if you live in the south, choose bermudagrass. It’s a type of drought-resistant turfgrass that looks sharp on your putting green in the summer months.
The upright leaves allow for better golf ball movement. To maintain this shape, you can cut across the tips with scissors or shears. However, there is one downside to this variety that you’ll have to accomodate: bermudagrass lawns tend not to be as fast-growing as other types, such as bentgrasses.
3. Lawn Care and Maintenance
Proper care of your putting green is necessary to make it appear like the actual green turf areas in a golf course.
You need to mow natural grass regularly once it is well established. Regular fertilization, irrigation, and topdressing every year will also help keep everything in optimal shape.
Of course, maintaining the ideal grass height for putting greens goes beyond ensuring that it isn’t short enough to be exposed to the elements. The right grass height affects how well a ball lies in the grass, the carry distance, and even backspin. For example, a ball exposed by 80% on a putting green would have a reduced carry distance of 1.8 yards. A ball exposed by 60% would significantly reduce carry distance by 4.1 yards. So the height you mow it should always allow for 100% ball exposure.
Aerating the grass annually is another easy and effective way to keep it healthy. Plan to use reciprocating aerifiers to make your task much easier.
4. Putting Green Cost
The cost depends on the area you have allotted for your putting green and the turfgrass you’ll be using.
If you’re using natural grass on your putting green, all you need to pay for are the materials and any manpower if you’re hiring a landscaper to help you. If it’s a DIY job, you’ll be able to save money since you won’t be hiring a professional to help you plan and build the putting green from scratch.
A synthetic putting green can cost several thousand dollars since you’ll need to pay for the artificial turf.
Natural vs. Synthetic Grass
There are different natural grasses you can plant when you install your home practice area. However, artificial grass is another option you can consider when figuring out how to make a putting green in your yard. Both have their respective pros and cons.
An advantage of real grass is it’s the most attractive choice. You’ll feel like you’re playing on your favorite golf course. However, you need to water the grass regularly, as well as treat it with fertilizer and weed control techniques to maintain its quality.
On the other hand, synthetic turf is made from polyurethane and nylon, so you won’t need to add water or fertilizer. However, you will have to clean the fibers once a month to remove dirt and debris. You can also purchase natural grass turf, which will still require watering and mowing to keep it looking fresh.
One thing to keep in mind with artificial turf is that it is more expensive to install than natural grass. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of artificial turf backyard putting green ranges from $1,800 up to $9,000.
Installing a modest-sized, 200-square foot putting green will cost around $4,300 for most homeowners. Larger artificial greens (500 square feet or more) can run as high as about $9,000.
Factor in all these variables into your decision when determining whether to go with natural or synthetic grass for your putting green.
Materials You Need to Build a Putting Green
Aside from the common tools like a shovel, wheelbarrow, and garden hose, you will need additional materials to successfully build a putting green in your yard. Home improvement stores and landscaping companies might let you rent some of these tools, so you don't necessarily have to buy them.
#1: Sod Cutter
Once you determine the best area in your yard for installing the putting green, you must remove the old turf. To do this, you'll need a sod cutter.
The most basic kind of sod cutter looks like a shovel but with a squared edge at the end. To use it, drive the edge cutter into the soil. If it is too tough, stomp on the cutter to break up the earth. Repeat this process until you’ve outlined the area you want to remove. Then shovel out the dirt.
The reality is, manual installation requires a lot of manpower. To make removing old turf much easier, consider using a gas-powered sod cutter.
To use a gas-powered model, you simply guide the tool to do the cutting for you around your grid. This type of sod cutter also makes cleaner cuts and a nicer finish for your putting green.
#2: Plate Compactor
After removing the sod, you need to achieve proper compaction on the sub-base of your lawn. A sub-base is a layer of crushed limestone made of Granite Dust (20-30mm) and Type 1/MOT (50-70mm).
Once compacted, the sub-base will serve as a dense and solid foundation for your putting green. And thanks to the stone material, water can seep in and pass through the base down to the ground. It won't settle on the green.
You can use a hand tamper to compact the base. However, manual compacting only works if you have several people helping you level the base properly. If not, it's best to use a gas-powered plate compactor. You will get the job done in a few hours or less, depending on the size and area of the sub-base.
However, for bends and curves in your putting green, you will have to do the work manually.
#3: Golf Course Sand (Optional)
You may want to place a bunker beside the putting green to help you work on your wedge game. If so, you need to buy golf course sand for part of your green.
