DIY Backyard Putting Green

Once you’ve finalized your design, use spray paint to outline it in your yard.

Now remove the sod from inside the outlined area. Use a sod cutter or cut the grass down to the dirt with a line trimmer.  

Rake up any grass clippings and other debris. 

Excavate the area inside the outline. As a rule of thumb, go four to five inches deep for a crushed rock base. Spray a ground-clearing, long-term weed killer and put down a layer of landscape fabric over the bare dirt to ensure weeds and grass won’t grow back.

Another crucial step in installing a backyard putting green is deciding where the cups will go. The cups have holes in them, but if desired, dig small trenches leading from the cups, past the green, so rainwater can drain out. Put gravel in the trenches. Mark the locations for the cups so you can find them later.

To make the base for the putting green, put crushed stone, such as 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch unwashed, crushed limestone, into the excavated area. Spread the crushed rocks out evenly with a rake or shovel. 

Lightly moisten the rocks with a garden hose and run a plate compacter, lawn roller or gas-powered roller over them to make a smooth, flat base. Use a hand tamper to compact the rocks for a small putting green. 

Remove the crushed limestone from the places where the cups will go. Use a spade or shovel to make holes for the cups. Use the hand tamper to compact the rocks around the holes, being careful not to hit the edges of the cups.

Smooth out any rocks that are sticking up with the backside of a lawn rake. Use sand to fill in small depressions or cracks between the rocks. Use a level to check that a 3-foot radius around each cup is smooth and flat. This will help the ball roll properly.

Most synthetic turf is already sized, but if your manufacturer recommends it, unroll the turf and pre-shrink it by spraying it with a garden hose until it’s saturated. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cutting and joining sections of the synthetic turf. If you’re connecting sections, make sure the nap runs the same way in all of them. 

Next, put the synthetic turf, or artificial grass, over the crushed stones and carefully cut out the shape and size of your design with a sharp utility knife.

Use your hands to press down on the turf and find the cups. Cut the holes out with the utility knife. To make the cups easier to clean out, drop the cut pieces of turf into the bottoms of the cups. Since most cups have drainage holes in them, so you can also just wash out any debris with a garden hose.

Use turf pegs or landscape staples to hold down the synthetic turf or follow the turf manufacturer’s instructions to secure it. 

The last step in how to make a putting green is to install a border. A retaining wall, row of blocks or other edging will also work. Landscape around the green, if desired, and put a chipping mat above the putting green to help prevent damage to your real grass.

Like other outdoor sports equipment, to maintain the synthetic turf, sweep and hose it off regularly or follow the manufacturer’s directions. Some manufacturers recommend pouring sand over the turf and sweeping it into the turf to help hold it in place.