How much does an artificial grass putting green cost?

Our very own MD Josh used to be a professional golfer, so he knows all there is to know about creating the perfect putting green.

If you’re a regular golfer, having your own putting green in your garden can potentially save you loads of money. You’ll be cutting down on transportation costs and the cost of entry to a golf course. Plus, you can invite all your friends and family round to enjoy it free-of-charge. But exactly how much your putting green will cost depends on a number of factors.

In this article, we’ll go over all the costs associated with having your own golf putting green.

Professional installation vs DIY

One key question that will affect your costs is whether you choose to hire a professional installer or do it yourself.

If you plan to install your putting green yourself, please read our guide on how to install artificial grass, and check out this blog for our top tips for installing a putting green.

If you choose to hire a professional artificial putting green installer, make sure they’re reputable and have some experience. We can help you find an approved installer in your area.

At first glance, a DIY installation seems like the cheapest option because you’ll save on labour costs. However, this can be a false economy. When considering whether to do it yourself or hire an expert, there are a number of factors to consider.

How easy is a DIY installation?

Artificial grass is fairly easy to install, and our installation guide will help you through the process. It’s worth noting, however, that the stitches on the back of our Pro-Putt grass are much closer together than those on our other artificial grass products, which makes it quite a bit harder to install, as there is less room for error.

Keep in mind that if you do make a big mistake, you may need to purchase more materials, which could end up being expensive in the long run.

What are the benefits of hiring an expert?

There are several benefits to hiring an expert installer. For one, trade installers are often able to source materials and equipment at a discounted rate. Purchasing all of the sub-base materials and hiring all the necessary equipment could set you back a fair amount.

You’re also paying for their expertise. DIY installations can result in costly mistakes and injuries, whereas a trustworthy installer will have the know-how to finish the job perfectly. You can have confidence that the job will be done to the highest standard, and relax in the knowledge that you don’t have to lift a finger.

Another factor to consider is time. If you’re in no hurry, you can work on your putting green in your spare time, over several weeks or months. Meanwhile, a professional will be able to complete the task much faster, meaning you can get on with potting balls sooner.

We can advise you on how to find a trustworthy installer in your area, and we recommend asking an installer for a quote before making any commitments, so you can weigh up all the options.

Quality of turf

Of course, the quality of your artificial turf will affect your initial costs. However, a cheap artificial grass will have a significantly shorter lifespan than a high quality, expensive one. You may find you need to patch holes and worn areas - or maybe even replace the whole lot. So if longevity is important to you, it’s worth paying a bit more up front for better value over time.

Our Pro-Putt grass is specifically designed for putting greens, giving you a quality putting surface that will last for years.

We recommend buying the best quality artificial grass that you can afford, and requesting some free samples before you make your decision.

Costs of installation

One of the biggest advantages of artificial grass over real grass is how easy it is to install. There are factors that will affect how costly the installation process will be (whether you hire a pro or not), and it’s worth considering all of these when working out your budget.

• Size of area. The bigger the area, the higher your overall costs. That said, the larger the area, the cheaper it is to install per square metre due to the spreading of costs of materials, equipment and labour. It’s a balancing act!
• Equipment hire. Speaking of equipment… We recommend hiring some heavy-duty equipment to make your installation easier. If you’re hiring a professional, they should bring their own equipment.
  But if you’re going DIY, you’ll want to hire a turf cutter, wacker plate and mechanical brush to get a really good finish. (On top of this, you’ll need basic equipment such as protective gloves and a Stanley knife. A complete shopping list is available in our installation guide.)
• Excavation. You will need to excavate to a certain depth under your planned putting green area in order to make room for the sub-base (see our installation guide).
  Depending on the type of ground you’re working with (soft soil vs concrete), this part of the process can be time-consuming and costly. You may need to hire additional equipment to dig the excavation, and you may need to pay to dispose of the waste materials.
• Access. How easy is it to access your planned putting green area for ferrying materials? Will a delivery lorry be able to access the area easily? Is there easy access for an HIAB to drop materials in? Or will you need to make several trips with a wheelbarrow? This may affect costs, and certainly time.
• Amount of grass. The bigger the area, the more grass you’ll need. You may also need to join multiple rolls of grass, which will require you to purchase joining tape and glue. Although not expensive items, they will need to be accounted for in your budget.

Costs of maintenance

Artificial grass requires minimal maintenance. Versus a real grass putting green, you’ll barely need to put in any work to keep it trim and tidy. As such, you’ll make real long-term savings in terms of time and money by choosing artificial grass for your putting green.

For tips on how to clean artificial grass, check out this other blog we wrote. There are additional maintenance tips in our installation guide.

Need some more advice?

We’re happy to talk you through all your options and share all our golf-related wisdom. Just drop us a line.

Have you created an awesome Pro-Putt putting green? Tag us in your pics and we’ll feature them on our website.