Keep in mind that maintaining the sand does involve extra work. To keep it clean, you’ll want to regularly separate the sand from the gathered debris using a sifter. To prolong the life of beach sand and eliminate fungus and bacteria, you need to rinse it with tap water. After draining the water, sterilize it by warming it in the oven for 45 minutes at 300°F or less.
Steps for Making a Putting Green in Your Yard
Once you have all the tools, materials, and a helper or two to guide you through the project, it's time to start building your backyard putting green. Follow these steps for smooth rolling greens right on your property:
Step # 1: Prepare the Ground
Take a string or garden hose and form the shape of the putting green to your liking. Then, mark the outline of the shape using spray paint before removing the string or hose.
Next, remove old sod using your gas-powered cutter. You may also need to eliminate other debris like rocks, tree stumps, or roots within the marked area.
Once your ground is exposed, level it down using a plate compactor. Once compacted, roll out the weed barrier on top of the sub-base layer. The barrier will act as a stabilization cloth that will prevent the crushed stone of your sub-base from sinking into the ground.
To ensure that your sub-base stays within the marked area, use a block border or retaining wall. Or, add an edging along the entire outside perimeter to define where your stones will go.
Step # 2: Build Strong Footing
Pour the sub-base material into the area using a shovel and distribute it evenly using the flat side of a rake.
Make sure to set up a proper drainage system for your putting green. Letting the water pass through the green will deteriorate the sub-base material and damage your green. Therefore, make sure to have a slight slope to the sub-base, ideally a one-inch drop for every 12 feet. This way, excess water will flow down the top of the green.
After leveling the crushed stone, wet the sub-base lightly before compacting it properly several times. Not compacting it will cause irregularities on the surface of your putting green and will affect how your ball will roll.
If you notice low spots on your sub-base, you must fill that area with additional crushed stone to level it. For small bumps, even them out using your shovel.
To determine if your sub-base has been compacted correctly, take a putt and see how the ball rolls. If the ball rolls too fast or is hindered by bumps, add more crushed stone and re-compact the base again until you achieve the desired effect on your base.
From here, you can install your regulation cups. Determine where you will permanently place the cup on the sub-base. Then twist the cup while applying force to it into the base.
Step # 3: Plant Your Grass Seeds
If you want to plant grass seeds, San Diego Bentgrass or bermudagrass are the most popular options for DIY putting greens.
Unless you have experience planting grass seeds, you may want professional help when figuring out how much seed you need to plant and the kind of soil to use. Give us a call, and we’ll be more than happy to assist you regarding this.
If you’re using synthetic grass, roll the turfgrass out to cover the base. Assuming you're using multiple rolls of grass, you want to stitch them together first before cutting them to match the shape of your putting green.
But first, join them together using a specialized turf joining tape. Then use turf pegs to firmly attach the turf rolls. It will also keep the grass firmly attached to the base for much longer, even during constant exposure to the rain and sun.
Next, cut the grass to match the outline of your putting green using a utility knife.
Step # 4: Create the Sand Bunker
Feel free to skip this step if you don't need a sand bunker for your putting green. But if you do, dig a hole where you want the bunker to be and pour the golf course sand you purchased into it.
Step # 5: Add Plants on the Side
At this point, your putting green is ready for use. But you want your green to look like a natural part of your lawn.
To achieve this, you can surround the putting green with ornamental plants. You don't need plants that require constant pruning and shaping. Simply choose ones that will work with your climate. Also, make sure that the plants you choose won’t grow over your putting green.
Evergreen shrubs are low-maintenance plants that will look perfect next to your putting green. They're taller and more attractive than most plants. And unlike trees, you won't have to worry about leaves or seed pods dropping onto the green. A popular evergreen is a boxwood — it lends color all year long and only needs pruning once per year to look attractive.
Also, consider planting drought-resistance and hardy grasses. Ornamental grasses like Blue Grama and Bottlebrush Squirreltail can grow very tall, which helps them stand out on your lawn in a good way. Another type of shortgrass that will look appealing near your putting green is golden Hakone, which offers a textured look.
Have fun making the surrounding landscape look just the way you want it to, so you end up with the ultimate putting green in your yard.
Conclusion
Building a putting green is a time-consuming project that’ll only take longer to finish if you don’t do it correctly. These tips should help cover all the bases so you can create a putting green that you feel proud of.
As part of your lawn, you’ll want to choose the best plants and grass seeds to achieve the right aesthetic. This is your backyard, after all, a space where you’ll be spending a lot of time relaxing or entertaining guests.
To end up with a professional finished look, contact Nature's Seed for suggestions and advice. You’ll be able to achieve incredible results when you start with high-quality seeds for your lawn.
