Backyard putting green (1 Viewer)

[gump]

My 3-year-old loves golf, so I now have real clubs for him (4) and a real hole and pin from the putting green at my cousins course.

We have a decent sized yard (1/3 acre) and room behind the pool and between the fence and two oaks for him to swing full and hit shots into it from various locations around the yard. So I put the hole/pin there a month ago, and he’s loving hitting to it and making it.

Of course it’s tough to putt thru the Bermuda grass, so he’s just using his iron or hybrid to get the ball in the hole.

So...I’m considering a putting green in this spot around the current hole, roughly 18X12 I think.

Anyone have experience with these? I’ve been told to get a good turf version, placed on sand, that can be rolled regularly.

 

[Apple Jack]

My 3-year-old loves golf, so I now have real clubs for him (4) and a real hole and pin from the putting green at my cousins course.

We have a decent sized yard (1/3 acre) and room behind the pool and between the fence and two oaks for him to swing full and hit shots into it from various locations around the yard. So I put the hole/pin there a month ago, and he’s loving hitting to it and making it.

Of course it’s tough to putt thru the Bermuda grass, so he’s just using his iron or hybrid to get the ball in the hole.

So...I’m considering a putting green in this spot around the current hole, roughly 18X12 I think.

Anyone have experience with these? I’ve been told to get a good turf version, placed on sand, that can be rolled regularly.

I would not do this, honestly. It's a huge pain in the ### to build and even more to keep in condition to putt. Even with the resilient south FL grasses. If you do, a bed of sand and proper drainage is a must. If you are a member of a club, I would try to get a few minutes with the super or asst. And I would buy this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Turfgrass-Science-James-B-Beard/dp/013933002X

 

[NutterButter]

Anyone have experience with these? I’ve been told to get a good turf version, placed on sand, that can be rolled regularly.

You talking artificial turf?   This video really demonstrates the installation well.  Looks pretty straightforward.   After watching that, might be my next project after building my simulator shed in the fall.  

 

[gump]

I would not do this, honestly. It's a huge pain in the ### to build and even more to keep in condition to putt. Even with the resilient south FL grasses. If you do, a bed of sand and proper drainage is a must. If you are a member of a club, I would try to get a few minutes with the super or asst. And I would buy this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Turfgrass-Science-James-B-Beard/dp/013933002X

Appreciate the advice, AJ. My friend has one and he says that he’ll roll it some and clean it, but otherwise it’s 1 maintenance visit a year from the installer. He spent a lot of money so maybe that’s the key. I’m not looking to spend a lot, so your concern is a good one. Also not looking for a project. 
 

Any easier routes? Maybe I’ll just cut that portion of the grass really short. We do have a putting strip on our patio he can practice on.

 

[TLEF316]

My uncle has one (artificial turf) in his backyard. Its not huge (maybe 30x15) and it only has like 3 holes.  I dont think he does a ton of maintenance. It seems to roll ok.

My dad busts his balls about it all the time, because despite having it.....my uncle might be the worst putter on the planet. Imagine Charles Barkley's swing, but with putting.  Its pretty unreal.

 

[Gally]

If you want minimal maintenance just do artifical turf.  It will make the upkeep much easier.

 

[Dark Matter]

 I have built number of backyard grass putting greens as well synthetic and every single one of the grass putting greens became something else . It takes a great deal of time, effort and specialized equipment to have a very good quality turf putting green that will mimic conditions you find on a golf course. I have a good friend that I built 3 real turf greens and he went all in as a project for he and his two sons to learn the art of greenskeeping. What he found was that he and his sons (mostly him) spent more time tending to the greens and less time actually enjoying them. If you really want a place for yourself and your son to practice short game & putting, do yourself a favor and spend the $$ on a synthetic green. PM me and I'll help any way I can.

 

[grateful zed]

How does your son feel about flowers?

 

[SWC]

back in the day you just putted on whatever surface you had available and some of the greatest golfers learned that way heck old wally hagen learned to putt on a rock strewn scrub field and jack nicholas learned to putt in a junkyard if you want your kid to be a good golfer tough him up and make him learn to putt in a parking lot take that to the bank bromigo