{"id":15551037,"date":"2024-10-09T10:47:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T14:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golf.com\/?post_type=article&p=15551037"},"modified":"2024-10-09T12:37:01","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T16:37:01","slug":"backyard-putting-green-guidelines-questions","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/golf.com\/lifestyle\/backyard-putting-green-guidelines-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to build a backyard putting green? Here are 4 key considerations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No two golfers are alike. But many of us share similar ambitions. We\u2019d be happy breaking 80<\/a>. We wouldn\u2019t decline an invite to Augusta<\/a>. And if we had our druthers, our home would have a backyard putting green<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of those three ambitions, the last might be the closest within reach. Which doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s easy to achieve. Building a backyard putting green takes time, money and expertise, and for most people, it\u2019s not a DIY project. It\u2019s usually a job best left to the pros. But no matter how you take it on, you\u2019ll need to make a series of important decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the questions you should ask yourself? Here are some of the main considerations, drawn from a recent article in the USGA’s Green Section Record,<\/a> which laid out guidelines for how to turn your backyard dream into a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real or synthetic turf?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When asked which he preferred, real grass or Astroturf, the former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill \u201cSpace Man\u201d Lee famously replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know. I never smoked Astroturf.\u201d As far as we know, he never built a backyard putting green, either. But if he had, he likely would have gone with synthetic turf, mostly due to cost and convenience. Sure, real grass is sweet, but keeping it in golf-able conditions is labor-intensive and expensive. According to the USGA article, even \u201ca modest public course can spend more than $10,000 per year maintaining each of its greens.\u201d Synthetic greens require a fraction of the upkeep. They\u2019re also easier to install.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n\n
\n
\n \n Rules <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Man <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
Rules Guy: An OB stake is hindering my swing. Can I move it without penalty?<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Rules Guy <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Location, location, location<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The type of putting green you build is bound to be influenced by the site. How much sunshine does it get? Is there a reliable water source? What\u2019s the climate like? Depending on the answers, natural grass might not even be an option. Other factors, such as slope of the terrain (will it need to be graded?) and ease-of-access for construction equipment will have a bearing on your decision. And then there\u2019s soil and drainage. It\u2019s possible \u2014 but improbable \u2014 that the native soil in your backyard is suitable for a natural-grass putting green. More likely, you\u2019ll need to purchase sand-based material in which the natural turf can thrive. Proper drainage is another must. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll need to have that installed. Is authentic turf sounding preferable to you now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size matters. So does price<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent USGA study, 5,550 square feet is the average size of a green on a golf course in this country. Backyard putting greens tend to be smaller. But the costs of building them still add up. While a lot depends on the region and the construction, here\u2019s a good rule of thumb: a bentgrass putting green usually costs somewhere between $18 and $20 per square foot. That\u2019s just for the materials. The average cost of building a synthetic green is higher (upwards of $30 per square foot or more, depending on the quality of material). But again, maintaining them is significantly less expensive. And they last a relatively long time, especially given the minimal required upkeep, with an expected lifespan in the neighborhood of 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you itching to let loose your inner-Tom Doak and design a green with wild undulations? Or maybe you\u2019re working with a narrow, quirky space? Here, again, synthetic turf is often the more sensible choice, as they minimize maintenance headaches. No need to worry about how you\u2019ll maneuver with your mower, or where, exactly, you\u2019ll place the sprinkler heads. On the flip side, the USGA article points out, synthetic turf gives you less flexibility with hole locations, as you can’t swap the cups out as you would with natural turf. You can read more insights from the article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A lot of golfers dream of having a backyard putting green, but few know what it takes to make that a reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15551038,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-10-09T14:47:46Z","apple_news_api_id":"23acbb83-16ae-4534-a796-3aa5c3420d8b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-10-09T16:36:58Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AI6y7gxauRTSnljqlw0INiw","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[40],"tags":[61987],"class_list":["post-15551037","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-supersecrets"],"acf":{"tee_time_button_status":false,"wsum-gated-content":false,"wsotp_enable_one_time_payment":false,"ad_meta":false,"article_template":"standard","featured_image_caption":"A lot of golfers dream of having a backyard putting green, but few know what it takes to make that a reality.","featured_image_credits":"Getty Images","art_author":[{"ID":14045818,"post_author":"235","post_date":"2016-10-09 13:44:40","post_date_gmt":"2016-10-09 17:44:40","post_content":"","post_title":"Josh Sens","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"josh-sens","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-01 10:29:29","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-01 15:29:29","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.golf.com\/?post_type=golf_person&p=14045818","menu_order":0,"post_type":"contributor","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"art_source":"None"},"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nWant to build a backyard putting green? 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