Pro Tips For Creating A Putting Green With Gator X-Turf
Creating a putting green using artificial turf can present a unique set of challenges. In this post, we’re going to explain what those are and outline best practices for accomplishing the design using Gator X-Turf.
One of the greatest challenges in creating the popular kidney-shaped putting green with artificial turf is getting the cuts on the putting green turf to match up to the turf being used on the fringe. And once that problem is solved, how does the fringe itself get seamed? Trying to piece various sections or strips of turf is labor-intense and challenging. Not only does it require multiple seams, but blade orientation becomes an integral factor. If pieces are installed with the blades facing different directions, the turf won’t look uniform. In fact, sections can even look like they’re completely different colors! So what’s the solution?
How To Naturally Blend Gator X-Turf Putting Green Blend With Classic or Premium Blend (aka the fringe)
The best practice for creating a rough area using Gator X-Turf Classic or Premium Blend is to cut the putting green shape directly out of it. This method ensures the backing stays intact on both the putting green and the fringe, and completely eliminates having to seam multiple different pieces of turf together. The key to making this work is designing the putting green to the available roll sizes of the turf. For example, Gator X-Turf Classic and Premium Blends come in a 15’x33’ roll size, so a putting green design of 15’x25’ or smaller would be ideal.
To make the cuts, the turf blend being used for the fridge should be laid down first with its back facing up. The Putting Green Blend would then be placed directly on top of it, also backside facing up. Using a very sharp blade, the shape of the putting green would be cut through both pieces of turf. Plenty of pressure should be applied so the blade fully cuts through both backings. As a reminder, since the design is being cut from the backside, it should mirror or be the reverse of the intended design.
After cutting, the fringe gets placed down and the putting green gets dropped into it.
What To Do With The “Waste”
Using this installation method yields a large section of Classic or Premium Blend leftover. Don’t let it go to waste! The extra turf can easily be incorporated into other areas of the job: a chipping pad, a play area, or even inlay for pavers.
Before moving along to seaming, let’s recap a few important considerations in putting green design:
Design to the materials. Your putting green should be designed to meet the spec of the available turf roll size. Exceeding the roll size will require seaming, which becomes very challenging with lima bean or kidney shapes.
Think opposite. Remember, since cutting happens from the back, you’ll be cutting the reverse of your intended design.
Use the “waste.” The leftover middle section cut from the fringe material can be repurposed in other areas around the job.
How To Seam A Putting Green
Using the method we just described for cutting will exponentially reduce the amount of seams needed for the project. The most important thing to remember when seaming the putting green and fringe together is that there should be an equal amount of seam tape under the different pieces of turf. It can be challenging with your radius, but it’s very important to the strength of the install. This will require cutting the Gator X-Turf Seam Tape into multiple pieces and staggering them to follow the curves of the putting green. The dashed line should be kept as close to the middle as possible to allow for a good bite on both pieces of turf when glued. The rest of the seaming process is similar to a regular turf application:
XP Glue is applied in a serpentine pattern or two parallel lines on either side of the dashed line. Remember, it’s imperative to keep the glue away from the center line to prevent it from seeping up and getting on the putting green, which would ultimately cause imperfections that change the trajectory of the ball roll.
After the glue is applied and the two different blends of turf are seamed together, a roller should be used to ensure the glue gets into all the peaks and valleys of the stitching on the back.
The seamed areas then get weighed down with bags of infill and should sit for 4-5 hours.
How To Secure A Putting Green With Nails
For the fringe or rough area, Gator X-Turf Nails should be used. These are 6” non-galvanized spiral spikes and we recommend installing them every 6” on the perimeter and every 12” on the interior.
For the putting green area, a smaller nail is required. We recommend using 3.5” non-galvanized finishing nails because the smaller head will get down into turf without leaving any visible defects that could impact the roll of the ball. The finishing nails should be installed every 4-6” inches around the edge. Lines of nails (spaced 6” apart) should be installed on the interior of the putting green every 3-4’ - this means almost twice as many nails are required for a putting green vs. regular turf!
How To Install Hole Cups
It wouldn’t be a putting green without holes! The hole cups must be installed into the base, leaving about 3/8” above stone dust. The putting green then gets rolled on top of them. (Pro Tip: Set the cups in concrete to prevent movement or settlement around them.) After the turf gets rolled out, feel around to locate the first hole cup. Once located, cut down into the middle of it, cutting toward the edge. Continue this method, making rough pie cuts around the entire hole. After rough cutting, carefully trim vertically around the inner lip of the hole. Repeat this process for any remaining cups.
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