Putting Green Installation Cost: What Our $300K Green Took

A commercial putting green installation is mostly about what's underneath. At Golf Ranch Lee's Summit we cleared an old sand green, laid a gravel base, shaped every contour by hand, then added padding, turf, staples, and sand. The result is a 7,000 sq ft artificial putting green and chipping area built for daily use.

At our Lee's Summit range there used to be a putting green. By the time we got to it, it was a big pile of sand with weeds growing through it. We decided to bring it back properly, and it turned into our biggest build yet: a $300,000, 7,000 sq ft turf putting and chipping green.

Most guides to putting green installation are written for backyards. This one is about a commercial green that golfers putt and chip on every day, and what it takes before the first roll.

We filmed the build from the first dig: Massive $300,000 Putting Green Build. The finished green and its opening day are in Our $300k putting green is FINALLY open.

Why the base decides everything

Before anyone can putt or chip on an artificial putting green, the ground underneath has to be moved, graded and shaped by hand and by machine. The surface you putt on only shows what was built below it. Get the base wrong, and the whole green pays for it later.

That's why most of the work goes into things you never see once the turf is down. Our install ran in a clear order: dirt day, rock day, then padding, turf, staples and sand.

Dirt day

Measure and stake first

We measured the whole area and staked it out so the crew knew exactly where to dig. Then the skid steer cut the base. One of us tried the first dig, and it lasted about as long as you'd expect. Running a skid steer well is a real skill, so we handed it back to the professionals quickly.

With two skid steers and a dump truck on site, the old sand patch was nearly gone by the end of the first day. Some piles went off site, and some were kept to shape the far end, where a chipping area leads back up to the green. That area stays real grass, with turf on the green itself.

Expect at least one surprise

Ours was the irrigation. On day one, the dig went straight through it. Old sites hide old pipes, so budget for at least one repair you didn't plan.

Rock day and a mid-build redesign

Rock day is when the gravel base goes down and the green starts to take its real shape. It's also when we spray-painted the layout on the ground and realized the plan needed to change.

Moving the chipping tee line

In the original drawing, the space between the chipping tee line and the green was small. The recommendation we got was to swing the chipping tee line down below the green and move the green out a little.

That fixed two problems at once. It kept mishit chips, and especially shanks, away from the main tee line. It also stopped the chipping green from getting so large that people would start putting on it, when it was meant for chipping. A green people misuse is a design problem, so it's worth fixing before the turf goes down.
‍

Shaping: where the expertise is

The contours you feel when you putt are shaped into the gravel underneath, long before the turf is laid. The skid steer moves rock as close as possible to the right depth, shape and slope, and then the edges are blended in by hand, all the way around the green.

When we asked the operator how he measured slope, the answer was that he does it by feel. He's done it enough times that he doesn't need an instrument. That's the strongest argument for hiring specialists for a synthetic putting green installation: the shaping is a craft, and you can't fix a bad contour once the turf is stapled down.

Weather still matters

Even on a gravel base, the weather has a say. On our shaping day the wind was strong enough to blow away the fine sediment you need to flatten the surface. The crew got the hose out and put water on it while they finished the shaping.

Padding, turf, staples and sand

Once the shape is right, the padding goes down, then the turf, which is stapled in and sanded. Our installer was Celebrity Greens, and they were excellent to work with.

The finished green has three sections:

• A top tier that is a little flatter.
• A flatter middle section, which we plan to use for golf lessons.
• A downhill section with double breaks, for anyone who wants a challenge.

Every roll and every break is there on purpose. That's what makes it a green worth practicing on.

How much does a commercial putting green installation cost?

Ours cost $300,000 for 7,000 sq ft of putting and chipping green. That number isn't a guide to backyard prices. It covers a commercial build: removing an old green, heavy equipment, a full base, hand shaping, a redesigned chipping area and commercial turf. That works out to roughly $43 per sq ft for a full commercial build.

If you're budgeting for a putting green at a facility, spend your time on the design and the base. Those are the parts you can't change later.

Opening it with the Golf Ranch Classic

We opened the green with the Golf Ranch Classic, a four-person scramble played on the range through Toptracer. A scramble keeps everyone in it: one bad swing doesn't knock you out, and nobody spends the afternoon watching better players.

Thirty teams of four took part. Toptracer tracked every ball and kept score, and a live leaderboard let everyone see where they stood. You could hear birdies being celebrated up and down the tee line. If you like that kind of format, try these competitive games to play at the range.

It came down to a three-hole playoff between two tied teams. A 50-yard chip decided a lot of the event, and the final hole was a 175-yard par 3. The winning team took home a year of free range balls.

If you'd rather compete every week, Lee's Summit also runs a 2v2 Fall League: a six-week golf league for two-person teams, played as a scramble on Toptracer, with casual and competitive divisions.

A putting green is only half the game, which is why we finished it with a ball-striking event. Lee's Summit is now a full golf complex: Toptracer range practice, putting, chipping, and two 18-hole mini golf courses, all in one place. Golfers who come just to putt and chip are welcome too. For more on the short game, try our mini golf putting tips or see what else is on offer in Lee's Summit.

FAQ

How much does a putting green installation cost?
Ours, a 7,000 sq ft commercial putting and chipping green, cost $300,000. A commercial build includes site clearing, a full base, hand shaping and commercial turf.

Where do the contours of an artificial putting green come from?
They're shaped into the gravel base before the turf goes down. The turf follows whatever shape is underneath.

Can I practice putting at Golf Ranch Lee's Summit?
Yes. Golf Ranch Lee's Summit has a new putting green and chipping green alongside the range.

Which Golf Ranch locations have a putting green?
Lee's Summit now has a turf putting green and a chipping green. Glendale has a 6,000+ sq ft all-grass putting green, Grand Prairie has a 5,000 sq ft putting green, and Richardson has putting and chipping greens.

Does Golf Ranch Lee's Summit have Toptracer?
Yes. Golf Ranch Lee's Summit is a Toptracer range with 40 bays, so you can split a session between ball striking with your numbers on screen and the new putting and chipping green.

How do I join a golf league at Golf Ranch Lee's Summit?
Grab a partner and sign up your two-person team on the 2v2 Fall League page. It's a six-week golf league played as a scramble on Toptracer, with casual and competitive divisions.

Ready to roll a few putts? Visit Golf Ranch Lee's Summit and grab a free bucket on us.

‍