Beginner’s Guide | Everything You Should Know About Artificial Putting Green Turf

Golf is a challenging but rewarding sport that requires a lot of practice and patience. More and more golfers choose artificial grass putting greens because they are easy to install and maintain, perform well and look attractive. So how do you create a satisfactory artificial putting green?

With this guide, you will learn how to choose the best artificial putting green turf as well as the knowledge of installing and maintaining the putting green, let us take a look.

How to choose artificial grass for putting green?

Common materials of artificial putting green turf

Artificial putting green turf is a low-pile fake grass that allows golf balls to roll. It is made of durable synthetic fiber materials such as nylon, PE or PP.

Among these materials, nylon is renowned for its durability, resulting in a longer lifespan but at a higher cost. Recently, PE curly monofilament fibers have been trending, providing a compact and smooth surface for optimal ball interaction.

Pile height of putting green turf

The length of the tufts measured from the primary backing top surface to their tips, is usually measured in millimeters (mm). High-pile artificial grass is good for trendy yards as it is more comfortable and lush, but putting greens should have a lower pile height to ensure true ball rolling. The pile height of most putting green surfaces ranges from 13mm to 18mm.

Face weight of putting green turf

Choose thick, high-density artificial grass for your golf putting green, depending on the face weight of the turf. Higher face weight means denser and more durable grass products. Artificial putting green turf with a face weight between 50 and 70 ounces per square yard is ideal.

Turf backing and drainage

The turf backing plays a crucial role in securing the tufted fibers in place, ensuring the desired ‘tuft lock’. CCGrass provides various backing options such as latex, PU, PRT, or RCX. Testing reveals that PU backing, in particular, enhances surface smoothness, offering users a more seamless experience.

While drainage may not be a major concern for the relatively small area of a putting green, PU backing ensures effective drainage, maintaining the playability of the surface.

UV protection

Outdoor putting green turf is always exposed under the burning sunbeam. Good UV resistance can keep the grass yarn colorfast for years, thus prolonging the life of the putting green. CCGrass artificial grass uses the best UV inhibitors, tested by SGS to UVA 5000h and UVB 3000h, exceeding industry standards.

Putting green infill

The type and amount of infill affects ball speed, ball bounce, and more. One of the most commonly used infills is silica sand, which helps keep the fibers upright and enhances the appearance and performance of the putting green. Infill also regulates the speed of the green, you can add more infill to increase the ball speed or remove infill to make the ball roll more slowly.

For surfaces that require no infill, consider those made from polyethene curly fibers. These fibers stand upright on their own, creating a dense and smooth surface that maintains its shape without the need for infill, providing immediate usability and convenience.

Recreational putting greens vs. professional putting greens

The stamp rating and chipping distance differ between recreational and professional putting greens. The stamp rating indicates the speed of the ball on the putting green while chipping distance refers to the short distance covered when hitting the ball onto the green. Notably, both stimp rating and chipping distance are considerably greater on professional putting greens compared to recreational ones.

Professional putting greens cost 20-50% more due to intricate design needs like specific green slopes and higher standards in turf management. They aim for a heightened challenge and must meet strict competition specifications. In contrast, recreational greens prioritize entertainment and easy maintenance.

You can choose recreational or professional artificial grass putting green according to your usage intention and budget.

Why you should use artificial putting green turf?

Save time & money

No mowing, no watering, no spraying, no fertilizing, which is environmentally friendly and saves the expensive and time-consuming maintenance, so you could spend more time enjoying the green with your family and hone your golf skills.

Unmatched putting green experience

Our state-of-the-art artificial putting green turf is designed and manufactured from a real putting green experience, offering unparalleled realism in appearance and performance, helping all golfers achieve the perfect shot every time.

Wide range of applications

Synthetic green turf can be installed in virtually any location, regardless of the size of your area. It is versatile and well-suited for a variety of purposes, including indoor and outdoor greens, mini golf, golf courses, commercial settings, training centres, and more.

Great golf training

Create an artificial grass putting green at home so you can train on fresh, natural-looking and comfortable grass surface year-round. Don’t need to go to golf course every time, perfect for professional golfers or beginners to practice their golf swing.

