How important is a professional for putting green installations?

In this Q&A interview, RPGM goes one on one with Weston Weber, the president & CEO of Southwest Greens, one of the most influential putting green installation companies in the industry.

If you are ready to get a backyard putting green and you are considering your installation options...this article is a must-read.

RPGM: Briefly tell our readers how the idea for Southwest Putting Greens began.

Weston Weber: Three professional baseball players decided after the 1996 baseball season that there might be a market for artificial greens. We installed a couple and realized we were on to something so we researched the types that were available at that time and chose the sand-filled turf method, and the rest is history.

RPGM: You founded Southwest Putting Greens before home putting greens began to really take off. What is the biggest change you have seen in the market and in synthetic turf?

Weston Weber: Two things. First, is the number of companies in the business. Secondly, the onset of the use of polyethylene for the fringes (rough) and grass applications. This style of turf has changed the synthetic turf business for the better in a big way!

RPGM: The two major types of synthetic turf are polypropylene and nylon. What turf does your company recommend for your installations?

Weston Weber: I chose polypropylene for our greens. In my opinion, it is the most natural looking, and the golf ball reactions most resemble natural grass greens.

RPGM: Many of our readers are considering the option to build their own backyard putting green. Can you give us an idea of how many of your customers install their own greens? When would you advise a homeowner to forego doing it themselves and hire a professional installer?

Weston Weber: Because the art of installing a Southwest Green using sand-filled polypropylene is such a labor-intensive process, coupled with the fact that it takes experience to properly cut the turf in, seam the turf and know the tolerances of slope, we do not sell turf to homeowners to install themselves. We always advise homeowners to hire a professional company with professional installers who have been trained properly.

RPGM: When you've heard from customers who have installed their own green, what seems to be the most common installation mistakes they make during the process?

Weston Weber: I have seen every type of mistake, from poor base material to poor compaction of the base, wrong slope, improper setting of the cups, unnatural shape of the green and poor cut in, seams with gaps, use of the wrong glue, poor infill and improper infill, greens that roll unnatural and are bumpy, the green won't hold a chip shot like a natural green, and greens that are to slow or too fast.

RPGM: What is the most difficult mistake to overcome?

Weston Weber: Use of the wrong turf, poor base work, poor seaming, and the slope of the green.

RPGM: Do you see continued improvement of synthetic turf in the future?

Weston Weber: Yes I do. Many of us are constantly looking for better ways to install the greens and we are pushing the manufacturers to produce high quality turfs that mimic natural grass as best as it can.

RPGM: Where will the home putting green market be in 5 years?

Weston Weber: I see tremendous growth in all aspects of the putting green business. As we raise the bar, the demand will become greater as people will recognize that there is a fantastic home putting product available. As the general public realizes that this is not putt-putt golf with indoor/outdoor carpet laid over concrete type material, the demand will grow. As the years go by the demand for high quality home putting greens will only increase.

RPGM: Any idea of the increased percentage of a home's resale value when there is a backyard putting green installed?

Weston Weber: I have researched this some and found that a well-landscaped yard can bring as much as 11% over appraisal value when selling your home. I personally have sold two homes and I definitely found this to be true. I can't actually put a percentage on what the value of just a putting green in your home can add, but in my opinion a really high quality green with natural color and natural grass characteristics, along with the rest of the landscaping, can most definitely add value. However, a poor quality green will most likely not add any value whatsoever.

RPGM: What size putting green does your average homeowner or dealer install?

Weston Weber: I would say approximately 700-1200 sq. ft.

RPGM: Can someone install a backyard putting green with very little yard space?

Weston Weber: Absolutely. We build them any size, any place.

RPGM: What seems to be the most popular size?

Weston Weber: It depends on the city, as yards very, but when people can afford it they shoot for 1,000 sq. ft. For example a 20 x 40 ft. green with a 2 ft. fringe collar around the green.

RPGM: What is the single most important thing to consider before installing a backyard putting green?

Weston Weber: Who is installing it and do they have the training to install it properly, and do they use the best system available and guarantee their workmanship and turf.

RPGM: How much maintenance is involved after a putting green is installed?

Weston Weber: It depends on 4 things: what turf and system they used, where it is located in the yard ( under trees, near plants that shed leaves, high traffic area, is there natural grass around it and is there overspray), what is the climate, and most importantly how the green is being used. General maintenance on a sand-filled green by Southwest Greens is 10-15 minutes a month at the most if the green is treated like a golf green. Very minimal in most cases.

RPGM: Any maintenance tips for homeowners?

Weston Weber: Treat your green like a natural golf green and you will have no problems. Consult the professional team that installed your green and they can easily prepare you for what you can do to insure that your green is putting good day in and day out.

RPGM: How long should a correctly maintained putting green last before it needs replacing?

Weston Weber: This is totally dependant on the type of system they chose to install, the climate they live in, who installed the green, where it is located in the yard, and how it is treated by the homeowner. I have seen greens that last two years because it was used as a playground for kids and dogs, and I have seen greens that are 10 years old that are in good shape. My suggestion is to buy a good product that is installed professionally, and offers service and a good warranty.

For a list of professionals that provide putting green installations...check out RPGM's Buyer's Guide!