Conference 7.286::golf

    Tom,
    	That sounds interesting.  But do they mention the cost to maintain
    the so-called green, after it's successful growth?  How would you
    keep it short enough, and how much care would it require?
    
    Beak

    If it is only 300 sq. feet, you could mow it with a hand mower
    pretty quickly. Just have to do it every couple of days to keep
    it low. It wouldn,t have to be very good to be better than my
    carpet !!! This raises an interesting question, how would you
    design your personal putting green ?  I think using railroad
    ties as a border, putting down some plastic and then filling
    in with good soil would be a great start. Should keep it seperate
    from the weedbed I call a lawn. I live next to a sand and gravel pit
    so could also put in a small bunker with use of the midnight wheel-
    barrow !! Are there special soil compositions that work best or does
    it really matter for the home green?  Are there any publications
    that might help with this construction?
    
    Mad Hacker

    
    I've looked into building a green and believe me there's a lot more
    into a green then the grass. To build a good green (doing all the work
    yourself) will cost anywhere from $300 - $1500. You have to have proper
    drainage and good topsoil so it will last. Also with a good green
    you'll not only be able to use it for putting but also for chipping
    which is something you won't be able to do with a $60 geen.
    
    Mike

     Maybe I'm missing something here, but why can't you use the el cheapo
    green for chipping too ? After all, you don't chip OFF the putting
    surface, you chip TO it. I used to chip to a bucket in my backyard,
    which was very inexpensive.
     I agree about the cost of constructing a proper green (although
    perhaps not with the numbers cited). I have several friends who work
    for Robert Trent Jones and I talked often with them while they were
    building greens on our new 9. It's a demanding process to do correctly.
    If you don't think things like ballast under a green are important,
    play JDM down in Palm Beach Gardens. They built 54 holes, and one of
    the courses is a top 100 layout. They used strained mud from the ponds
    for ballast and even Gary Player couldn't hold 'em.
    
    --Jack

>>     Maybe I'm missing something here, but why can't you use the el cheapo
>>    green for chipping too ? After all, you don't chip OFF the putting
>>    surface, you chip TO it. I used to chip to a bucket in my backyard,
>>    which was very inexpensive.


   If all you want to do is see how accurate you can chip to a spot on the
   green then you won't have a problem with a $45 green. However if you want
   to chip and get a accurate account of what your ball will do on a real 
   green then it won't work. A ball on a $45 green isn't going to backspin
   very well. Also you won't have a very soft landing from 20yds out.

   Mike

>   If all you want to do is see how accurate you can chip to a spot on the
>   green then you won't have a problem with a $45 green. However if you want
>   to chip and get a accurate account of what your ball will do on a real 
>   green then it won't work. A ball on a $45 green isn't going to backspin
>   very well. Also you won't have a very soft landing from 20yds out.

	Chip shots don't back up, pitch shots do! ;-)  Just picking one
	of my favorite nits.

	Larry

    I would like to know what they recommend for a mower. I have not seen
    anything commercially available in a hand or power mower capable of
    cutting a putting green to the "homeowner".
    
    A green should be cut to ~3/32 of an inch every few days or it will
    become a nice lawn in no time. Once the blades of grass get too long
    they are no longer suited for a putting surface. 
    You can't let it grow for a few weeks and then cut it down to 3/32. 
    What you will have is a "shaved" yard closer than Gillette can do for
    your wiskers.
                                               Ken

3/32 of an inch!!! WOW, you must want the 13th green of Augusta in your
backyard.

Most places only cut the greens to 3/16" (publicly speaking - not PGA
speaking).  If you cut close (3/32), the green needs lots and lots of
water to keep the grass leaves from wilting.

Yes, you do have to mow it often.  The rule of thumb for cutting grass
(especially something like a green) is that you don't want to cut more
then 30% of the length of the grass leaves.  If your grass is 1/2 an inch
and you want to get it to 3/16, you may have to mow it once, water it and
wait a bit.  Mow it again, water it and wait.  And then mow it to 3/16.
That would take you some time.

As for where to get a greensmower...  I have never tried but I imagine
you could get one from a Toro dealer or Jacobsen dealer.  I'm sure some
golf courses may sell you a used one too.  Ask around.

Mike

    At the public courses I play on around here, they mostly use
    Honda 3-wheelers with a 3-gang reel mower pulled alond behind.
    I know this is probably impractical for the homeowner but it
    does show that you don't need some fancy power reel mower to 
    keep the greens cut short. 
      After all, we are talking about a backyard putting green of
    only a few hundred sqare feet, not some 8,000 sq. ft. monster.
    Or are we ? 8^}
    
    Mad Hacker

    Mike, thanks for the clarification. I was thinking 3/16 but typed
    something else.
    
    The point I was trying to make is that even at 3/16 you can't think of
    using the LawnBoy or Sears best. So much for the $45 green.
    
    Ken

In fact, it would be very difficult to use any rotary mower to cut to 3/16
of an inch.  One would definitely have to find a reel mower with a bed knife
that allows a short cut.  And like .-1 says, Sears is probably not the place
to go :-).

Mike

    Funny that Sears keeps coming up ! I was looking in my Home & Garden
    catalog and they have two front-throw reel type mowers with the
    Craftsman name, both of which are adjustable down to 3/16 of an
    inch. One costs $600 and the other $500. ALso there is an electric
    mower for $250 that cuts to 1/2 inch but I don,t know if that would
    be acceptable for backyard practice. 
       What would a good base be, hard packed sand & clay mix ?? I live 
    next to a sand and gravel operation and have access to all kinds of
    soils for free. Also makes a good place to practice my bunker play
    in the evenings !!!
       I think I would rather spend the dough on lessons though instead
    of a practice green at the momment. Maybe next year !!!
    
    Mad Hacker

    Has anyone ever considered the use of artificial grass?  You could
    shape the contour of the green, place the artificial grass on top,
    cut the holes.
    
    No need to mow the green.  The green might be faster than most, but
    it would be good for practice and at a minimal cost for upkeep.
    
    How much does 'astro' turf cost?
    
    Shawn

>>    Has anyone ever considered the use of artificial grass?  You could
>>    shape the contour of the green, place the artificial grass on top,
>>    cut the holes.

	You might as well just install indoor/outdoor carpet in some
	room in your house, that way you can putt year round.  Also the
	average golfer needs more putting practice on distance rather than
	line so the advantage of having contours is not that beneficial.

	Besides that if your house is older it's started to settle and
	has built in breaks.  In my basement there's a definite break
	away from the lolly columns.

	Larry