How Much Does It Cost to Install a Backyard Putting Green?

Backyard Putting Green Costs by Square Foot

Expect to pay between $18 and $25 per square foot to have a backyard putting green installed. This pricing could change based on size. The larger your golf green, the less you’ll pay per square foot; some contractors lower their rates for bigger projects.

For example, a large green of 2,000 or more square feet might cost $15 per square foot, whereas a smaller green might cost $30 per square foot. Smaller projects take less time so contractors’ rates will often rise to make it worth the time and materials.

Putting Green Cost Factors

There are many variables that impact the final cost of your backyard putting green, ranging from the size of the area and the type of turf to the number of cuts, whether you want it indoors or outdoors, and what additional features you want. 

Size

The size of the putting green not only influences the cost of the overall project, but also the price per square foot.

Turf Material

Natural turf costs less, but is more complex to install. Plus, it requires continual maintenance to keep it in tip-top condition. Synthetic turf is more costly, at up to $40 per square foot. But it's faster and easier to install and is virtually maintenance-free. 

You can also purchase synthetic mats that cost between $460 and $1,360, depending on the size, but you won't get much choice of design, hole placement, or cuts. 

Labor

Labor costs vary significantly, depending on the size of your putting green and how much work is required. If, for example, your lawn isn't smooth or appropriately sloped, you'll need to regrade your lawn, which costs $975 to $3,000. 

Installing sod costs $0.50 to $1 per square foot in labor alone. You'll also need to account for delivery fees, which are typically $65 to $230 per truckload of sod. 

Oddly shaped greens, slopes, hills, bunkers, curves, and other features can add an additional 20% to your labor costs. Hiring a landscaper costs $50 to $100 per hour, on average, but they may give you a per-job price. 

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Indoor putting greens will run you anywhere from $160 to $400, or more than $4,000. You could spend the minimum or the maximum—it all depends on how into golf you are. Costs run $15 to $30 per square foot for an outdoor green.

Design Time

Hiring a landscape designer costs $50 to $150 per hour. How many hours you'll pay for depends on how long it takes you to agree to a putting green layout that you're happy with. 

Hiring a local landscape designer lets you more effectively plan your project. You can talk through ideas, must-haves, nice-to-haves, and any extra features you'd like to incorporate into the green itself or the surrounding landscape.

Number of Cuts

If you want to practice more than just your putting, you'll likely want additional turf cuts. This increases installation time and, in the case of real turf, ongoing maintenance costs. Multiple cuts of fringe and fairway turf can increase labor costs by up to 10%, but lets you practice all shot types, rather than just putting. 

Site Prep

Alongside sodding and regrading, site accessibility can significantly drive up the labor cost. The distance between the parking area and the job site, for example, can increase the time it takes to do the job. 

Similarly, if the access is severely limited so that the contractor cannot get large equipment to it easily, the installation team will be working with shovels and wheelbarrows, which can double labor costs.

Landscaping and Additional Features

Adding extra features like hills, bunkers, water hazards, dry creeks, and tee boxes can really make your backyard putting green feel like you're on a PGA course. But this drives the price upward. 

You'll incur extra hours billed at $50 to $100 per hour for these additions to the putting green. With these additional course features, plus landscaping, adding outdoor lighting, water features, outdoor seating, and a patio area, you can easily double the price of the putting green. 

Take a look at some common landscaping and upgrade projects for a backyard putting green:

• Cost of outdoor lighting: $2,000–$4,500

• Cost of landscaping: $1,300–$5,600

• Cost to install a water feature: $850–$4,480

• Cost to build a deck: $4,000–$11,400

• Cost of outdoor seating: $350–$4,000

Accessories

The main accessories you'll need are flagsticks and holes, which cost around $300 to purchase and install, assuming you're only adding one or two holes. You can also save a little money by taking a DIY approach to the flagsticks, but if you want to maintain that PGA Tour feel, you'll need to purchase the real deal.

Cost to Maintain a Putting Green

The cost to maintain a synthetic turf putting green is minimal, and simply requires a good cleaning with a rake, a hose, and a broom. Natural turf, however, requires you to hire a local lawn care service.

Lawn and garden services cost between $130 to $400 per month. Yes, you can DIY the maintenance, but it's time-consuming and the tools to get it right every time are costly. Hiring an experienced lawn care pro ensures your putting green receives the best care and is always ready for teeing off.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

Installing turf and shaping it to create a putting green is no easy feat. It’s a pretty niche industry that requires specialized knowledge to make sure your golf space looks and functions as it should. Not to mention, if your yard needs land grading, you’ll definitely need a contractor and their access to equipment.

As avid golfers know, details are crucial. Having an improperly DIY-installed golf green could hurt your game more than help.

FAQs

Is installing a putting green worth it?

It depends. If you love to play or you play competitively and you want to really master as many different shot types as possible from the comfort of your own home, then, yes, putting in your own backyard putting green makes sense. Just remember that you won't be able to squeeze in a full 18-hole course.

While it's true that installing a putting green is expensive, so is joining a golf club. The average golf club initiation cost is $6,250, and some clubs, like Augusta and Pebble Beach, charge up to $500,000. 

Aside from the initiation fee, you'll also pay a yearly fee to retain your membership, which is an average of $6,000 per year, with some charging considerably more. Some may also charge an additional fee per round you play. This can range from $20 to $300 or more, depending on the fee structure. 

Then there's all the hidden extra fees like the use of storage lockers, caddies, golf carts, tournament fees, hole-in-one insurance, and more, which can quickly add up to an additional $1,000 per year or more.

What is a good size for a backyard course?

While any size putting green is possible, the most common residential size is 600 to 1,800 square feet. This includes at least a sand trap and sometimes other hazards, such as a dry creek or a water hazard.

Can you chip on artificial turf?

Yes, you can chip on artificial turf, because it has a special, longer fiber designed for chip and pitch shots. You can also purchase chipping mats that you just roll up and store when not in use. 

What is a putting green made of?

Real putting greens are grown with a type of bentgrass. Synthetic greens are typically made of nylon or polypropylene. On average, installing turf for a putting area costs $18 to $25 per square foot and installing bentgrass is less than $0.70 per square foot.

Here are some pros and cons for both types of greens: