One of the most popular uses for artificial turf is to create an at-home putting green. And why not? Yes, golf greens require specialized types of grass to provide proper flexibility and ball roll, but that’s why Heavenly Greens offers multiple types of turf designed especially to meet these standards. You can create a putting green for family fun or one that will challenge you every time you step up to the ball.
Different types of grass perform differently
Artificial turf designed for backyard putting greens is not the same as the grass you would use for your lawn. Even golf-specific turf products can be quite different from one another. Each type provides amazingly realistic performance based on its purpose.
Bent grass style with very short blades is commonly used for putting surfaces. Texturized turf works nicely, whether you’re strictly a casual player or Pro-Am serious about the game. Slit-film style mimics the natural grass you see on gold courses. Its blades are trimmed off along the top, producing the same effect as mower-trimmed grass. Avid golfers like this style, as it allows tournament-level practice.
Fringe grass is taller and straighter. As an option, we can install that around your green, so you can practice chipping as well as putting. (Fringe gives your green that “real golf course” look, too.) We also have a variety of grass specifically made for tee boxes – another option you can add to expand the skills-improvement value of your backyard putting green.
Infill also affects play
Infill keeps the grass blades upright and maintains resilience. The type of infill material affects ball control and speed for various types of strokes. Sand or a sand mixture are both common – the smaller the grain size, the less it will interfere with speed or control. Low-infill, as the name implies, requires less volume, allowing balls to roll smoothly without bouncing or veering off. Low-infill artificial turf also happens to be a great choice for backyard bocce or croquet courts.
Any type of infill can be used with texturized turf, though sand is especially popular with golfers. In this case, it gives the turf excellent stability and cushioning, more like real grass.
Design your own green
Not only is there an artificial grass just right for your style of play, you can custom-design your entire green to fit your play preferences. Without the need to grow or mow your grass, you can choose any shape or terrain fluctuations you want. Shade? No problem. And no concerns about soggy spots. Make it hilly, or not quite so challenging. Add sand traps, or a water feature. With a single investment in artificial grass, you can improve the aesthetic and monetary value of your property as well as your short game.
Professional installation is a must
Along with selecting the best type of artificial grass and the best infill for your play requirements, professional installation ensures it all comes together properly.
Using a skilled, experienced crew improves the quality of any artificial grass installation, but it is particularly important for golf greens, where the turf must be stretched and fastened property to prevent visible seams or formation of ridges and divots over time. For example, the backing on texturized turf can expand and shrink as conditions vary, so poor quality installation can result in a situation where the ball rolls differently in one direction than the other.
With professional advice and installation, you can be confident you’ll get maximum life and consistent play quality from your backyard putting green.