How to Do These Things

Building your own putting green in your backyard is a great way to improve your game without having to go to the golf course. A putting green may require some careful planning to make and demands meticulous maintenance once it is done. Nevertheless, the prospect of improving your scores and ridding yourself of your handicap are enough reasons for any true golf enthusiast to take on this project.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to build your own putting green and the things that should be considered before constructing one.

Points to Consider

1. Drainage
   • Water either from irrigation or rain should be able to evacuate easily. Poor drainage will cause puddles to appear, rendering the green unusable
   • The best way to obtain a good drainage for your putting green is to build it above ground level and in a slope fashion. This way the water can easily run off the green.
2. Sand
   • Placing sand at the root of the soil prevents water from being thoroughly absorbed and sink into the soil.
   • Sand enables the green to hold up better with the foot traffic from people regularly walking on it.
3. Real grass or synthetic turf
   • Real grass requires meticulous maintenance. This includes cutting the grass to keep it at the correct length, fertilization, top dressing, aeration and getting rid of herbicides and pesticides.
   • Synthetic grass cuts down the meticulous task of maintaining your green. Installing synthetic grass may cost a little bit more in the beginning, but it is easier to install and saves you money in the long run because of less maintenance requirements.

Materials and Tools Needed

• Gravel
• Limestone
• Synthetic turf
• Sod staples
• Shovel
• Metal rake
• Wheelbarrow
• Soil removal equipment

Procedure

1. Decide on the shape and how big you want your putting green. Also decide on how many putting green holes you want your green to have.
2. Choose a good level location for your putting green. Avoid constructing your putting green on high traffic areas.
3. Clear the area that matches the size of the putting green you have chosen.
4. Outline your putting green on your cleared location. Use landscape spray paint or masonry chalk for this task.
5. Excavate at least 4 inches of dirt from your chosen location with a shovel. Take care to keep this area flat once the dirt has been removed.
6. Lay in a bed of crushed gravel in the putting green area. Compact the gravel and make sure that it is evenly smoothed out.
7. Add in a layer of limestone or stone dust over the bed of crushed gravel. Make sure that it is compact and leveled.
8. Dig the holes for the cups. Use fast-drying concrete to fix the cups to the putting green base.
9. Carefully lay the putting green over the limestone and gravel base. Keep it in lace with sod staples.

More articles on How to Build a Putting Green

1. How to Build a Putting Green

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