Recommendations for the best artificial putting green turf

How to install artificial putting green turf in the backyard?

Step1: Choose a location and design

It’s up to you to decide where to place the putting green first. Look for a horizontal location with good drainage. Then communicate with the professional company, inquire, design and order the putting green turf.

Step2: Make the base

The installer will outline the yard with spray paint according to the blueprint. Excavate 3-5 inches of native soil inside the outline, levelling and laying down an optional weed barrier on top of the excavated area.

Then put crushed stone into the area and spread out evenly, compacting with a compacting machine to create a smooth, flat base.

Step3: Install golf cups

Another critical step in installing a backyard putting green is deciding where the cups go. Use a shovel or spatula to make holes for the cups and insert golf cups into the holes. To ensure reliable installation, it is recommended to apply concrete to secure the rim of the cup. Then, compact the sub-base around each cup with a hand compactor to level the surface.

Step4: Install and cut artificial turf

Place green turf on the base and carefully cut out the shape and size of your design with a carpet knife. You can use chalk to scribe your design onto the top of the turf. As a rule of thumb, use turf nails along the perimeter to secure the contour. Next, use your hand to press down on the lawn to find the cups and use a carpet knife to cut out the holes.

Tip: Lay the turf flat in the sun for a few hours to allow it to stretch – this will remove creases and the fibers will be in better condition.

Step5: Apply infill and brush

Applying a proper layer of sand infill to your artificial putting green is very important. Use a stiff brush or electric broom to vertically brush synthetic grass to make sure the infill is evenly spread out.

How to clean and maintain artificial grass when putting green?

Artificial putting greens require some simple maintenance to keep them in top condition.

• Weekly: Remove debris such as leaves from putting green turf.
• Monthly: If your putting green gets dusty, you can simply rinse your grass with a water hose. For mildly soiled areas, a basic mixture of warm water and a small amount of mild household detergent solution will do the trick! Just wipe it with a sponge and then rinse.
• If the blades look flat: Rake the turf so that the blades stand up.
• Avoid wearing high heels or carrying sharp objects onto the putting green area.
• Keep sticky objects such as chewing gum away from your putting green turf.

Fake grass putting green FAQs

Q: Why choose a fake grass putting green over natural grass?

Here’s a quick comparison between artificial grass and natural grass putting greens:

Q: DIY or hire a pro to install a fake grass putting green?

Installing artificial putting greens requires precision for a smooth and level playing surface. Due to the complexity, DIY installation is generally discouraged. Opt for professional assistance to ensure a long-lasting backyard putting green of the highest quality.

For those seeking a convenient solution, our Golf Putting Mat, with its lightweight and easily storable features, requires no installation. It is exceptionally versatile, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, making it an ideal choice for golfers of all ages.

Q: How do you adjust the stimp speed of an artificial putting green?

The stimp speed of an artificial putting green is fine-tuned by adjusting silica sand infill – more infill for a faster roll, less for a slower pace. Choosing specific grass materials, like compressed poly or thin-bladed nylon, creates a harder and more compact surface, resulting in faster ball roll.

Q: How long does an artificial turf putting green last?

The longevity of an artificial turf putting green is influenced by factors including material quality, usage, regular maintenance, and exposure to climate and sunlight. With proper care, high-quality putting green turf can endure for up to 10 years or more, providing long-lasting enjoyment for golf enthusiasts.

Q: Will practising on a fake grass putting green improve my golf skills?

Certainly! Training on a synthetic turf putting green significantly enhances golf skills. The consistent surface aids precision and muscle memory, while the convenience of a home green allows for frequent practice, thereby boosting confidence. Many pros swear by artificial turf greens for honing short-game skills.

Conclusion

The emergence of artificial grass-putting greens has broken the tradition that only when you go to the golf course can you enjoy the fun of swinging, making the dream of playing golf anytime and anywhere a reality.

Armed with a thorough knowledge of the artificial putting green turf, it’s time to build your own putting paradise and start swinging!