With three different par-3 holes at different elevations on his 14-acre property, the avid golfer felt one thing was missing: a world class putting green for extra practice.
It needed to be golf course size, easy to maintain, and natural enough to handle not only his short game practice, but full irons from up to 175 yards away.
“We were able to design and install a green that met all these criteria,” says Drew MacIntosh, who owns Northern Turf Solutions.
They installed a 3,000 square-foot Pro-Green Synthetic Turf System, featuring five holes for putting and chipping and an 18-inch collar around for green side chipping. They also installed a small chipping mat for practicing those 25-yard shots.
Using the natural features of the land, Drew was given full autonomy to make design and hole location decisions.
“Being a scratch golfer myself, our client had complete faith we would build him something that is aesthetically pleasing and useful,” explains Drew. “The last thing anyone wants is a mini putt in their backyard. They want something they can use to both entertain and work on their game.”
The green was installed with a country club feel, with gentle wave-like slopes rather than in tiers. Everything slopes slightly toward the pond, allowing easy water runoff when it rains or during the spring thaw.
“We were in awe when we first came to the property, as the owner had really done a first-class job with the entire build. We knew the standards were high, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Drew.
Each hole has three tee decks to allow for increased fun with friends and family.
“It’s a golfer’s paradise and we were lucky enough to play a role in enhancing it,” he says.
Drew and his team have built a wide array of putting greens and artificial turf backyards from 250 square feet all the way to 11,000 square feet in size.
The synthetic turf requires no watering or cutting and is set at just the right height to look and feel great with very minimal maintenance.
“Our motto is ‘take back your weekend,’” he says. “Would you rather be spending time cutting grass or swinging a club? Weeding and fertilizing or spending time with your kids?”
There is no lead in any of the products, making it safe for family spaces. It also drains water faster than natural turf, which is perfect for the landscape around pool areas.
Expertly designed and installed, an artificial turf surface is the perfect way to put some maintenance-free fun in your summer.
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN