How to grow the perfect grass for your backyard putting green
Key Takeaways
- First, consider the level of investment you’re willing to make to maintain a real grass putting green. Keep your availability, budget, and space into consideration, and be sure to register for any local landscaping restrictions or codes before you get started.
- Evaluate your site for adequate sun exposure and soil conditions. Clear rocks, trees, and any other manmade structures that may pose a challenge to your green’s design.
- Prepare the foundation by testing and amending the soil, installing a drainage system, and ensuring proper grading and leveling for water runoff and smooth play.
- Use grass varieties based on the climate of where you live. Cool-season grasses are better suited for the northern half of the country, while warm-season grasses work better further south.
- Plan for turf establishment Choose to seed or sod your green according to your project timeline and budget. Seeding is more economical but slower, whereas sodding creates an immediate usable surface.
- Maintain your putting green with regular mowing, fertilization, aeration, and proper watering to keep the grass healthy and the surface smooth.
Building a putting green with real grass in your backyard is a rewarding project that lets you enjoy golf anytime while enhancing your outdoor space. If you want to make a lasting, practical putting green, begin by finding a level location that gets plenty of sun and has good drainage.
Next, build a suitable base of soil and add a drainage system. Use the best grass type. Bentgrass or Bermuda will give you the most durable, smoothest, and consistent putting surface.
Beyond keeping things mowed and watered, it’s regular maintenance that will guarantee your green is always in peak form. Whether you’re a casual golfer or a dedicated enthusiast, this guide covers everything you need to know, including tools, materials, and step-by-step instructions to simplify the process and help you achieve professional-level results at home.
Plan Your Putting Green Project
Constructing your own real grass putting green can be a fulfilling experience that requires as much effort as it does enthusiasm. With thoughtful consideration to each stage, you can design a putting green that works for your home, finances and desired level of involvement. We’re here to walk you through some of the most important considerations to set you on the right path.
Assess Your Commitment Level
If installing a natural grass putting green, be aware that it takes commitment and resources to maintain one. First things first—determine how much sun your plants will be getting. They need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day to prosper.
Then determine what kind of soil exists in your yard by testing for pH and nutrient levels. The ideal pH for most grass species is slightly acidic soil (6.0 to 7.0 pH). Soil check: Be ready to improve the soil if it’s not up to snuff.
Check your selected site for barriers. Watch for trees, large boulders or other structures that may block intense sunlight or make for a complicated grading project.
Consider Key Factors First
With right planning, your putting green project will pay off greatly and last a long time. Once you reach the construction stage, begin with soil testing and amendments to ensure healthy grass root health.
Installing a proper drainage system is absolutely critical. Use 2 to 4 inches of course gravel as a base and allow all water runoff to drain through the green. Proper grading is one of the most important factors in managing the land.
Plan for a 1 to 2 percent slope to allow water runoff and avoid erosion. Initially, prepare the surface so that you have a much smoother surface to play on. While golf course greens generally average 5,500 square feet, consider shooting for 1,000 square feet in size to minimize maintenance.
Using seed gives you the best turf quality long term.
Understand Local Regulations
Check on your region’s landscaping legislation to ward off potential legal battles down the line. Select grass appropriate for your climate, like Bermuda grass in warm climates or Bentgrass in cooler climates.
Consider time and effort in upkeep as well, which can cost anywhere from $18-$30 per square foot, based on different materials and levels of customization.
Choose the Right Location
Choosing the right location for your putting green is the most important step in ensuring a positive project outcome. Start by considering the topography and accessibility to make sure the location is feasible for building and upkeep. Slopes add difficulty in the process, making it more challenging to maintain a level surface.
A flat or gently sloping space is much more manageable and brings a much more enjoyable visit. Think about not just the layout but the size of the space as well. The typical green on U.S. Golf courses is roughly 5,500 sq. Ft. Follow this as your template, but customize it to fit the space you have to work with.
Good drainage is essential for dense grass and a smooth playing surface. Select a site that has good natural drainage or design in some type of drainage system. Sunlight exposure is another major contributing factor. Grass grows best in full sun, so choose a location that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day.
If shade cannot be dodged, choose a grass type that thrives in the shadows. For grass establishment, you have two main options: seeding and sodding. Seeding can be the most economical approach. It does a better job of offering different grass types, allowing you to personalize your green environment to your liking.
It takes even longer to set up. Conversely, sodding offers immediate gratification, establishing an immediately playable surface. Juxtapose these timelines against one another to align with your project aspirations and timeline.
Prepare the Foundation
Constructing a putting green with natural turf begins by ensuring you have the right foundation properly prepped. This step is important in order to provide the moisture-free, smooth, playable surface required for long term durability.
