Fortunately, putting in a backyard putting green costs a lot less than regularly going to a golf course, depending on the size and type of putting green. And, residential golfers can currently choose between two options: installing natural grass or artificial grass.
Natural Grass (FYI: Most experts don’t recommend this option for residential golfers.)
Natural turf putting greens (e.g., bent grass or Bermuda grass) can be great under the right conditions (such as when a golfer has a lot of money or also happens to be a professional gardener), but this option does require a lot of time, expertise, money, equipment, and extensive labor to keep green. The groundskeeper has to water every day and mow four to six times a week.
Cost: (For an approximately 1,000 square foot backyard putting green, according to the University of Arkansas)
Greens mower: $1,000-$5,000
Mower sharpening: $100 per year
Rootzone: $500-$1,500
Cup (hole) cutter, cups, and flagsticks: $300
Fertilizer: $75 per year
Fungicide: $150 per year
Insecticide: $50 per year
Creeping bentgrass seed: $50
Tifdwarf, TifEagle, or Miniverde sprigs: $150 to $300
Plus all the time required to mow, water, and maintain it.
Artificial Grass
In contrast, experts typically recommend installing synthetic putting greens due to greater manageability, as well as improvements to artificial grass manufacturing technology. Artificial putting greens available in today’s market look and respond like real putting-green grass. More importantly, this type of grass can be quickly and easily installed in a backyard and is virtually maintenance-free.