Choosing the perfect putting green for your home can be a difficult decision, with the first decision being “should I even get one?”
There are many different things to think about and factors to consider before making the financial investment…and most homeowners agonize over decisions that could hurt the value of their homes when it comes to time to sell.
I’ve put together this article to cover some of the basic questions you might have so you can decide if a backyard putting green is worth the investment.
What Size Putting Green Should I Buy?
On average, a backyard putting green will be about 500 square feet. Putting greens as small as 100 square feet can be an effective practice putting green and larger yards can accommodate putting greens up to 1000 square feet.
Small Putting Green
On the small end of the spectrum, people invest in putting greens as small as 100 square feet. The small footprint of this sized green can still be effective for practicing your putts, but it’s hard to work on your short game when you’re constantly chasing the ball.
These smaller green will give you fewer options for multiple holes, so you will want to choose one or two key areas so that one hole doesn’t interfere with the shot line of the other.
Average Size
The best size for a home backyard is typically between 500 and 700 square feet. This offers enough area to get plenty of repetitions in and allows for multiple holes with little chance of them getting in each other way.
A 700 SF green also means that 2 and possibly even 3 people can be on the green at the same time working on different putts. If your green is longer than it is wide…not the usual kidney bean shape or circle…then you can also work on some other shots like chip and runs, lob shots, or any shot that needs some run-out space.
You can also use your yard’s natural contours on a mid-size and larger green. Smaller greens are probably best if kept fairly flat…but larger greens allow you to experiment with undulation and levels, much like you would see on a golf course putting green.
Large Greens
For most homeowners…not talking about multi-millionaires with 10 acre lots…a luxury putting green sits around 1000 to 1500 square feet. This seems huge but is still only 1/3 to 1/4 the size of a standard championship course green (those puppies average around 5000 SF.)
When you start getting into this size of putting green you open even more doors for variability and interesting features. This is large enough that you could have a water feature nestled alongside it…adding in some fun and interesting practice chips and putts.
How Much Does A Putting Green Cost?
On average, a 500 square foot putting green will cost $2000 to $4000, installed. smaller 100 square foot greens will average about $1500 while large 1000 square foot putting greens can run you $8000 and up.
You can DIY this for less, but realistically it takes some knowledge and tools that the average person doesn’t have and after you rent tools, make some mistakes, and change your mind a few times the savings can be depleted and end up costing nearly the same as if you just had the professional do it.
So, putting greens do come with a fairly hefty price tag…the size and quality of the materials used will dictate your final cost, along with some extras like irrigation or sand traps.
And I want to emphasize sand traps. You’re already spending a good chunk of money on a putting green so you might as well do it right and add some extra features.
Sand traps are something every golfer…from amateur to pro… needs to practice more often, so you might as well factor one into your plan and budget rather than having to add one in down the line.
How Much Does Upkeep Cost For A Backyard Putting Green?
On average, homeowners spend $300 a year on maintenance fees for a backyard putting green. This fee can vary as much as 30% depending on your climate, snow accumulation, and if you get an irrigation system installed.
This doesn’t include damage caused by accidents or neglect…those have their own price tags attached. And if you’re adding in sand traps, you need to factor in the cost of labor and materials for keeping them filled with fresh sand.
The most common maintenance costs include:
- Irrigation system installation/repair
- Fertilizer application (spring & fall)
- Leaf removal from putting surface
- Cleaning debris off of sand traps (a little more labor intensive than other surfaces)
Irrigation
If your backyard lacks even watering, then you may want to consider an irrigation system. Drainage systems have an average cost of around $2000 depending on the size of your yard and your area’s rainfall.
You’ll want to check out the maintenance costs of this versus a standard drip irrigation system before committing…although some homeowners prefer an automatic system for convenience reasons.
Winter weather will also play a role in your upkeep costs, as heavy snowfall coats grass with ice which can cause damage or make it difficult to maintain. If you have an irrigation system, it will help keep your turf alive and healthy through the winter months…tarps may also help if you live in an area with extended periods of snowy ground cover.