Before you get started with the nitty gritty, make sure you’re aware of basics such as overall cost, maintenance, and effect on the environment. Real grass requires more water, regular mowing, and constant fertilizer.
On the other hand, though artificial turf is clearly less maintenance, it doesn’t come close to recreating a natural experience. While nothing beats the real thing for playability, these differences must be thoroughly considered prior to making an expensive long-term commitment.
1. Test and Amend the Soil
Start by testing your soil to figure out its pH and nutrient levels. This ensures you can properly identify whether amendments such as lime or organic matter are warranted.
Healthy soil supports vigorous turf establishment, which is essential for a thick, uniform canopy. Sandy soils require additional compost to increase moisture-holding capacity. Conversely, clay-rich soils need sand added to improve drainage.
2. Install a Drainage System
Proper drainage keeps systems from becoming waterlogged while maintaining reliable, playable surfaces. Incorporate subsurface drainage tiles to allow the construction of natural grass greens that meet USGA specifications.
Space them less than 10 feet apart for maximum effectiveness. This configuration allows them to channel excess water away to keep the turf healthy and avoid swampy areas.
3. Grade for Proper Water Runoff
Proper grading makes sure that water flows in at least two directions, keeping it off low spots that lead to puddles. A gravel base 2–4 inches deep under the gravel pavers drastically improves infiltration of the runoff.
Compact the material in lifts to ensure a firm base.
4. Level the Putting Surface
Then top off the profile with a finer material, such as granite screenings, to create a smooth final contour. Turf Oliva Compact it well to create a very smooth, even surface which closely resembles pros’ putting greens.
Accuracy within this process will directly influence the future playability and visual appeal of your putting green.
Select Your Grass Type
Selecting the proper grass is one of the most important initial steps in constructing a natural grass putting green. Your choice will ultimately determine the green’s aesthetic quality, playability, and maintenance. There are two primary categories to consider: cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. Each has distinct advantages that make one or the other better for certain climates and people.
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses prefer areas with mild summers and cold winters. Fine texture, a desired trait for putting greens, makes bentgrass a prevalent option for their construction. When established, it can be mowed extremely low making for a very smooth putting surface.
The upkeep of bentgrass demands a high level of ongoing attention, care, proper watering, fertilization, and daily mowing with specialized equipment. A professionally built bentgrass green would generally run in the range of $18 to $20 per square foot. When using premium materials or more complex designs, price can go above $30/sq.
These grasses are of unrivaled quality, and the production requires a large capital investment with extensive labor and time involvement.
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses thrive in hotter climates with cooler, mild winters. Bermudagrass is a very popular choice of turf for use on putting greens throughout the warm, southern United States. It’s pretty famous for its durability and heat-tolerance, making this grass a top choice in lots of sunny southern areas.
Warm-season grasses generally have a lower water requirement than cool-season grasses. They still need intensive maintenance with constant mowing and periodic overseeding to stay healthy and active.
Consider Regional Climate
Grass type is largely based on your area’s climate and weather. In general, cool-season grasses are appropriate for the northern half of the state, while warm-season grasses work best in southern and coastal communities.
Talk to a local turf professional to get the best tips and the most helpful perspective. They can help you with advice tailored to your local conditions, soil type and maintenance capacity.
Install Grass: Seed or Sod?
Choosing between seeding and sodding is one of the most important decisions when building a putting green with real grass. Both approaches have their own benefits. By learning the ins and outs of their processes and outcomes, you can pick the one that works best for you.
Seeding Your Putting Green
Seeding affords you more flexibility with grass types. This flexibility is important for making sure the turf works best for really catering to your unique climate and soil conditions.
As an illustration, bentgrass—fine textured and dense, formed into an elegant plant carpet—is the predominant species for putting greens. If you choose to seed, you’ll have your work cut out for you preparing the soil by removing debris and leveling the surface while maintaining proper drainage.
With both seed and sod, the important first step is to prepare the area. After that, use a gift spreader to uniformly apply 2–3 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. Fertilizing and watering for seed, water the area lightly but frequently—aim for a moist seedbed until germination occurs.
Seeding requires a wait-and-see approach. You won’t notice significant growth for six to eight weeks, but the delay becomes worthwhile in the long term with better-quality turfgrass.
Sodding Your Putting Green
Sodding comes with the benefit of an instant lawn, so it is faster for impatient homeowners who want things done a little quicker. Pre-cut sod rolls are rolled directly onto prepped soil after grading and soil amendment with a starter fertilizer.
