I was just wondering what was the best way to do this. Putting is something I need to improve, and was just wondering who has experience with this, and what the best way to get it done is? It would sure be nice just to walk out my door and be able to practice my putting...

Thanks

How about a DIY 8' x 8' indoor green?

http://thesandtrap.com/equipment/training/...g_green_cheaply

one of these days I will get around doing it

I had a Southwest Green built in my backyard last year I decided to go all out and have it designed by Nicklaus Design. Its the best true and fast and I am out there most nights practising bunkers shots, chips arounf the green and putting its improved my short game no end. Highly recommended

www.southwestgreens. com

By checking the gallery of that page, i couldnt image anything more beatiful than a properly crafted green incl. surroundings in my backyard. All i need now is a backyard

I built a new house last year and one of my "wants" for the new digs was a back yard putting green. I put in a 375 sq. ft. putting green and it looks and plays awesome!!!! If you have young kids, its a great way to teach them proper etiquette in a private setting. I know most guys at my club wouldnt appreciate the "full" swings my 4 year old takes on the putting green!!!!

anyone have pics of the greens in your backyard?

I don't have one now, but my dad had a full size bentgrass practice green when I was growing up. It was great from the perspective of a kid growing up trying to figure out how to play golf - not so fun from the perspective of a kid that had to maintain the thing. I certainly learned an appreciation for what it takes to maintain a good putting surface (my dad wouldn't allow it to be maintained any other way).

I don't know anything about the artificial greens they have out there now (people seem to like them), but I wouldn't recommend a natural putting green unless you are willing to dedicate the time, effort, and resources (special mower, etc.) it will take to keep it in good condition.

I used US Turf Co. a company here in Scottsdale. They really worked with me. I did all the prep work and such and they just came in and got it all done in one day. I have a small one in the front of my house and a larger one in the back. I am still trying to get some really white sand for the bunker. I also have a tee box going in on the side of a hill in my yard that allows me to use my wash as a driving range. I live on 6 acres and most of it is a large wash.

I am a stay home dad, so when the kid goes down for a nap it gives me 2+ hours of practice time every day. The only problem is that I had them make the speed of the greens slower like the course I play alot. Then I went to the TPC champions course and the greens were twice as fast. Took some time to get used to the speed.


front yard


backyard

I also took the plunge and added a backyard green. Mine ended up at 1,50 feet including a grass bunker, chipping fringe all the way around , 5 cups + (1) pro cup and (2) pitching islands - one is (8) yards from the putting surface and the other is (24) yards form the center cup. I added the cushion pad under the surface so I can backup shots if I want to. They fill the pile with a green & black mix of sand and rubber compound and can speed up or slow down based on your needs. I have mine rolling about 10 right now and will start to speed up (a little!) as summer sets in.

Best investment I ever made. Looks great and rolls very true. I will add pictures later.

Wow, these are awesome (any more pics)

also, whats the difference between a cup and a pro cup?

yeah I was wondering what the difference in a pro cup and a regular cup was too. also how much is say a 250 sq ft putting surface run? Cant find any kind of price anywhere.

I too, have a Southwest green and really like it. I have one of the pro cups with my three regulation cups. The pro cup is a reduced size cup to help with accuracy. I'll try to attach pictures tomorrow.

i'm jealous of all you guys with putting greens in your backyards. i have to make do with the carpet in my basement. one day...

if you so to http://www.justbuyturf.com/prices.asp there are some prices. I did all the prep work myself and if you just use a streight 15' wide piece then there are no seams. The cups are $40 each. Cash always talks too. There is the infill which is a few more bucks. I did the green infill and it is more then just normal sand. Just use a seed speader and a broom to work it in.

Here are some picture of my backyard green. It's extremely dirty in these pictures but the wind has been blowing for two days at +30 and I didn't have time to freshen it up before work.

Very nice..

Those are some impressive backyards!

yeh marley that backyard is so nice!!!

Here are some pics of my half done tee box. Should be done next week. Just using a scrap piece of turf for now, couldn't wait to try it out.







seems to work good so far. Have already been working out some draw and fade issues.

http://www.putting-greens.com/


I have the spot cleared for one and am planning on putting in the drainage this weekend.

OK, so you're all loaded. I better start looking for a better job.

Marlyx - that is one beautiful backyard green!

I have a tiff-dwarf bermuda green in my backyard that I don't take care of! It's the 7th hole of the course I live at. I go out several times a week at dusk to practice putting.

Thanks guys, I have really enjoyed being able to just walk outside and putt for 10 minutes or get in some chipping anytime I want. I think my short game has imporved considerably - still early as the season is just starting to heat up but so far so good.

xtremeinaz - what does your wife/father in law do?

she is in mortgages, lucky for us she is still busy. Also helped we got the house for a smoking deal. Couldn't think what else to do with the land other then hit golf balls into it.

