You don’t need to be a professional golfer so you can enjoy playing golf right in your yard. With the help of artificial turf, your yard, regardless its size, can be transformed to your very own playing field. This just might lead to surprising your pals when you take a couple of strokes off of your game, and it is sure to impress guests at your next social gathering and will definitely be a hit when you invite your friends over for a weekend barbecue and some friendly putting competitions.
When it comes to having your very own putting green in the comfort of your home, you have an important decision: Should you get an artificial grass putting green or real grass putting green?
Things to Consider
Location
The health and beauty of natural grass is dependent on environmental factors, such as soil condition and the amount of sunlight it receives. Depending on your climate, installing a natural grass putting green under the cover of a patio or a shady tree may not be an option.
On the other hand, a synthetic turf putting green can be installed almost anywhere you can envision. Also, it does not require sunlight, proper soil conditions, proper drainage and temperature control. This means you can install your golf green under a shade tree, in a side yard that does not receive much sun or in a section of your yard that does not have good soil.
Durability
Artificial grass will hold up to things like pet urine and roughhousing much better than natural grass. It also will not experience the same broken blades or trampled look after your children or pets have run across it or played on it. There will be no dead or bare areas from too much activity.
While all of the above is an issue with conventional grass, perhaps the most important aspect of durability regarding putting greens is the fact that natural grass will get ruined over time from repeatedly being dug up by your putter forming divots.
Usability
You can play on a synthetic green any time. Get too much rain? No problem, you’re putting green will drain the water and still be useable! Synthetic turf is usable in almost any condition and during all seasons; depending on where you live, natural grass may not be. Any significant rain or snowfall will make using your natural grass putting green difficult or impossible. You will not face this issue with synthetic turf. With synthetic turf, your investment will be usable year-round.
Pet-Friendliness
A natural grass lawn will almost always get brown spots in places where dogs urinate even somewhat frequently. Your dog may also accidentally kick up clumps or make holes and divots while running or playing on natural grass. And it probably goes without saying, but if your dog decides to dig up your putting green, it could be completely destroyed or, at the very least, require professional repair.
Your dogs can urinate on artificial grass as much as they please without causing unsightly brown spots, and you will not have to worry about clumps of grass that could trip you or ruin your practice session. Dogs are also less likely to try digging once they realize that fake grass does not easily give way to expose the dirt in which they really want to dig.
Cleanliness
When you practice your short game on natural grass, you will likely get your shoes dirty and may track dirt, mud and grass into your house. Your children or pets may also track in these materials if they play or walk through your green. Choosing natural grass also means dealing with muddy patches after rain.
This is not an issue with synthetic grass, which makes it a clear winner when it comes to cleanliness.
Maintenance
Conventional lawns require quite a bit of upkeep, and natural putting greens require even more. You will probably spend more time maintaining it than you will actually spend playing on it. Any installation of conventional grass requires regular watering, weeding, fertilizing, aerating, edging and mowing. You may also need herbicides and pesticides to keep weeds and pests at bay.
But when you are using that grass as a putting green, all of this must be taken to the next level to ensure a proper surface for your practice sessions. Artificial grass is a completely low-maintenance option that requires very little work or water to look its best. You will likely want to rinse it down every once in a while and brush it up occasionally to keep the blades looking lively, but that is about all it takes to have beautiful grass in your backyard. Check out our Care & Maintenance Guide to learn just how easy it is to keep manufactured turf looking lush and verdant.
Visual
When perfectly manicured, conventional grass can be quite attractive; however, it takes a lot of time, effort and money to keep natural turf looking its best. This is particularly true in the case of putting greens, which require special care when constructed of natural grass. Too much water, too little water, not enough sun, improper fertilization, weeds, traffic, pets, putters and several other factors can quickly ruin the look of conventional grass.
With artificial grass, you can always rely on it to look lush and green with no weeds, brown spots, bare spots or divots.
In Conclusion
Most of us would rather spend our time practicing our short game instead of becoming our local greenskeeper. Artificial grass doesn’t require intensive care, and you won’t need fertilizers, pesticides, or month to month trimming to keep up the putting grass. Plus, you can install the artificial grass putting green anywhere in your home, including your terrace, patio, backyard, veranda, or living room.