Roll the sod with a heavy roller to eliminate air pockets and help make solid contact between the roots and the soil. Although sodding mitigates the potential erosion and weed establishment issues, it generally provides a narrower variety selection of turfgrass when compared to seeding.
Watering InstructionsWater daily for the first two weeks to allow the sod to work on establishing itself.
Compare Establishment Times
Sodding takes hold a lot quicker, which is ideal if you need immediate use. Conversely, their establishment is slower, the long-term turf quality achieved with seeded grass is usually superior.
Shape and Contour the Green
If you want to build a PMG with natural turf, you’ll have to be strategic. Surficial shaping and contouring out to the edges, blended into the surroundings, will provide an inviting experience. The challenge is to create a consistent playing surface but embed elements that create the chaos of the PDGA tour greens.
Design Interesting Breaks
To keep your green more inviting, think about including soft breaks and slopes. Byrd, a former college golfer and PGA professional, recommends compacted granite screenings for the base. The coarser material creates a stable base, but the smaller screenings layered on top offer the ability to shape more delicate contours.
Check with a level to make sure everything’s straight. Refrain from grades greater than 2.5 percent, because those angles may be uncomfortable for putting. Make the breaks aesthetically pleasing but somewhat difficult, keeping it interesting without becoming too confusing for the player.
For example, a subtle left to right tilt around the hole can give a tricky bit of flavor.
Integrate Natural Aesthetics
Creating continuity between the putting green and the environment around it adds to its beauty and functionality. Add natural features such as edging with native plants or small boulders to blur the harsh transition.
Don’t put the green on a big sloped hill, because that makes drainage and upkeep more difficult. Instead, look for a level or slightly sloped spot. To keep things dry, make sure the green is contoured to drain excess water off the surface.
This helps avoid puddles and helps to keep the grass safe.
Position the Cup Strategically
Move the cup around to locations that increase the difficulty but don’t make the task impossible or annoying. Even the best chosen tee location like, for instance, in front of a gentle break, can reproduce that magic of a pros course.
Avoid locating it just below the top of a hill. Doing so will result in balls rolling away too easily and detracting from the fun that should be attached to practice.
Maintain Your Putting Green
Maintaining a high-quality real-grass putting green is a year-round pursuit that begins with proper care and maintenance practices. Consistent maintenance will keep your green looking great and help protect your investment, all while providing the smooth surface you require for practicing.
Mowing Best Practices
Regular mowing is very important in keeping the grass at the low height needed for a true putting green. In a perfect world, you’d mow every single day—or at least several days a week—with a reel mower to enhance that precision cut.
Mow your grass to about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch in height to mimic the best conditions of a professional golf course. Follow a regular mowing schedule so you don’t put unnecessary stress on your grasses.
Fertilization Schedule
A regular fertilization schedule is essential for healthy, vibrant grass. In addition, apply 1/4 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in April, as this will help them green up more quickly in early season.
During the growing season from June to August, 1/4 pound of nitrogen per week applied helps to stay on top of growth during hot periods. In September, lower the rate to 1/8 pound to promote fall health.
Appropriate use of slow-release fertilizers maintains healthy, deep roots and good, consistent surface quality.
Aeration and Topdressing
Aerate the soil and check the compaction in the ground at least annually to make sure it is sufficiently loose to allow airflow. Topdress with sand in early May and late September each year to smooth surface and promote drainage.
Evenly distribute a thin layer of sand over the entire green to fill in gaps and keep your putting surface consistent.
Watering Techniques
Water thoroughly and infrequently to promote healthy, deep root systems. Watering early in the morning limits evaporation and helps prevent disease.
Be mindful of your frequency in rainy weather, as an unnecessary watering can drown the grass and lead to root rot.
Address Common Installation Issues
The benefits of installing a putting green with live grass are plenty. Some typical issues may come up through the installation process. Addressing these issues upfront makes for an easier installation and, therefore, a more successful project.
Poor Drainage Solutions
Good drainage is essential to healthy, even putting greens. Without it, water just sits, creating muddy patches or dead spots in your grass. Start by measuring the soil. Sandy soils allow for good drainage, but clay-based soils may need amendments such as sand, gravel or even mounds to ensure water isn’t pooling in the garden bed.
Creating a small slope, preferably no more than 3%, allows water to flow off the surface without puddling. French drains are another great option, particularly in places that get a lot of rain or have bad natural drainage. For production or DIY projects, this step could require additional time investment, but it pays off in avoiding costly installation mistakes in the future.
Uneven Surface Problems
With a good level surface you can enjoy a perfect putting surface. Begin by clearing away any debris and stones, then tamp down the soil to form a level surface. A 10’ x 15’ green is the perfect size for most residential projects, but just be sure to keep the slope smooth and gradual.
