Building a back yard putting green the traditional way, simple and inexpensive!

Part 1

You are ready to build your back yard putting green. You have tested your soil and drainage, the location is right with lots of sun and a gentle slope, now you want the to build the your green in the traditional method with the least cost. Here is how you do it.

First I would recommend borrowing or renting a sod cutter to remove the existing material. Usually it will be old grass or weeds, and all this material will need to be taken away. It can make good compost if you have the space to compost it. Set the sod cutter as deep as you can to get as much of the thatch and organic material from the top layer removed as possible. All that sod now has to be carted off, either by filling wheelbarrows and carting it off, or by using some of the toys from your local rental shop like a skid-steer loader.

The next step is optional depending on two things. If either, the soil underneath is loose and something with which you can easily shape the contours of your back yard putting green or you plan to sod using the existing shape, this next step is not necessary. Borrow or rent a roto-tiller. It need not be large, but it should be strong enough to stir up at least 4 to 6 inches deep to loosen the soil and make a good seedbed for the new turf. If you are planning on using sod, tilling is still a good idea loosen the soil and give the roots lots of growing room particularly if the soil is compacted. If you wish to add soil or sand to your rootzone (the top layer of soil where the roots grow), add it now and use the roto-tiller to mix it into the native soil.

Now you will need to shape the surface of your back yard putting green. I would recommend aluminum landscape rakes of at least 24 inches wide right up to 48 inches. Once you get the hang of using them, they really work well. Use a sweeping motion diagonally in one direction, then the next. When you have depressions, turn the rake upside down and use the flat surface to pull or push material where needed. Now compact the surface, anything heavy and reasonably smooth will work, from a water roller to a lawn tractor to a mechanical roller. After rolling rake again, there will be uneven compaction that leaves holes or depressions again and they need to be filled. Remember, it is this surface that will eventually be the surface of your back yard putting green which you will be putting on.

Repeat the above steps of raking and rolling as many times as necessary to get a nice back yard putting green surface without any funny bumps and things. While imperfections can still be repaired at a later date, this is really the easiest time to work on them. If you want to be absolutely sure your slopes work and you have no depression that trap water, run your irrigation system, whether it be an oscillating home sprinkler or a real in ground system, doesn’t matter, just make sure you use a very gently pattern. Now water it like crazy and you will see if it puddles anywhere (a minor depression may be a problem in keeping turf looking good). Don’t overdo it and cause washouts where the water collects and runs off. If you do, wait until the green dries and go back to raking and rolling.

Go to Part 2 of your guide to building your back yard putting green the traditional way.

Return back to building a putting green section

Enough information about building a back yard putting green?