Why would I install a home putting green?
If you are a golfer you will understand that the difference between good and very good players is their short game and putting. Professional golfers spend up to 60% of their practice time on their short game. Club and weekend golfer on average spend 60% of their practice time hitting a driver or longer clubs and insignificant time on their short game.
A synthetic home putting green provides the opportunity for all golfers to work on the part of their game which will provide the most tangible results, all in the confines of your home.
Even if you are not a golfer, a synthetic green and lawn can substantially enhance your property, both in terms of appearance and amenity value. Synthetic turf is very low maintenance, highly durable and visually appealing. Synthetic turf is UV resistant and does not require watering. Synthetic turf, especially lawn products, is ideal for those difficult lawn areas and will enable south or east facing areas to be used all year round. What is the point of having significant capital invested in a section that can not be fully utilised?
What is it made of?
Over the past decade significant technological advances have been made in the synthetic lawn and turf products. Gone are the days of “plastic” and unnatural looking products. Today’s products are aesthetically pleasing and look and feel like natural grass.
Southwest Greens’ synthetic turf is made of a high quality Polyethylene knitted to a Duraflo backing.
What say can I have in design?
You can have as much or as little say in the design as you wish.
Our design and installation staff, both in New Zealand and Australia, are either former professional golfers or former golf course superintendents. Initially we will visit your property, discuss your requirements and produce an indicative design and plan on a completely no cost and no obligation basis. You then have the opportunity to refine the design and add features that are personal to you, again on a completely no obligation basis.
We at Southwest Greens pride ourselves on our design and installation capabilities. There are certain design considerations, especially in relation to slope and green speed, which will guide our advice, but generally our design is driven completely from your specific requirements.
Is synthetic turf maintenance free?
Nothing is absolutely maintenance free. Synthetic turf is a very low maintenance product, but not completely without maintenance. With a synthetic green you need to periodically remove wind blown debris and ensure that wind blown seeds do not germinate within the sand base. We recommend that you spray the green or lawn with a general weed killer twice per annum and blow off debris on a regular basis.
We also offer a general maintenance option where we will service your green, including back brushing and adding or removing sand as required, on either a casual or formal basis.
How is a green installed?
Once we have agreed a design and installation date our install team will manage all aspects of the project.
The installation typically starts with excavation of the existing lawn or garden and disposal or relocation of soil and garden waste. Once excavation is complete we will install any required drainage and edging, and cover the area of the green or lawn with approximately 150mm of aggregate.
The aggregate is then compacted and the green slope and putting borrow is determined. The green is then sprayed out and cup positions finalised. After this stage the cups are cemented into the aggregate and a rubber shock cushion is installed beneath the green turf, fringe and lawn as appropriate.
The greens turf is then filled with sand, back brushed and rolled to provide the most realistic putting surface available.
How long does an installation take?
A typical 60sqm green would take between 3 and 4 days, weather dependent. Certain parts of the installation process can not be done while it is raining. At Southwest Greens we never leave a job half done. We start the job, and subject only to the weather, continue the job until finished.
What do I need to do prior to installation?
Once the green or lawn size, contour and indicative design are finalised there is normally nothing more for you to do. We will arrange for all excavation, waste removal and the movement of all material on and off the site. We always leave the site in a better condition that we found it.
How long will the green last?
The green is UV protected and weatherproof. We expect that the greens turf will last at least 15 years. Your green will carry a one year workmanship guarantee and a seven year product guarantee.
What are the benefits over a traditional grass green?
Many people install traditional grass golf greens at their homes. To properly maintain a traditional grass green to the standard of a synthetic green (or the greens at your local course) requires daily maintenance and a raft of specialised equipment, chemicals and sprays. For most people this is not realistic and invariably within a very short period of time after a grass green has been installed its look and performance will deteriorate.
On the other hand synthetic greens require minimal maintenance and maintain their appearance and performance year after year.
Can I have a bunker or practice facility?
In short, Yes. We have built many bunkers both as practice facilities and children’s sand-pits. The bunker design is always specific to the site. We also specialise in practice and driving facilities utilising our leading practice turf, Eztee, including driving bays and practice nets.
How much will it cost?
Southwest Greens only supplies and installs premium synthetic products. The cost of your green complex depends upon the specific design and installation factors including the lawn or green products used, contour of the site, required earthworks and drainage, installation of edging and site access.
As a broad guide, installed synthetic turf lawns normally cost in the order of $100 to $120 per square meter, while an installed synthetic green will range from $200 to $280 per square meter, including GST. Typically our green installations are combination of lawn, fringe and greens turfs.
Why choose Southwest Greens?
Southwest Greens is at the forefront of the synthetic turf industry. Southwest Greens is a supplier of premium synthetic green and lawn products and offers a design and installation service that we believe is second to none. We have a wide range of products including lawns, chipping, fringe and greens turf.
To date there have been over 7,000 Southwest Greens installed worldwide. Over 30 of the world’s top golfers have Southwest Greens practice facilities installed in their private properties which is a testament to our product which we believe is the most realistic golf surface available.
Southwest Greens is a market leader in the synthetic turf industry and we believe that our product range and installation methods are second to none.