New Construction of a Putting Green

A new, USGA putting green cost over $50,000 and can take up to 6 months to be ready for golfers. However, when a green is no longer able to sustain regular play throughout an entire golf season, these new greens may be necessary. Crofton has 4 USGA greens installed from 2004 to 2006 and one modified USGA green installed in 2006. The new greens can be found on #6, #7, #13, #17, and the Chipping Green.



#13 Green held water which breeds disease and causes mower damage in 2005.

#17 Green had shade issues that didn't allow it to dry out.

Let's Get Dirty!

Large bulldozers are needed to shape the sub soil which must match the shape of the finished product.

A "shell" is left for the growing medium, drainage, and sod.

The drainage is carefully measured out for spacing and pitch.

The trenches have a 6" drain pipe and are covered with pea gravel.

The drainage on #13 is a herring bone pattern.

2" of pea gravel is spread evenly over the drainage pipe. This layer will suspend the water in the growing medium so the grass plants will have only just enough water to live.

The growing medium is 80% sand and 20% organic matter and soil. Eventhough this seems too sandy to grow grass in, the gravel underneath allows the water to stay in the growing medium.

The finished product will be cut at just over one-tenth of an inch, so fine grading is important.

Sod that has had all of the native soil washed off of it is carefully laid down. The plywood keeps the grass as smooth as possible.

After the green is sodded, the rest of the rough sod is laid to finish.

#13 Green just 6 months later.

This is #6 Green after just over 3 months.