Building an artificial putting green in a Cape Town garden
Start with the base. A putting green is a levelled, compacted, laser-checked surface with short dense turf on top, and the roll speed comes from the sand, not the grass.
- Minimum
- 25 m²
- Turf
- Short putting pile
- Infill
- Heavy silica
- Cups
- 2-3 typical
What a green costs
| Green | Area | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Two cups, flat | 25 m² | R6 225 |
| Two cups, gentle break | 35 m² | R8 715 |
| Three cups with fringe | 50 m² | R12 450 |
Keeping the roll true
- Brush the surface weekly against the lean.
- Top up the sand once a year.
- Keep leaves off it, because leaf litter slows one line and not another.
Greens are built on the same base as a lawn. Read artificial grass installation stages. Putting turf is the short pile in the three artificial grass types, priced on the Cape Town price list.
Putting green questions
How much space does a backyard putting green need?
A usable green starts at about 25 square metres. That fits two cups and putts of four to six metres. Thirty-five square metres gives room for a genuine break.
What does a putting green cost?
A 25 square metre green runs about R6 225 installed, using dedicated putting turf rather than garden pile. Contouring and bunkers are quoted separately.
Does a putting green need different grass?
Yes. Putting turf is short, dense and heavily sand-filled so the ball rolls true. Garden pile is too long and the ball wanders.