Topic hub
Backyard putting greens
A backyard green is a different product from a lawn. The surface is short, dense and usually sand-filled, the base has to be shaped to within fractions of an inch, and the goal is a ball that rolls true at a predictable speed.
Plan the size and contours first, then pick a surface and decide between a kit and a professional build. The speed guide explains what Stimpmeter numbers mean on a backyard green and how to measure yours.
Start here
- Backyard Putting Green Guide, How to Plan a Green That Actually Improves Your GameHow to plan a backyard putting green, including size, shape, contours, cup count and placement, and the choice between sand-filled and non-infill surfaces.
- How Much Does a Backyard Putting Green Cost?2026 cost ranges for backyard putting greens, from roll-out kits to contoured professional builds, with per square foot pricing and the extras that add up.
- How to Build a Backyard Putting Green, Step by StepA complete build sequence for an in-ground putting green, with base depths, contour shaping, cup installation, fringe transitions and sand infill, plus tolerance checks.
All putting greens guides
Backyard Putting Green Guide, How to Plan a Green That Actually Improves Your Game
How to plan a backyard putting green, including size, shape, contours, cup count and placement, and the choice between sand-filled and non-infill surfaces.
How Much Does a Backyard Putting Green Cost?
2026 cost ranges for backyard putting greens, from roll-out kits to contoured professional builds, with per square foot pricing and the extras that add up.
How to Build a Backyard Putting Green, Step by Step
A complete build sequence for an in-ground putting green, with base depths, contour shaping, cup installation, fringe transitions and sand infill, plus tolerance checks.
Putting Green Turf Types Compared, and How to Choose for Roll and Chip Holding
How nylon, polypropylene and textured polyethylene putting surfaces differ, sand-filled versus non-infill construction, and which choices give true roll and hold chips.
Green Speed and the Stimpmeter, What the Numbers Mean and How to Measure at Home
How Stimpmeter readings work, what speeds real courses run, how to build and use a DIY ramp on your own green, and how infill and brushing move the number.
Designing Chipping Areas, Fringe and Sand Bunkers Around a Putting Green
Design rules for the short-game area around a home green, with fringe and rough heights, chipping distances, hitting mats, and how to build a sand bunker with turf.
Synthetic Putting Green Maintenance, a Routine That Keeps It Rolling True
A weekly, monthly and yearly routine for synthetic putting greens, covering brushing, rolling, sand top-ups, debris, cup care and how to bring back lost speed.