Project Installation: Six Hole Putting Green

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 two workers with the astro turf installation company arrived to prep for the fake grass. First, they had to haul decomposed granite by wheelbarrow to the back yard area, dumping big piles to raise the level several inches for the turf.The mounds of white, dusty granite! Who knew it was under turf!



Steve and my brother Lance had built a ramp for the wheelbarrow to go over our newly poured curbing. Their ingenuity was impressive! Note the blue carpet over the two sections of ramps so the workers had a smooth ride with the loaded wheelbarrow.





The pile was dumped by a truck by 8 a.m. that morning, and it is now 1/4 the size. The little guy was small but stout and pushed a very full wheelbarrow from the front drive way to the back yard and dumped the compost.





Smoothing the granite with a rake and broom, making it smooth as glass on top. They sprayed it with water and ran a compactor on top to pack it down tight. It was like walking on cement when they were finished.





All finished with the composite and ready for the grass. But we had to wait another day.







Wednesday, September 28 at 10:15 a.m. they arrived with the BIG roll of putting green astro turf. I love the little two wheeled cart that helped carry the heavy roll. They are getting all their equipment set up ready to work.
Guess how they "tack" the turf to the compacted granite?
With big galvanised nails! Who knew?




But first, he made another pass with the noisy compactor machine, packing the granite even more. And of course he sprayed it again.






The next step was digging the holes for the putter cups to be buried. I told Mike, the company owner, that they needed to dig the holes and get the big boulders out of the ground first, but he said they would dig it after the granite was laid. Well, they had to chip out some pretty big rocks to make their putter holes.
We live at the base of a mountain and the soil is really just rocks and sand, but mostly rocks.


They left about 5 p.m. and the putting green was installed. It took a long time and the two workers were very careful and exact. That is why they are paid $25 per hour.






I love the little flags that came with the cups.










Another view of the two holes and a glimpse of the new pergula.







The next morning they arrived to install the longer "grass" turf as a border. We had opted to border around the outside, next to the curbing and garden blocks, and had them snug the putter grass right next to the new cement pour. It was a great choice on our part. We love it!




The final finishes on the border and then they ran a machine around the grass to fluff it and make it look it's best. I wasn't here when that happened, but I had a helper who took these last photos. Thanks, Aunt Rhonda!








See what a beautiful green it is? It highlights the other parts of our yard that were too much the same color and textures.




I can't tell you what a huge difference it has made in our back yard. It cost almost $10,000 to pour the patio, the curbing, the pergula (another blog), and the putting green, but what fun we are going to have on it. We putted a quick game last night at 9:30 p.m. before going to bed.

Counsel: I have had this idea or dream in my head for over a year to transform our back yard into a place where the grandchildren can play and where we can host parties. If you dream and work hard, your dreams become reality. So dream!