Putting greens come in all shapes and sizes. Standard greens used in the Professional Golfer’s Association Tours will always be bigger than any regular green found in the average person’s backyard. So, what are the different or most common putting green sizes?
Putting greens on PGA Tours are 5,000 to 6,000 square feet regularly. A regular non-PGA green would measure about 1,000 to 1,500 square feet with backyard greens usually landing around 500 square feet. A larger putting green than 500 square feet is not needed for the average residential home.
So, what are the considerations one might need to make in order to decide the size, design, and cost of their own putting green? Here is what you need to know about the different-sized greens.
What is the Putting Green?
The putting green is the area of the course immediately around the hole. This is usually the shortest and lightest in color grass of the entire course. Sometimes the putting green is its own separate area designated for putting.
This area is where golfers spend the most time. This is why putting greens are usually the part of a course that is installed, even in limited spaces.
This allows serious golfers to practice their skills as well as amateur golfers to enjoy part of the sport from home. So, what are the size options or other options? Let’s start with the biggest!
5,000 to 6,000 Square Feet
This size of putting green is intended for tournaments and PGA use pretty much exclusively. A putting green this big is not often needed for a normal game of golf, but it is often used by professionals.
- Due to the large size of this putting green, it is not often used by casual golfers but instead by those who care and are invested in the game.
- A course this big is the only type of course that would be used for an official tournament due to the large holding capacity as well.
A court this size will almost always be attached to a private club or company. This is because it costs a to of money to maintain, especially because they are always made of real grass. The real grass takes time to mow and water, so it is fairly costly.
1,000 to 1,500 Square Feet
This type of putting green is likely the one you have seen most often. This green is almost always made of real grass and taken care of by managers of the course seeing as how a putting green this large, though still smaller than some, would not often be found in someone’s backyard.
One thing to notice is that the use of real grass will always affect the speed of your ball. While synthetic turf helps keep conditions stable for practice, real grass will face multiple variables that could affect your play.
You can find good quality Artificial Grass Here on Amazon to install yourself, or Hire Local Pros from HomeAdvisor to do it for you.
How recently the grass was watered could speed up or slow down your ball considerably, while the temperature outside also changed the way your golf ball moves.
- One condition change that some may not consider is the direction the grass is mowed.
- If the grass is cut away from the hole, it could add resistance to your put or have the opposite effect if mowed in the other direction.
- This is something professional or competitive golfers consider every time they step onto a putting green.
500 Square Feet and Under
Backyard putting greens are usually artificial. This makes the ball much faster. However, if you get too used to the ball speed on turf you will have a hard time relearning it on regular grass.
However, Synthetic grass costs much less to upkeep! Cost to install your own putting green in your backyard cost from $15 to $40 per square foot depending on how much ground you want to be covered, the design you want, and the company you go through.
You can find good quality Artificial Grass Here on Amazon to install yourself, or Hire Local Pros from HomeAdvisor to do it for you.
Maintenance for turf putting greens also costs much less money and takes less time. It does not grow so it does not need to be mowed or watered. The only needed cleaning is not to use a hose or leaf blower to clear debris or dirt from your putting green.
This will keep your putting smooth and easy. Inspections every 1 to 2 years are often recommended by the company you have to install your green so you can keep up on possible damage caused to the turf by weather or clubs.
Putting Mats
Putting mats are a great option for beginners. They are a great way to learn the basics as well as practice early on in your golf career. The only reason they are not more helpful is due to the simplicity of the mats. Due to its cheap and artificial make, it does not teach you how to put on real grass, nor real turf for that matter.
A putting mat would prove useless to the veteran golfer, but invaluable for the novice. It all depends on your needs and your skill level.
However, if this is what you need, putting mats come in a variety of holes and prices. These mats range from $20 to over $400. You are sure to find one to suit your home.
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Take-Aways
There are many things to consider when wanting to install your own putting green. The first question you must ask is; how do you plan to use it? Are you a novice just wondering if you might like golfing? The putting mat is for you. Do you know you have the time, skill, space, and money for a large golf paradise in your backyard?
Think about getting a 1,000-square-foot putting green. If you just want to practice your skills or curb your golfing addiction until you can get out to a full course, the 500-square-foot putting green would be a great addition to your property.
Overall, call the company you plan to have install your putting green and discuss with them what size, design, and budget you have. They will help you design and plan the perfect putting green of your dreams in your backyard.