how to build a golf green with real grass

1. Choose a location. Your green should be built on a spot that has sandy soil, plenty of sun and good drainage.
2. Excavate the area of your golf green to a depth of 20 inches (51 cm). ...
3. Design the green. It should have a variety of slopes to challenge you, but ultimately slope away from the center.
4. Install the drainage system in 8-inch (20 cm) trenches to ensure that water will drain away from the center.
5. Put in an irrigation system if necessary. Keep in mind that adequate, even irrigation is the key to keeping turf healthy.
6. Cover the area with a 4-inch (10 cm) layer of pea gravel. ...
Add 2 inches (5 cm) of sand on top of the gravel and compact it.
Top the sand with about 14 inches (35 cm) of topsoil that consists of 60 percent sand and no more than 20 percent clay.
Seed or sod your green. Sodding often results in an uneven green, so seed instead if you have the time and patience to care for the grass until it ...
Mark the edges of your green by sodding the perimeter with rougher grass. ...
Buy your cups, pins and flags from a supplier of golf course equipment. ...

Full Answer

How to build a real grass putting green?

Apr 18, 2011 · Steps Download Article 1. Choose a location. Your green should be built on a spot that has sandy soil, plenty of sun and good drainage. 2. Excavate the area of your golf green to a depth of 20 inches (51 cm). Be sure to remove all the existing sod so you... 3. Design the green. It should have a ...

Can I build a golf green in my backyard?

Apr 15, 2020 · I'm putting in a backyard putting green. Let's talk about how to make your own putting green. This video brings you along on my journey. It follows a series...

How do I prepare my garden for a grass green?

Jul 16, 2010 · Apply a 1/8-inch layer of topsoil to the green and use a push broom to spread it evenly over the green and work the soil down into the grass surface. Once the grass is established, mow it to a length of ¼ inch, 2 or 3 times per week.

What type of grass should I use for my Green?

May 22, 2020 · I'm putting in a backyard putting green / chipping green. Let's talk about how to make your own putting green with real grass. This video deals with mowing, ...

How much does it cost to build a real grass putting green?

How do you make a golf green from scratch?

How do you cut grass like a putting green?

What kind of grass seed do you use on a golf green?

How do you build a backyard putting green in real grass?

How is a golf green constructed?

Why do they put sand on golf greens?

What length is putting green grass?

How often do you mow a putting green?

What do golf courses use on their grass?

What is the difference between bent grass and Bermuda grass?

How much are grass seeds?

Select a Site

No surprise here. If you want a putting green, you’ll need a place to put it. It doesn’t have to be an enormous plot of land — around 1,000 square feet is a manageable size that will still give you plenty of room to roll your rock — but it should be in a place that gets a reasonable amount of sunlight and doesn’t feature any severely steep slopes.

Start Digging

You don’t need to go extremely deep. Around 10 inches will do. You’re basically gouging out what amounts to a shallow bathtub (a cake pan is another way to picture it) that covers the entire footprint of your green. You’ll be filling it in with sand (and a few others things) before you cover it with grass.

Add Some Contour

You’re not trying to replicate the greens at Augusta. But you do want your putting surface to have a little lilt. If the ground doesn’t have any natural contours, you’ll need to add them, and now’s the time.

Install Proper Drainage

Without it, you’ll wind up with a soft and spongy green, prone to disease and no fun to putt on. Four-inch perforated drainage pipe is the industry standard.

Cap it with Sand

And not just any sand. Golf course sand. Sand that drains. Sand that meets United States Golf Association specifications. Any self-respecting home improvement store should be able to provide you with it.

Seed it or Sod It

You could go either way. Sodding is easier in the short run. But in the long term, Werline says, seeding will likely give you better quality turf. What grass varietal you plant will depend largely on where you live; different strains do better in different climates. Consult with a lawn care expert when making a selection.

The Final Touches

Now that you’ve got a green, you’ll want to cut some cups. Buy a hole-puncher (they’re available new and used online, though Werline says it’s worth asking your local golf course to see if they’ll sell you an old one; on golf courses, the standard cup depth is seven inches, but putting greens often have shallower cups).

Preparing for your Backyard Putting Green

Locate a source for your grass seed. The best seed for a backyard putting green, and the seed most frequently used for professional golf course greens, is creeping bentgrass, which you can obtain from a local nursery or garden supply center, or order from an on-line retailer.

Installing and Maintaining Your Putting Green

Sow your grass seed. Sow the seeds at a rate of ½ pound of grass seed per 1,000 square feet. Cover the seeds with a ¼-inch layer of topsoil.

Can you put a putting green in your home?

If you do opt for an artificial putting green make sure you choose a high quality model, and you can have it installed in your home in an afternoon. It is quick and it easy, and it is definitely recommended if you are building your first ever home putting green.

How long does it take for a putting green to sprout?

Now comes the labour-intensive part of the putting green creation process. You’ll need to fertilise and then water your grass. It should take around 10 days for the grass to germinate, although you’ll still need to fertilise and water regularly after that. Once the grass has sprouted you’ll need to start mowing.

How long does it take for grass to sprout?

Once the grass has sprouted you’ll need to start mowing. This should be done between three and four times per week.

What is a backyard putting green?

For golfers who cannot get enough of the game, a backyard putting green is the ultimate upgrade to a home landscape. A perfectly manicured putting surface conveniently located just a few steps away is a golf enthusiast’s dream.

How high should a putting green be?

Today’s putting greens typically are maintained at or below a 0.125-inch height of cut – i.e., one eighth of an inch.

What is a reel mower?

Rather than the more familiar rotary-style lawn mower, a specialized type of reel mower is required to cut turf at low, putting green heights. A reel mower creates a scissor-like action where turfgrass leaves are clipped by the crossing of two cutting edges—the reel blades and bedknife.

How many blades are in a reel mower?

Instead of having to sharpen a single blade like that found on a rotary mower, reel mowers used on putting greens have anywhere from 11 to 15 blades that make up the reel cylinder plus a bedknife that must be sharpened. This requires specialized grinders to maintain specific cutting angles.

Difficulty: Intermediate

With a backyard putting green made from synthetic turf, you can work on your golf game anytime you want. Synthetic turf makes this a maintenance-free project—no worries about growing and caring for grass. Instead, spend your time playing golf.

wood edging

There are many options for designing and making a DIY backyard putting green with synthetic turf. Do some research to choose the best installation process and putting green design for your yard. Once it’s installed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use and maintain the synthetic turf.