Updated February 14, 2023:

Like any sport, getting good at golf requires a lot of practice. For those who’ve always dreamed of having their putting green, or simply don’t have three or four hours a day to devote to going to a driving range or a lot of money to spend on green fees, installing a backyard putting green can be a cost-effective and convenient solution.

The Cost of Playing at a Golf Course

The cost of a round of golf in the U.S. varies depending on the tee time, the day of the week and season, the golf course (whether it’s public or private), where the golf course is located, etc. However, in general, the cost of daily-fee courses ranges from $25 per round (for 18 holes) to hundreds of dollars at a resort. This means the average golfer typically spends several thousand dollars to play golf each year, not counting the cost to rent a golf cart, buying golf equipment, and so on. Multiply that amount by several years and the costs can add up!

The Cost of Having a Backyard Putting Green

Fortunately, putting in a backyard putting green costs a lot less than regularly going to a golf course, depending on the size and type of putting green. And, residential golfers can currently choose between two options: installing natural grass or artificial grass.

Natural Grass (FYI: Most experts don’t recommend this option for residential golfers.)

Natural turf putting greens (e.g., bent grass or Bermuda grass) can be great under the right conditions (such as when a golfer has a lot of money or also happens to be a professional gardener), but this option does require a lot of time, expertise, money, equipment, and extensive labor to keep green. The groundskeeper has to water every day and mow four to six times a week.

Cost: (For an approximately 1,000 square foot backyard putting green, according to the University of Arkansas)

  • Greens mower: $1,000-$5,000
  • Mower sharpening: $100 per year
  • Rootzone: $500-$1,500
  • Cup (hole) cutter, cups, and flagsticks: $300
  • Fertilizer: $75 per year
  • Fungicide: $150 per year
  • Insecticide: $50 per year
  • Creeping bentgrass seed: $50
  • Tifdwarf, TifEagle, or Miniverde sprigs: $150 to $300

Plus all the time required to mow, water, and maintain it.

Artificial Grass

In contrast, experts typically recommend installing synthetic putting greens due to greater manageability, as well as improvements to artificial grass manufacturing technology. Artificial putting greens available in today’s market look and respond like real putting-green grass. More importantly, this type of grass can be quickly and easily installed in a backyard and is virtually maintenance-free.

Cost:

Installing a backyard putting green can cost as little as $4 to $6 per square foot if completed as a DIY project, and can last more than a decade. What’s more, laying artificial grass is much more straightforward than you might expect.

If you’re concerned with the cost of a full artificial grass installation, then check out our guide to DIY installing artificial grass. That can certainly help reduce the project cost.

To see a few examples of backyard putting greens, visit the Purchase Green website or the Houzz website.

Download our step-by-step guide to installing your backyard putting green.

Step-by-Step-Guide--Installing-Your-Back-Yard-Putting-Green---PurchaseGreen

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