Outdoor putting grees woes

[turkish]

1st world problems here but had a putting green installed in my back garden by a landscape company and not happy with it.

It looks lovely but the problem is there are bumps all over it- not contours actual bumps so the ball doesn't run true which is frustrating as whether it goes into the hole or not is pretty random as it bobbles about.

I paid in cash in full after it was completed as it was bucketing down when they finished and I tested for 2 seconds (more fool me).... They went over the surface with a whacker and it did not smooth it out- he said something about it being caused by having been frozen underneath but I wouldn't think that would have made a difference?

He said he will come back on Monday but from his tone I think he's going to say there is not much more they can do. He said it was fully compacted and fully screeded?!?!?

I know nothing about landscaping so any help or advice appreciated.

From what he is saying the layer underneath the wentworth green is compact sand.

 

[morgz]

I installed one in my backyard and laid it on a bed of sharp sand, wacked it compact 3-4 times, rolled the turf out on top and left for a day to let any creases flatten, then cover the surface with kiln dry sand to keep it flat and stand the pile up. If its not laid on a bed of sand then you will struggle straight away. If you need more info get in touch i can help

 

[turkish]

I installed one in my backyard and laid it on a bed of sharp sand, wacked it compact 3-4 times, rolled the turf out on top and left for a day to let any creases flatten, then cover the surface with kiln dry sand to keep it flat and stand the pile up. If its not laid on a bed of sand then you will struggle straight away. If you need more info get in touch i can help

As far as I'm aware thy have done everything you have said- other than that the green isn't perfectly flat. IE it slopes a bit which I wasn't bothered with as allows me to practice up and downhill putts but would still wanting it to run smooth and true which it doesn't. Would a completly flat surface help ease the creases?

 

[morgz]

I dont think so.. if it was laid to rest unrolled and unsecured the weight of the surface will get rid of the creases if that makes sense. The surface underneath has to be completely flat.. when i say flat i mean screeded, wacked down several times, then any highspots swept flat with a brush.. the most critical part was getting the base right and is worth spending a fair bit of time on

 

[guest100718]

Waste of time and money.. i'd rather go to the local clubs green, or by a putting mat. All the threads I have read about home greens are that is much more trouble thanits worth

 

[turkish]

Waste of time and money.. i'd rather go to the local clubs green, or by a putting mat. All the threads I have read about home greens are that is much more trouble thanits worth

Yup looking like it now... I do have a welling putt matt in the house which is great but only 10 foot long putts- the outdoor has 20+ feet putts so was so I could practice more on the longer putts without having to go to the club or another facility- much easier to steal an hour here and there if in the back garden

 

[morgz]

If its laid well its very good. Mine has been down since august and is perfect.. rolls true.. speed can be changed by adding sand.. got mine at about 12 on the stimp meter..

 

[MendieGK]

Yup looking like it now... I do have a welling putt matt in the house which is great but only 10 foot long putts- the outdoor has 20+ feet putts so was so I could practice more on the longer putts without having to go to the club or another facility- much easier to steal an hour here and there if in the back garden

You want to sell your Welling if you get this sorted? Let me know

 

[MrBrightside]

I installed one in my backyard and laid it on a bed of sharp sand, wacked it compact 3-4 times, rolled the turf out on top and left for a day to let any creases flatten, then cover the surface with kiln dry sand to keep it flat and stand the pile up. If its not laid on a bed of sand then you will struggle straight away. If you need more info get in touch i can help

Do you have a guide, on how to build a green start to finish. i'd be interested on building one on in the corner of my garden as we have some landscaping works planned.

 

[patricks148]

In Scotland i would say a proper putting green is a waste of time, you would be better off with an artificial surface.

 

[morgz]

In Scotland i would say a proper putting green is a waste of time, you would be better off with an artificial surface.

That's what i'm talking about.. mine is artificial..

 

[patricks148]

That's what i'm talking about.. mine is artificial..

Thought you were both talking about Grass!!

 

[turkish]

No- Mines is artificial too.

 

[anotherdouble]

Waste of time and money.. i'd rather go to the local clubs green, or by a putting mat. All the threads I have read about home greens are that is much more trouble thanits worth

Might be to you but maybe not to others

 

[guest100718]

Might be to you but maybe not to others

Whatever

 

[guest100718]

Thought you were both talking about Grass!!

Yeah me too, Ive never heard anything positive about building your own real grass green.

 

[anotherdouble]

Whatever

Ha ha.

 

[morgz]

Do you have a guide, on how to build a green start to finish. i'd be interested on building one on in the corner of my garden as we have some landscaping works planned.

All i did was watch youtube videos and google how you do it but as a simple guide:
Mark the area and remove any grass with turf cutter
Whack the area so its fairly smooth
Lay down a weed membrane and secure with pegs/nails
Lay a base of sharp sand on the area (no more than 20-40mm thick). screed level and whack.. every time you whack it screed again until its flat
Once your happy with it brush any excess off with a soft brush
Contours can be added but dont go mad.. a couple of inches over a foot or so is plenty
Roll turf out on the area and leave for a day or so unsecured.. the weight of the turf will settle any creases.
Secure with nails every 30cm around the edge
Fill in with kiln dry sand and brush in.. (5kg per m2)
Run over with a garden roller several times..
Practice putting

Thats a basic idea of how i did it.. there's loads of 'how to' guides online.. hope it helps

 

[morgz]

1st world problems here but had a putting green installed in my back garden by a landscape company and not happy with it.

It looks lovely but the problem is there are bumps all over it- not contours actual bumps so the ball doesn't run true which is frustrating as whether it goes into the hole or not is pretty random as it bobbles about.

I paid in cash in full after it was completed as it was bucketing down when they finished and I tested for 2 seconds (more fool me).... They went over the surface with a whacker and it did not smooth it out- he said something about it being caused by having been frozen underneath but I wouldn't think that would have made a difference?

He said he will come back on Monday but from his tone I think he's going to say there is not much more they can do. He said it was fully compacted and fully screeded?!?!?

I know nothing about landscaping so any help or advice appreciated.

From what he is saying the layer underneath the wentworth green is compact sand.

After a bit of thought.. if your ground was frozen then that would affect compaction and making your sub base flat as the ground is so hard

 

[SteveJay]

Interested to read this thread as having had a go on a SAM lab I quite fancy a putting green or mat at home to hone my technique. I do like putting on a real green and can't get motivated on my carpet, so wondered about an astro mat in the garden.

Have seen a few that say they can be moved and laid on decking (which is where one would go quite well in our garden). Anyone had any such experience, other than the problems with a permanent installation mentioned in this thread.

Ideally thinking about a strip say 1.5m x 4m. Could presumably relocate it indoors or in the garage in the winter. Is this a viable option or are they just cheap and inferior, and would I be better off buying a Welling (which I guess I could use outdoors on decking/paving if it was dry).

Cheers.