Design Your Own Backyard Putting Green

September 05, 2010, By Elizabeth Wistrom 0 comments

At one time, having a backyard putting green was only an option for the rich. No more. Adding a putting green for play or for practice is possible - you just need to understand your options and how to get started. The first step is determining the purpose of your green space –and how much time you're willing to invest.

Just for Fun

If you're simply looking to design a quick-and-dirty DIY putting green or miniature golf course for kids and adults to play around on in the backyard, using artificial turf on top of a raised concrete base is your most economical solution at roughly $5 per square foot. Totally customizable, the concrete takes whatever shape you like by building a frame of bended wood, landscape timbers or even 2x4's.

Once you have the frame, add a layer of gravel to the bottom to help with drainage beneath the slab. Create a cup with a piece of PVC pipe, cut it to the height of where the finished concrete will be, and place it in the frame before you pour the concrete. Add some sand to hold the PVC pipe upright and in place while you pour the concrete around it.

Add some reinforcing wire mesh over the gravel and around the hole cup. Now you're ready to mix the concrete and pour it over the gravel and wire, to the top of the frame. Let it harden.

After removing the frame and allowing the slab to cure, put the artificial turf in place and glue it into position with the ends wrapped around the sides of the concrete. Note where the PVC pipe is located, and use a utility knife to cut around the opening to create the hole. For a finishing touch, use some bricks or rocks to outline the concrete slab.

Ready-Made Practice Greens

If you want a more professional look that doesn't involve mixing concrete, you can buy a premade backyard putting green and either use it as is or install it directly into the ground. Retailers such as Frontgate, Brookstone and even Home Depot all offer free-standing artificial turf models. Kits typically start around $1,000, but can cost up to several thousands of dollars depending on the size and intricacies of your green.

The Ultimate Space

If you are willing to invest the necessary time and money, bentgrass putting greens are the preferred option for serious golf enthusiasts. Believe it or not, bentgrass putting greens grow regardless of the climate you live in. Putting-Greens.com offers complete bentgrass putting green kits and the necessary golf gear to outfit the green for as low as $120.00 plus shipping.

The downside is that bentgrass putting greens are expensive and time-consuming to maintain. You'll need a special mower to groom the grass and it needs to be trimmed several times a week.

For inspiration, check out putting green designs on Artificialturfandputtinggreens.com. The site has free plans for download to help you design your space. With just a little planning and ingenuity, your background putting green will give you hours of enjoyment in the years to come.

Elizabeth Wistrom is a contributor to Six Apart Media.