When installing, make sure you fasten the surface completely down so there is no chance it will move. This can be accomplished with landscape staples or weighted edges. Reverify alignment with the holes. Continue to monitor alignment as the green may move when working.
Sharp, clean cuts that separate each piece of turf further make seams less noticeable. A utility knife or shears will work best for careful cutting.
Pest and Disease Control
Real grass is susceptible to pests and diseases. Consistent maintenance such as regular mowing, with adequate irrigation and fertilization, minimizes hazards. Natural deterrents, such as neem oil or diatomaceous earth, can be effective at fighting pests without chemicals.
Real Grass vs. Artificial Turf
If you’re thinking about installing a faux lawn for a backyard putting green, there are plenty of reasons to go with natural grass instead. Each alternative offers distinct advantages and disadvantages, all of which can affect cost, maintenance, environmental factors, and performance.
Compare Costs and Maintenance
Real grass putting greens require a large commitment of both time and money to keep the surface in perfect condition. Daily mowing with a specialized, reel mower with a height set to 1/8 of an inch must be maintained during the growing season.
In addition, you’ll likely require spot irrigation, aeration, and soil treatments—all of which can be costly and highly labor-intensive.
Artificial turf needs little maintenance. With regular brushing, rinsing and maintenance it can stay clean and looking amazing. The installation costs for synthetic greens are often $11 to $35 per square foot.
With regular maintenance, they can last a lifetime—up to 15 years—that is—their new life-saving development makes them an ideally tough, long-term solution.
Evaluate Environmental Impact
Keeping grass natural means constant and heavy water use, as well as ongoing use of pesticides and herbicides, put the natural world and natural resources under unnecessary stress.
Fake grass removes the need for any watering or fertilizers at all, significantly cutting its environmental impact.
Synthetic turf – which is made from petroleum-based materials – does have its critics, who see it as the less environmentally friendly option.
Assess Performance Differences
Another big one. While natural grass provides a more genuine putting experience, natural grass can deteriorate with the wear of even toys or outdoor furniture or limited foot traffic.
Though tough enough to withstand geysers and storms, artificial turf can never fully replicate the subtle workability of real grass.
Perfect for the casual player, it won’t appease more serious golfers who want a more classic experience.
Conclusion
Constructing a putting green with real grass can be a very gratifying project. Not only does it make your area more useful, its beauty will astound your friends. From selecting the ideal location to ensuring each blade stays vibrant and lush, each stage culminates in a putting green that’s uniquely yours. With real grass, every putt will be much more gratifying as you’ll get that real golf underfoot feel.
Sharpen your skills and develop a great place to unwind. The time and care you put into this build will shine in the end and can be enjoyed all summer long! Just like any grass surface, routine maintenance will make your green look beautiful and playable throughout the entire year.
Get started planning today and take pride in having your very own putting green. So it’s more than a great project to enjoy in your backyard—it’s your own private piece of the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space do I need for a putting green with real grass?
You will need at least 500 square feet for a really functional putting green. This will afford you ample room for shaping and contouring. The bigger the area, the more possibilities you have for design and practice.
What type of grass is best for a putting green?
That said, bentgrass and Bermuda grass make very good growing conditions for putting greens. Both offer a smooth, dense surface for putting. Select turf variety according to your region—Bentgrass is best in cooler climates, while Bermuda grass is ideal for southern states.
Should I use grass seed or sod for my putting green?
Sod provides quicker results with an established, instant coverage, while grass seed is cheaper but requires time to germinate and establish. Select sod if you want to use the green sooner, but select seed if you want the most economical, flexible option.
How do I maintain a real grass putting green?
Just like any other grass lawn, your putting green will require regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Maintain grass height to 1/8–1/4 inch for best playability. Aerate, dethatch, and regularly maintain your grass to encourage its vigorous growth.
What is the best way to shape and contour my putting green?
Fill with sand or sifted top soil to mimic subtle slopes and breaks. Make sure to accurately test contours with a golf ball to be sure you’ll get quality play. Consider drainage. When planning your slopes, keep this in mind.
Can I install a putting green in a shaded area?
Grass requires a lot of sunlight to grow successfully. Stay away from shaded spots or plant shade-resistant grass types. Too little sunlight will result in thin, disease-prone grass.
What are the benefits of real grass over artificial turf?
While synthetic turf has its advantages, a real grass putting green delivers that authentic golf experience, superior ball roll and environmental benefit. It’s perfect for golfers who really want the real deal. Maintenance-wise, it’s definitely more demanding than artificial turf.