Fertilizer
Putting greens should have very lush and tight turf…and like any landscape, they need nutrients to stay that way.
Fertilizing your turf should be done in the spring and fall for optimal results…but if you’re looking to keep it green year-round then fertilization needs will vary depending on how much rain falls where you live.
Per square foot, fertilizing costs about $.20 every other week during the warmer months and $.40 each month in cooler weather…so if you have a 500 square foot green, your fertilizer bill will run about $100 to $200 per year depending on how much rain falls where you live (the drier it is, the more often you’ll need to fertilize).
Leaf Removal From Putting Green
If you live in an area that gets all four seasons and your yard has several trees, then you’re probably used to having a yard full of leaves. Normally you’d probably just get the yard rake out and gather up all the leaves and bag them.
A putting green takes a little more of a delicate touch. You’ll either need to hire a service to blow the leaves off your green or…probably the better option…you’ll need to invest in a leaf blower so you can do it yourself.
If your putting green is near your house or garage, then an electric model will be a great option…they’re lightweight and fairly inexpensive.
If you need to cover a bigger surface or your green is further from your house and you can’t or don’t want to drag an extension cord, then you’ll want to check out gas or battery-powered models.
Cleaning Debris Off Of Sand Traps
If you’re putting green has sand traps…or if it’s an indoor/outdoor carpeted green, then the leaves and other debris could also be inside your trap or O! ring (which is where excess water drains into).
If this is the case, then you’ll either need to hire a service or DIY. For an indoor green with sand traps, you can use a shop vac…just be sure not to damage your carpet by running it over the trap opening (always vacuum in one direction of travel).
For outdoor greens and surface areas where leaves have fallen into sand traps, then a leaf blower will be your best option.
Doing this preventative maintenance can help your putting green last for a long time…but just how long can they last? I go into details about how long a backyard putting green can last over here in this article.
Do Putting Greens Increase Home Value?
On average, a homeowner can expect a return of 85% on their investment in a backyard putting green. In states where golf is a year-round activity, this can be even higher…while in places with cold winters you may only recoup 60% of your investment.
Adding value to the exterior of your home is also an important step in selling it…and if you’re trying to sell, then just remember that adding details like landscape lighting or fencing can be very expensive.
A backyard putting green takes up no additional room and doesn’t require any special equipment for the upkeep…which makes it a wise investment by comparison.
Obviously, if you live in a state where golf is a major source of entertainment…Florida, Texas, and especially Arizona…then you can expect 85% or more return on investment plus, having a yard feature like a putting green, may put you at a real estate advantage when it comes time to sell.
Of course, the opposite of this is a state where golf is a seasonal activity and potential home buyers may not want to deal with the upkeep of a putting green or like the fact that it’s taking up space in their yard. In these cases, putting greens becomes much more of a niche home feature.
But that shouldn’t deter you from installing one if you love golf and plan to stay in your home for several years. Even in states where golf isn’t a huge past-time you can still expect to get 60% of your investment.
Can HOA’s Prevent You From Installing A Putting Green?
Typically, Home Owners Associations won’t have restrictions on having a putting green in your backyard as a most state that you keep an attractive yard and will only restrict permanent structures or front yard features since they are visible to the street.
There are some HOA’s that require homeowners to maintain their yards in a specific way and having an attractive lawn is one of those requirements. In these cases, installing a backyard putting green could be an issue.
However, in most HOA’s the rule is simply that you have to maintain your yard in some way without too many rules or restrictions. So if you’re already maintaining your yard and it looks good then an attractive green will still meet their requirements for exterior home features.
The HOA question is a tough one to answer since every HOA is slightly different. Luckily, the vast majority have no problem with a putting green as long as it isn’t too over the top or encroaching on the property line. Always be on the safe side and check what your neighborhood’s rules are.
Final Thoughts
The main thing to consider when looking at putting green is the size of your backyard. Will HOA’s hinder the size…Will You want to add a different backyard feature in the future that will be affected if you build your putting green too large…lots to consider!
If your whole family is into golf then go nuts…make the whole backyard a giant putting green. But if you’re the only gold aficionado remember to leave some room for the kids!