how to build a golf course green

1. Choose a location. Your green should be built on a spot that has sandy soil, plenty of sun and good drainage.
2. Excavate the area of your golf green to a depth of 20 inches (51 cm). ...
3. Design the green. It should have a variety of slopes to challenge you, but ultimately slope away from the center.
4. Install the drainage system in 8-inch (20 cm) trenches to ensure that water will drain away from the center.
5. Put in an irrigation system if necessary. Keep in mind that adequate, even irrigation is the key to keeping turf healthy.
6. Cover the area with a 4-inch (10 cm) layer of pea gravel. ...
Add 2 inches (5 cm) of sand on top of the gravel and compact it.
Top the sand with about 14 inches (35 cm) of topsoil that consists of 60 percent sand and no more than 20 percent clay.
Seed or sod your green. Sodding often results in an uneven green, so seed instead if you have the time and patience to care for the grass until it ...
Mark the edges of your green by sodding the perimeter with rougher grass. ...
Buy your cups, pins and flags from a supplier of golf course equipment. ...

Full Answer

How to build a synthetic Golf Green?

▶ Set down landscape fabric. ▶ Use a post-hole digger to cut and set the cups. ▶ Roll out the turf and affix the border and any seams with turf pegs or staples. ▶ Use a utility knife to carefully reveal the cups. Collin Rodgers of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, installed seven synthetic putting greens in 2016.

How to build the perfect home putting green?

Steps Download Article

1. Choose a location. Your green should be built on a spot that has sandy soil, plenty of sun and good drainage.
2. Excavate the area of your golf green to a depth of 20 inches (51 cm). ...
3. Design the green. ...
4. Install the drainage system in 8-inch (20 cm) trenches to ensure that water will drain away from the center.
5. Put in an irrigation system if necessary. ...

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How to build a putting green in 2 days?

• Adding undulations or contours is easy.
• Add additional base material to that area.
• Shape it with your rake until you have the desired contour and undulation.
• Compact that area with your plate compactor. Understand a 1 inch rise over 1 to 2 feet will add a lot of contour once the putting green is added.

What makes a golf course 'green'?

The science behind a perfect green

• Firm, not hard. Ideal greens combine firmness, smoothness and trueness. ...
• Smooth and true. Smoothness and trueness are the two other key qualities. ...
• Look beyond the stimp. The stimpmeter is an easy measure of green speed but it can be harmful if used as the sole measure of success.

How do you build a golf green in your backyard?

Choose a Location and Design. ... Outline the Green and Remove Sod. ... Dig and Prevent Weeds. ... Put the Cups in Place. ... Make the Base for Your DIY Putting Green. ... Pre-Shrink if Needed and Join Sections. ... Install and Cut the Synthetic Turf. ... Secure the Turf.More items...

How much does it cost to build a professional golf green?

The average-sized green on a professional tour is approximately 6,000 square feet. Links courses have larger greens than parkland courses, increasing the cost significantly. Depending on the size of the greens, these could cost between $300,000 and $900,000.

What kind of grass is used on golf course green?

Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass and Poa annua are the most commonly managed turfgrasses on putting greens in the United States. A putting green can have more than 10,000 individual plants per square foot. This equates to more than 50 million plants on an average size putting green.

What are the layers of a golf green?

A USGA green features a layered design, including a stable subgrade and drainage pipe overlaid by a 4-inch (10-cm) gravel layer and a 12-inch (30.4-cm) layer of sand-based root-zone mix.

How many acres do you need to build a golf course?

“This means an 18-hole course of all short par 3s could be built on as little as 30 acres, while an intermediate length or executive course of 18 holes of par 3s and 4s would require 75-100 acres, and a full size par 72 course would need 120-200 acres.

Are golf courses profitable?

Profitable golf courses are generally selling for six to eight times EBITDA, while courses that aren't profitable tend to sell at 0.8 to 1.4 times revenue.

Why do they put sand on golf greens?

Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae. Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper rootzone that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.

What fertilizer does golf courses use?

What is Golf Course Fertilizer?Nitrogen. The N (nitrogen) of these three nutrients promotes healthy leaf and stem growth. ... Phosphorus. The P (phosphorus) of these three mainly helps grow the stem and the grass. ... Potassium.

How much are grass seeds?

Grass Seed Prices. Grass seed typically ranges in cost from $3 to $10 per pound or $30 to $100+ per bag.

What height should golf greens be cut?

On a golf course putting green, the cutting height should be no greater than 0.189-inch! In all truth, that is rather tall to maintain a firm smooth surface. Additionally, on a golf course, grass is mowed almost every day and sometimes more than once a day with a reel mower.

What is the average size of a golf putting green?

This is from the GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet: “Golf course management facts: Average tour green size (sq. ft.): The average green size on the professional tours is approximately 6,000 square feet, ranging from 3,500 sq.

