What to Look for in a Residential Putting Green

Are you a golfer who’s ready to level up from office putting cups and indoor roll-out putting mats? Whether you’re a serious golf pro, a serious amateur enthusiast, or just someone who seriously wants to make a better impression the next time you’re on the green with the boss, nailing your short game is the place to start. What if you could work on your short game in the convenience and privacy of your own backyard? With a residential putting green, you can. 

What to Look for in a Residential Putting Green

What are the must-have features in a residential putting green? That’s completely up to you.

Are you a serious golfer who wants to be able to log extra hours finessing those shots that give you trouble on the course? Do you want an at-home haven where the entire family, kids included, can play golf together? Do you work from home and just want an easily accessible outlet to de-stress during the work day or to keep you occupied while on a long conference call? Or maybe you have the yard space to spare, and want to add value to your property?

Whatever your reason, it helps to know what you’re looking for when you’re considering designing and installing a personal residential putting green. You’ll get the most out of your putting green if you prioritize these three must-haves:

#1 Weather and Drought Resistance

One of the benefits of using artificial turf instead of natural grass is that it can stand up to the elements. Scorching heat and drought can wreck a grass green, and so can a hard frost, heavy rain, or single snowfall. No matter where you live, a natural grass green is susceptible to the elements. Look for residential putting greens that use weather-resistant artificial turf so that your investment is protected (and usable) year-round.

#2 Low Maintenance Costs

Artificial turf is not only better equipped to stand up to the elements, but it’s also much easier (and cheaper) to maintain. The job of caring for natural grass never stops – it requires near-constant specialized care, from mowing and fertilizing to trimming, shaping, and weeding. 

And then there’s the time and cost that comes with preventing and treating damage caused by insects, rodents, and other critters that can take up residence in natural grass, as well as the time and cost it may take to eradicate them. It doesn’t even need to be a pest infestation: all it takes is the family dog deciding to relieve itself on the green a few too many times to kill your grass.

And don’t forget the biggest maintenance cost of all: watering. Properly maintaining natural golf course grass requires mind-boggling amounts of water. In fact, in the United States, a single 18-hole golf course uses 130,000 gallons of water every day on average. That’s over 7,000 gallons a day for a single hole. Artificial turf still requires water, but it needs significantly less than natural grass.

Don’t make caring for your putting green a full-time job. Instead, look for a residential putting green that uses high-quality artificial turf and say goodbye to astronomical water bills, constant maintenance, disease and pest control, and labor costs. It’s better for your wallet — and for the planet, too!

#3 Customization

Unless you’re designing rain ponchos, it’s best to avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach. You want a residential putting green designed to meet your needs. Here are some questions it can be helpful to ask yourself when it comes to planning your residential putting green:

• How much yard space do I have available, and how much of that space do I want to dedicate to my putting green?
• What shape do I want my putting green to be?
• Do I want a no-hassle, pre-planned putting green? Or do I want to be able to design a totally custom, one-of-a-kind green?
• Are there specific kinds of shots or putts I want to be able to practice at home? If so, can I design a putting green that has those options?
• Do I want to include bonus features like sand, water, or additional holes?

New England Courts has over two decades of experience designing and installing custom commercial and residential putting greens for schools, offices, and homeowners. We make designing and installing your residential putting green a breeze: whether it’s one of our three pre-configured, professionally designed putting greens or a completely custom backyard green designed to suit your own unique putting practices and preferences. 

To learn more about installing your own year-round, maintenance-free putting green, please give us a call at 866-928-3047 or send us a message online. We look forward to hearing from you!