Living Green: Putting greens for you and your future Tiger Woods

It’s not only golf fanatics that want putting greens in their backyards. Oh, there are those people who practice their golf swings in the shower – you know who you are – and would greatly improve their handicaps with their own greens. But the home golf range’s popularity has increased for several reasons.

While putting in your backyard cuts down your traveling time to the golf course or driving range, there are many beautiful landscape options with minimal maintenance involved. And having your own green installed is usually much cheaper than other luxury purchases such as a swimming pool. But the biggest reason for putting at home seems to be the children.

“People do take the game seriously,” said Bob Steimke, CEO and General Manager of TrueGreen Sports, LLC. “But in a lot of cases they are doing it for the kids. The parents dream of their kids getting golf scholarships. It’s a good, clean wholesome sport.”

While the golfing protégées are practicing their short game on the green, the family can also enjoy the scenery. “Look at it as a landscaping feature,” said Steimke. “Look at it to be a beautiful addition to your yard.”

Imagine a stone stairway leading up to the green. How about a stackable, decorative, block retaining-wall embedded in a small hill to compliment the green? Or large rocks lining the outside? Maybe a pond off to the side with fish and waterfalls?

Rich Shoemaker, franchise owner of Northern Virginia Putting Greens, says there are so many possibilities when considering the landscape of your home putting green. “If you have space next to your pool, you can put it there. Or maybe an area where the grass won’t grow,” he said. “You have to have a budget and an imagination – and we can pretty much do it.”

Most greens can be installed within a few days and will only require maintenance once a year. And this visit is merely to re-broom and roll where need be and to make sure there are no problems, said Shoemaker.

In today’s age of conservation, using a synthetic surface has many advantages. It doesn’t need watering, of course, the color doesn’t fade, it doesn’t need weeding or fertilizing, it’s weather resistant, and it is kid and pet friendly. Many companies use the sand-filled synthetic turf system which will leave the homeowner with a green that plays like a true course.

Some homeowners may consider installing a green made of real grass, but that is discouraged by many companies. “A real golf green is tricky at best,” said Shoemaker, who began his career in golf course maintenance. “In a day, you could lose the entire green.”

While having your own putting green is definitely a luxury purchase, it’s relatively affordable. “It’s cheaper than a pool,” said Steimke. “In entertainment, it’s one that is a less expensive luxury item.”

Homeowners can have a putting green installed for as little as $4,000 or as much as $33,000, as there are many variable that determine the price. You’ll have to consider the accessibility of your land as well as the landscape options. A good company will work with you to see what kind of space and land you have as well as your golfing needs and scenery desires.

True Green Sports LLC services the Maryland, DC, and Virginia Area. For more information check out www.truegreensports.com. Virginia Putting Greens is a subsidiary of SouthWest Greens and is based out of Upperville, Virginia. For more information check out www.virginiaputtinggreens.com.

– L.A. Eaton
Prime Writer