How big is a putting green in a golf course?

An average green should be between 300m2 and 400m2. However, green sizes can be much larger, sometimes upwards of 600m2.

How long does it take for a golf green to grow?

In Memphis, the greens were mowed for the first time about five to six weeks after sprigging. Collins says play can usually begin 90 to 100 days after sprigging. Then, at last, it’s time to tee it up.

How to prepare greens for Overton Park?

Here is a look inside the process to prepare greens at Overton Park. 1. Smoothing things out. Most of the greens at Overton Park were not particularly smooth after sitting out in the elements for a few weeks. There were low spots from rain, bulldozer tracks and windrows over much of the surface.

What is keying in greens?

Keying in greens is Collins’ least favorite part of the entire construction process. The good news is we didn’t have to do this all the way around every green. Keying in a green is done before laying sod around the perimeter, usually in a spot with lots of slope that could force a washout on the green if left alone.

Where is the 4th green in Memphis?

Sand gets pushed around the 4th green at Overton Park in Memphis. Ed note: GOLF contributor and architecture nut Desi Isaacson is cutting his design teeth as an intern for King-Collins Golf on their redesign of Overton Park , a nine-hole muni in Memphis, Tenn.

What are the physical elements of a golf course?

Technical – is the site you are considering suitable for a golf course? A golf course architect will examine the physical elements of the site, such as land area, topography, soils, geology, vegetation, drainage and water availability.

What is a golf course architect?

Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and make the planning process easier. Your golf course architect will also assist with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment should it be required.

What are the factors that determine the cost of a golf course?

Golf course design fees are dependent on a variety of factors, such as the type and scale of the project, its technical complexity, the planning approval process, the working practices of the individual golf course architect and the services and conditions imposed by clients.

Who develops a master plan for golf course?

The masterplan should be developed by a project team, which is usually led by the golf course architect and typically includes some or all of these specialisms: Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and ease the planning process. Land Planner.

How are golf course fees calculated?

Fees are usually calculated in one of three ways: As a percentage of the construction costs. A fixed price. A time rate. To understand more about the amount you will need to invest in engaging a golf course architect, read our advice on golf course design fees. Download:

How much of a golf shot is on the greens?

For most golfers, roughly 50% of their shots in a round occur on and around the greens, so an architect needs to place a great deal of thought into how they plan to design their green complexes to create great variety and challenge to players. Great green complexes drive the strategy of the hole back to the tee shot and can significantly alter ...

What do architects do on a short golf hole?

On these types of holes, architects can create greens of any size, build dramatic slopes and create green surrounds that make it very tough for any player who misses their target.

How Much Land Does It Take To Build A Golf Course?

How much to build a golf course depends significantly on the cost of the land. An average 18-hole golf course requires approximately 140 and 180 acres, while a 9-hole course requires 70 and 100 acres. A 9-hole par-3 course can be built on as little as 65 acres, while an 18-hole pitch and putt require around 25 to 30 acres.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Golf Course?

In 2001, Michigan State University found that the median cost to build a golf course was $14 million. But it varied between $7 and $25 million. It is difficult to provide an exact cost to the question, how much is it to build a golf course since there are many options and expenses.

FAQs

Owning a golf course can be quite profitable and rewarding if the construction costs can be kept low without sacrificing quality.

How big of a putting green do I need?

No surprise here. If you want a putting green, you’ll need a place to put it. It doesn’t have to be an enormous plot of land — around 1,000 square feet is a manageable size that will still give you plenty of room to roll your rock — but it should be in a place that gets a reasonable amount of sunlight and doesn’t feature any severely steep slopes. “I don’t recommend trying to build one of these things into the side of a hill,” Werline says.

How long does it take for a green plant to grow?

Growing in a green requires care and attention. You’ll need to fertilize, and water regularly. After about eight weeks, Werline says, you should have something you can putt on, though three to four months is a more realistic timeline to get your green in tip-top shape.

How to live a tour pro lifestyle?

To live the high-flying lifestyle of a top Tour pro, you could do a few things. You could lease a private jet, hire a swing guru, a traveling physiotherapist, a sports psychologist and a personal chef. Or you could acquire something really cool, like your own home putting green. Any number of companies can install one for you, ...

Feasibility Studies

Design Concept

Masterplan

Planning Approval

Tenders

• Your golf course architect will prepare detailed documentation, including contracts, plans and specifications to allow the project to be tendered. If you need them to, they will also assist in evaluating tender responses and select the best contractors for you. The documentation may include plans for: 1. Grading 2. Drainage 3. Clearing 4. Irrigatio...

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Golf Course Construction

Establishment

Selecting A Golf Course Architect

Cost of Building A Golf Course