Synthetic Putting Green

Written by Rachel Arieff
Bookmark and Share

Synthetic putting greens are without question the preferred putting material over grass. Grass has many problems, including high maintenance, both in terms of expense and labor, and unpredictable movement of the ball. Synthetic putting greens, on the other hand, are far more economical than natural grass. They're also better for the game of golf.

Just maintaining a grass putting green can be a full time job. Grass putting greens demand not only regular mowing up to four times per week, but also fertilizing, irrigation, pesticide treatments, and topdressing. Topdressing is a thin but necessary layer of soil that is applied on top of the putting surface in order to aid the game.

Differences among Synthetic Putting Greens

Synthetic putting greens, on the other hand, require far less maintenance. They obviously needn't be watered, fertilized, or treated for insect pests. This takes most of the work out of maintaining them. However, some synthetic materials require a bit more maintenance than others. Polypropylene putting greens are very popular, but actually do require a layer of sand to be maintained over the surface in order to function properly. They also eventually wear out.

On the other hand, nylon-based putting greens don't require sand applications. They also tend to be of a denser material than polypropylene greens, and thus can better withstand the wear and tear of constant use. All in all, nylon putting greens tend to have a longer life than polypropylene putting greens while being just as good for the game.

Bookmark and Share