14K for a golf green installation?!

[griffithtlc]

We have a customer inquiring about landscaping and he told us that he got quoted 14K for a putting green. About 600-700 square feet, with a smaller bunker. Is this reasonable?

My question is to those who have installed greens before, how much did it cost you in materials? How much was the total bid for? I hate asking for handout prices, but we just put one in our backyard, didn't exactly do it the "right" way, but it turned out all right. Only it costed us maybe 150 for dirt and some sand. That leads me to believe that we must be missing something.

Thanks in advance

[Grassmechanic]

If a golf green is installed to USGA standards, then yes, $14G is in the ballpark. There is more to a golf green installation than people think. After a few years of Minnesota winters, your green will probably be heaved so much that it will probably be useless as a putting surface. Most folks that ask me about installing one in their backyard, I tell them to go synthetic.

[capital]

I am assuming that the green at 600-700 sq ft is a synthetic green and yes the price is about right. I am a installer in Iowa and that number is about right if you have the sand trap and prob one or two chipping pads plus repair of the lawn after you get done installling green and sand traps.

[griffithtlc]

Not sure if it is synthetic or not. Is all the money in the labor, or is there extra material that we are not thinking about?

[kootoomootoo]

Must have built and helped build about 40 -50 greens over the last 10-12 years ....doing one in 2 weeks about 600sq ft and one 40000 (yes 40000sq ft ) in 3 months. Aint no $14 grand in that 600 sq ft job though....

unless

you have drainage tile coming out your ears, 12+ inches of top soil but even then 14 grand is a hard sell.

[capital]

Suggest you need to do some research on your end to find out if they are building a real green or some type of synthetic. As far as cost their are multiple types of fake greens and do not begin to know what they cost or avg per square foot. My pricing is based on what my cost are and what I feel I need to make per green when pricing them out.

[griffithtlc]

Kootoomoootoo, that is what we were thinking, how they can sell a green for 14K. We will go and talk to them tomarrow and find out more about it. He was going to go with the 14K bid (not from us), but since it was so much, he was going to wait. Thanks for the input, guys

[mdvaden]

I think one that size could be done for slightly less, but not much less, if there is no topography map or blueprinted grade to duplicate.

But the green should have a grid pattern of drain tile underneath. There should be 10" to 14" of sand - NOT SOIL !!

It's almost all sand, and mix about 5 to 7 percent organic matter into the top 5 inches. A bit of that will leach lower in time.

The seed is fairly expensive.

You probably should have 2 separate irrigation zones for it. One that waters the entire thing once or twice daily. And a separte zone that mists the high areas for a short time.

A full size green is worth about 40 to 50 thousand, but that probably includes a bit of design from the architect or designer, and includes the labor required to establish the turf over a period of weeks.

[griffithtlc]

What is the drain tile exactly? I've looked high and low on the internet, and I can't figure out what it is.

[kootoomootoo]

For the green itself I use use 85% sand, 7.5% clay and 7.5 peat. I use 6-12 inches of top soil on the swales and surrounds.

[knuckles]

whats up buddy, this is just my opinion but if the green is not synthetic the owner may want to a least inquire about synthetic.
I've been in the g.c. business 11 years now and very few homeowners are capable of maintaining a green of any quality.Just too many factors. From what I've seen the synthetic greens nowadays are fantastic. Build a real bunker w fake green.
If its real and you build it, and it fails whos responsible? Not worth the thousand phone calls about every little yellow spot. In saying all this, if it is real any info you may need just ask !

[Geoffrey]

Griffithtlc
Update us on this project or your contract to install. As stated above, greens have lots of upkeep involved in maintaining them. Does a green install include a regular maintence contract? Just curious.

Geoff

[mdvaden]

Should be nothing wrong with using ads black perforated, with a mesh.

Some meshes are so open-pored, that I'd consider using the cloth like landscape fabric over it.

That white pipe with the rows of holes should be okay, but I'd be inclined to go with ads.

[skidoomn]

Hi all,

I am new to this board. Just thought I'd ad my 2 cents. I agree with knuckles I've been in the golf bus since I was 16 I am now 32. Most home owners have no Idea what it takes to care for a green. Nor have the time. Anyway, at the course I run a company installed a synthetic green. They asked if they could build it at their expense for advertising. I asked what it would cost? This thing is only 300-400 sq ft. Just plain green with four holes, flat no bunker etc. They told me that little thing would go for around $7000. Bentgrass seed is expensive. Around here it goes for about $250 per bag.

Bob

[mdvaden]

If someone wants a small bunker, can't they shop vac the sand off an artificial green on dry days when the sand doesn't adhere to itself?

[skidoomn]

Having sand come out of a bunker on an artificial green wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. When they build the fake green they have to add sand to it anyway. They brush it between the fibers of the green. Thats what gives it the realistic look and feel.

[mdvaden]

Hey...if they want a realistic feel - let's give them the real thing.

Then they'll know what realistic means!! And reelistic.

:cool:

[Mowmyyard]

I installed a synthetic golf green in my backyard about 600 sq ft. My cost was right around 2000.00. According to the manufacture I could charge anywhere from 8 to 10 per sq ft. So that 4800.00 to 6000.00 for the install. We did not use sand to fill but "Black beaty" and were told not to allow any sand to get on the green. That being said my short game has improved, but I have not sold any greens yet, not quite sure how to market them.

[mdvaden]

Some people want them for fun.

I could not imagine any synthetic green realistically providing skill maintenence for putting on a golf course.

There is nothing quite like putting on real greens.

It probably depends on whether someone wants a green for having fun at home, or becoming adept at the game of golf.

[timturf]

putting greens can be native soil to a modify soil, sand and peat mix with usually at least 70% sand!