These are always my favorite threads on the forum, for obvious reasons.

Makes you want to work hard for one...

oh my god i am drooling....

Time for southwestgreens to update their site because I know for sure Vijay and Furyk don't have synthetic turf putting greens since a buddy of mine mows their greens.

so is southwest greens the leader in this space, i didn't see many other companies listed here. i posted seperately (for some reason my 'putting green' search didn't yield any recent responses) but am looking for information and advice on putting in a putting green in my yard...actually i'm thinking of converting half of our tennis court to a putting green...

southwest greens is advetised on the golf channel reguarly...

I believe the most recent commercial has Jim Furyk, one of many pros who have one...

however, most comercial landscapping companies work with these products and might be cheaper...but southwest greens is a golf specialist so I am sure their product is amazing...

it also looks like sportcourt does putting greens. they have a pretty big presence in the bay area...

i've contacted both and we'll see.

that is awesome! love how you have the yardages to different spots to! you're very lucky to have the lot you have to be able to do that!!

My green is a Southwest green and I can tell you that there is a big differnece in their product and the stuff landscaping guys throw together. Not to use a broad brush but the thing to remenber is that these greens do require some maintaice and will need repair. There are alot of companies that can build a great looking green year one but once it rains, the true quality comes out. There were actually two companies that have a very good reputation in town and I would have used either. Southwest just had the best design ideas and was the most professional in follow-up. Do your research and go see greens that they built 5 years ago - that will tell the story.

heres the start of my putting green tee box and short fairway, got alot more tilling to do yet. the green will be about 45 x 25 havnt measured it yet, just grabbed the tiller and went nuts. the tee box is off to the right i have a 25 x 35 net that hangs from the trees. from where the picture was taken is about 75 yard to center of green and about 20 foot drop. there will be a tee box behind where i took the picture in the middle of my yard (wife says no but ill show her, she has to work tomorrow haha) ill keep ya updated on progress. its going to be all real bentgrass. got a great deal on a greens mower so now i have to build some thing to use it on

Anyone know where to buy the putting surface? The link in thesandtraps guide doesnt work.

i'm in touch with three installers and have one appointment scheduled (southwest) so far. the hypothetical quotes i've gotten are scaring me a bit however, at least relative to other installs that people have posted pricing on. the two quotes i've gotten are $16-19 and $20-25 per sq ft....this is in the sf bay area, land of blindly getting ripped off....but in posts i've read of in the phoenix area it sounds like guys have gotten more like $10-14 sq ft for really nice installations...

curious if my thinking that they are highballing me at first is correct, or is that the going rate now...if so, might not want to do this, was sort of hoping that the great economy might allow me to negotiate a reasonable cost. the turf itself seems to run around $6 sq ft so all the rest is installation....

i'm also getting different reads on the sand fill (southwest) vs non sand fill turf issue...

Check out www.synthetic-turf.com... you will be glad you did!!

Click to view attachment
I would like to thank those who have shared their backyard treasures. I enjoy seeing others backyard greens. I have posted a few in the past with miminual effort (2006). But lately I haven't been able to get anything to work. Trying to figure out my issues on posting pic's. Image size I sure. Working on my learning curve.
Here is a try at it.

Very nice man!

well i had southwest greens out to my house yesterday. they made a strong pitch on why their sand fill based poly product is superior to the nylon no-fill based product. they are proposing a 1300 sq ft total green (1000 sq ft of putting surface plus 300 sq ft of two cuts of fringe) built on top of my tennis court. cost estimate is $17/sq ft or $22,000. my wife gagged at the cost. the guy was pretty knowledgeable and our installation, other than getting the material to the court, is very straightforward. i have another installer coming out tomorrow (sport court), then likely one or two more after that.

it's likely going to come down to a discussion (within my household) of whether it is worth north of $20k for this....i love the idea, but love the pricing you guys seem to get in other parts of the country better. that's just the way things tend to be in the bay area...

i'll keep you posted as i go through the process of picking an installer, if we go ahead with this.

I looked at sport court. It was one the other finial lest. That was several years ago. They were promoting three "Pelz" designs. For different putting, IE up, down side hill...
The sport court was to be installed over concrete. A issue for me getting trucks in. A pumper would have to be used, increasing the cost even more.

Well it took me awhile to make up my mind to actually install one.

Another season had almost passed when I decided to called the Pelz folks, for a little more info. They said "Dave" didn't have any comment on artificial greens and didn't endorse any companies at that time.

I still wanted to do short pitch shots not just putting.
Went southwest!

For me the bottom line was. Going to watch a green being installed by the actual crew that would be doing mine.

There are many products that are very good. But to me it all comes down to workmanship of the installer!
Their are some out there that don't even play the game! They... [STOP Don't go there]

I'm certainly not telling you which is better just be confident in your choice of who works on your castle!