How to Build Backyard Golf Putting Greens
By Jon McCammon
Thinking about installing a putting green in your backyard? This is a time-consuming task that will benefit from making specific plans before you start building. Using artificial turf, you can create a backyard putting green that needs little maintenance once you install it.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Make several drawings of typical greens that you want to build given the size and shape of your backyard.
Find the widest point of your drawing and mark this width as 15 feet. This is the widest roll of artificial turf available.
Measure the length and multiply that by the width and depth. Your depth will be a minimum of 4 inches to allow for the cup(s). This gives you the volume of sand you will need to fill the putting area.
Place your bricks to outline the putting area. The number of bricks are determined by the circumference of your putting area plus 5 percent for error.
Typical brick border
Dig a trench so you can lay the bricks at least 1 inch deep and put the bricks in place.
Pour the sand in the frame of your putting green and spread it out. It should be even with the top of the bricks.
Sand compacted down
Compact the sand with the compactor until it is 1 inch below the top of the bricks.
Installed turf
Lay the turf over the sand and cut to the inside edge of the brick form.
Installed PVC pipe in the putting green
Cut 4-inch sections of the PVC pipe and install in various places around the putting green using a knife. Use the PVC as a guide when cutting. Remove the sand where the circle of PVC pipe will be pressed down.
Tips & Warnings
You can add break and slope to your putting green by adding or removing sand from areas of the green before compacting. Remember, it doesn't take much sand to add a break of 3 feet from one end to the other.
Always wear work gloves while handling bricks and cutting tools.
About The Author
Living in Corona California, Jon McCammon has been writing about golf and golf related activities for several months. His articles appear on GolfLink.com where his background gives an insider's view of the casual sport. McCammon is a technical writer for a large U.S. based corporation and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Coast University.
