Questions for the Pro

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Questions for the Pro: October 2008

Nikki Fetingas is a contributing writer to Residential Putting Green Magazine and is the the owner of At Home Putting Greens. Nikki has had years of experience in turf and putting green
construction. You can learn more about
Nikki and her company at her site...
At Home Putting Greens.

Each month, Nikki will be answering your questions. You can send them to Questions for the Pro!


Q. I want to build a putting green in my backyard. I have
a small backyard and I will only be able to chip and
putt. What type of turf should I consider?

It depends on how far you are going to be chipping and your definition of
a “small backyard”. If you do have a small backyard I’m assuming you’re not
going to be chipping from 75 yards. I’m also going to assume your green size
will be between 300-500 square feet.

If that’s the case I would recommend a nylon surface. If you use a nylon with
a 5/8” pile height and 45oz. face weight you will get a wonderful reaction out
of those short chip shots. If you choose a turf that is 100% nylon (not a blend),
then you will get a much longer life out of the turf.

The nylon will also provide you a consistent surface for your putting without
having to maintain the turf. If your chip shots are longer than the 20 feet
around the green I would top dress the turf with a clean, round, dry, dust-free
sand. You can also go with a higher pile height and heavier face weight. If you
are making longer chip shots I would switch to a polypropylene sand infill turf.

Pile heights change depending on how far you are chipping.

Q. I have enough room in my backyard to hit 100 yard shots into a putting
green? How big should the green be and what type of turf should I use?

Isn’t the saying the bigger the better? If you are hitting 100 yard shots the green size
will depend on how good you are. The first thing to do is ask yourself what you are
using the green for. If you want to narrow down your skills make it a little
smaller than normal. If you are beginning, or have children who starting in the
game, make it larger.

Next, I would use utility flags to mark off the area you are thinking. Turf comes in
15’ and 12’ wide increments so keep that in mind. A course green is somewhere,
typically, around 3-4,000 square feet. Once you mark off the area go 100 yards
out and hit a few balls. The best way to determine what size green you want is
to try it out different sizes and see which you like best.

Q. I have enough room for a 2,500 square foot green in my backyard. Is this too
big of a project for one person to take on?

This is a big project. A job of this size will require a lot of manual labor. If you
were to hire a professional we would have all the right equipment to complete the job
in a timely manner. ‘Timely’ being the keyword. A project of this size carries a lot
more variables than a 700 square foot green. If your looking to go polypropylene the
infill must be consistent for a smooth and even playing surface. Another thing to
consider is shaping the green.

When looking at a project of this caliber you want to make sure that the slopes are
uniform and transition in a natural way. Experience plays a big role in knowing how
to do that. Even if you want a flat green you will need to slope it at least 3-4% for
water run-off. Then that leads to drainage and the list goes on…….

So to make a long story short I don’t think it would hurt to meet with an installer.

Q. With summer coming to an end, are there any particular maintenance
issues I should address for the coming winter?

Keep those leaves and debris off your green! Maintenance changes
dramatically depending of where you live. If you’re in a warm
climate I would UV treat your turf whether its nylon or poly.

In either climate, you may want to splash a mold resistant on
the turf. If you have a poly green its always nice to sand and
roll your green. Nothing special is really needed to prepare
for winter months unless noted by the turf manufacturer
or installer.

Putting Green Reviews

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Backyard Putting Greens

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A backyard putting green is an investment and can cost thousands of dollars. Make sure you research and make your choices with the big picture in mind... just like any other investment!

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Indoor Putting Green

If you think that an indoor putting green just has a thick piece of carpet and a cup that shoots the ball back to you after you putt, then you are in for a nice suprise.

There are innovative companies in the marketplace that are putting some serious options in front of you...and they will challenge you to improve your putting.

You are only limited by your imagination.

From putting greens that have fully adjustable breaks to indoor greens that will work within any

decor...there is an indoor putting green to fit your budget and space within your home.

Take a look at our complete indoor putting green section.

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Homeowner Putting Green Spotlights

Reading about actual projects that homeowners just like you have had installed is a great way to learn about the process and get ideas for your own project..

There are many specifics to consider once you decide you want a putting green installed in your backyard. The considerations take the form of space, drainage issues, budget, size, speed, undulation, etc. These putting green case studies can be a big help to you, while giving you examples of what others have done with their projects.

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