How to Build a Putting Green

What do you need to build a putting green?

A putting green needs low-pile putting turf, a compacted base of base rock and decomposed granite, Camofill infill, and nails to pin it, plus seaming tape and DC5 glue where pieces meet. Artificial Grass & Landscaping sells the turf, infill, nails, tape, glue and edging; base rock is bought from a landscape-materials supplier.

Every supply with pack sizes: installation supplies. What a green costs in full: putting green cost.

How do you prepare the base for a putting green?

The same base as a lawn. Artificial Grass & Landscaping's base-preparation steps remove 3-4 inches of soil, lay wire mesh against gophers, then compact 2.5-3 inches of base rock and 1-1.5 inches of decomposed granite to 90%, framed with edging. A smooth, firm, level base is what a true roll needs.

1. Remove 3-4 inches of soil or sod and clear sprinklers and obstructions.
2. Lay wire mesh on the soil, under the base rock, to keep gophers out, and frame the green with bender board or metal edging.
3. Compact 2.5-3 inches of base rock to 90%, then 1-1.5 inches of 3/4 in decomposed granite to 90%, for a smooth, firm, level surface.
4. The full base method: base preparation, and the materials and depths on artificial grass base.

How do you lay and cut putting turf?

Roll the turf out in the sun, blades face down, for 1-2 hours, keep every piece's grain one way, and cut it to fit on its backside with a turf knife. A green no wider than the roll goes down in one piece: Artificial Grass & Landscaping cuts Tour Preferred Putting Green 68 Oz. 15 ft and 7.5 ft.

1. Roll the turf out in the sun, blades face down, for at least 1-2 hours first: it is easier to work with.
2. Lay every piece with its grain, the stitch rows, running in one direction.
3. Flip the turf onto its backside and cut it to fit with a turf knife.
4. Trim any stray blades with carpet scissors.

Tour Preferred Putting Green 68 Oz. covers a 15 ft wide green in one piece, with no seam. Order 2 ft extra in length: cuts are within 1 ft, not exact.

How do you seam and secure putting turf?

Where two pieces meet, Artificial Grass & Landscaping's steps lay seaming tape under the join, glue both edges to it with no slack, and nail the seam with 5 or 6 inch nails every 4 inches, staggered. Elsewhere a nail goes every 12-24 inches down the center and every 3-4 inches along the edges.

1. Lay seaming tape lengthwise under the join, on the backside of the turf, with the two edges lined up and centered on the tape.
2. Seal the seam with the seaming tape and seaming glue.
3. Keep the seam lined up with no slack, the grain of both pieces facing the same way, and the gap at the seam matching the spacing of the stitch rows.
4. Secure the seam with 5 or 6 inch nails along it, staggered every 4 inches (staples can be used, but do not countersink them).
5. Elsewhere, a nail every 12-24 inches down the center and every 3-4 inches along the edges.

Seaming turf in full, with the adhesive and tape: how to glue artificial grass. The catalog gives no adhesive coverage rate or cure time, so follow the directions on the container.

How much infill does a putting green need?

Camofill infill, brushed in to help the blades stand. Artificial Grass & Landscaping's installation steps give 1.5-2 pounds per square foot, so a 300 sq ft green takes 9 to 12 bags of 50 lb, $224.55 to $299.40. Do not use regular sand.

• Do not use regular sand for infill: use Camofill.
• Brush the turf, spread the infill with a drop spreader, then brush again so it works down between the blades and helps them stand.
• About the product: Camofill infill.

Can you build the putting green for me?

We provide contractors: independent, third-party contractors build putting greens within 40 miles of Rancho Cordova. The Installation Cost Calculator's contractor rates start at 250 sq ft, so a small backyard green under that size is quoted by contacting Artificial Grass & Landscaping rather than priced online.

We provide contractors: installation is done by independent, third-party contractors, not by Artificial Grass & Landscaping staff. Contractor services are available within 40 miles of the Rancho Cordova warehouse; further out, contact us first.

Local putting green projects: Roseville. Prices for the turf and supplies: putting green cost.

What this page can't tell you

• How fast the green will be: the catalog gives no stimp or speed rating for the putting turf, so this page states none.
• A cup, flag or hole-cutter: Artificial Grass & Landscaping does not sell these, so plan to source them elsewhere.
• How to shape breaks and contours: the base method here makes a smooth, level green, not a contoured one; that is a design choice on site.
• Which putting turf to pick: putting green turf compares the two.

Questions and answers