Build your artificial golf green

Build your artificial golf green

This is part 2 of building an artificial golf green, click here to go back to part 1.

Once you have the subsurface prepared following the contours you want for your final green, you can start adding the subsurface material. Again check with the manufacturer of the artificial golf green surface as to what they recommend. If you are pouring concrete, now is the time to do it. I would suggest adding steel reinforcement to prevent the surface from cracking and to make sure in the long run you don’t develop holes under the artificial turf.

Compact the Base

If you are using compacted stone, you can start to put it in. You will need to make sure you compact the material well, if you are using a plate tamper, remember it can only compact 2 to 4 inches at a time, so add 2 inches at time and compact well, then add the next 2 inches and so on. Once you get close to right level, you will want to use material than can easily be shaped, either compaction sand or fine stone known as screenings, stone dust or crushed stone. Rake the surface to what you want as you final grade and compact, I would recommend 24 inch or wider aluminium landscape rakes. Then adjust as necessary and compact again. Keep repeating the steps until the surface is well compacted, and doesn’t move when you walk on it and is free of bumps or holes.

Install the surface (synthetic turf)

Now you are ready to install the artificial turf surface. As said before, if the manufacturer has instructions, follow them, essentially you will be rolling out the turf, then you will need to use some for of tape and/or glue to put the next strip down and attach to the one you placed. You will need to trim the edges of the green and possibly along the seams of each strip to account for undulations in the green. Make sure you don’t leave any edges unattached so the green doesn’t move and begin to separate. The edges are one of the most important parts of the installation; if they are well done, you won’t see any seams, poorly done and it will look like artificial turf!

Tie-in the edges

The next step is to tie the green into the surrounding landscape. If you have natural turf, I would suggest putting a couple of strips of new sod around the perimeter of your artificial golf green. In some cases the green will be surrounded by hardscaping such as patio or wall etc, so you will only have to make sure the edges blend in and elevations match. Also be sure to remember that water will runoff the green so the low area will need to accept water or have drainage added.

Now for the final step, your artificial golf green may need infill. Check with your manufacturer as to recommendations for your type of artificial turf. Some will require crumb rubber, others sand and others don’t need any infill at all. Infill is simply a material that is added to fill in between the blades of grass to improve the finish of the surface and match it closer to real grass for putting.

Now you can start putting on your artificial golf green without worrying about cutting, maintenance, disease, etc. Enjoy!

Back to part 1, "How to install a Putting green"

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SBI!