DIY Indoor Putting Green....Blah, Blah....

[A.Princey]

I know these installs are the newest fad and many Wrx'ers have already beaten me to the punch, but I wanted one too 'cause Wisco is cold and depressing this time of year. Deer hunting only takes me so far, and now another frozen season has put golf on pause for me and other like Northlanders. I mean, all I got is the Masters in April, and that's not even on the distant horizon at this point!

 

Funny now, but not at the time, was the act of breaking the news about my idea to the wife. However, I didn't anticipate a two-stage reaction. There was the initial, unpleasant questioning about why I couldn't just address "real needs" and wait. Although, she eventually caved to the idea as I justified everything about it. I should have been more thorough in my explanation of size, because the next morning was the second installment of disapproval. I awoke to a magazine in the face and yelling, "It takes up HALF the g**damn basement!!", [...door slam...]. I should have known something was wrong when she gave me a look as I took a 12ft 2x4 downstairs the first afternoon. Ha!

 

Anyway, the project is started and the 2x4 framework is being pieced together in my spare time, after work and between tea parties with the lil one.

 

Feels like I'm building less of a putting green and more of a doghouse at the moment, oh well. Time is on my side, she'll adjust.... Updates to come for those who care.

[onetime19]

Definitely post some pics, glad you got the somewhat approval

[A.Princey]

I've got trunk liner carpet for the grass and plan to put 3% grade on about 40% of the back right corner.

[A.Princey]

Here's the design, I'm going to rip 2x3's diagonally and position them over the studs for slope, with the tapering edge ending in the neighborhood of the red line.

[dxdgenert]

Minnesotan here and feel your pain. I’ll be building something similar very soon. I’ll be waiting for updates and inspiration.

[Handfull]

One suggestion. Make it bigger! From the post I seem to think wife and kids may be walking by this thing and the potential for trips & falls. But if you sold the idea that a wall to wall putting green was done for safety of the family, then you could have an awesomely large putting green to practice on. That would be a win-win scenario.

[A.Princey]

The pic is misleading, it fits snugly in the far corner and is fairly out of the way. That's why I tapered the design into the middle of the room to only 3' wide. My "better" half would see right through that talk of making it huge in the name of safety, lol.

[Ngjg21]

Very cool design..looking forward to the updates

[SBH9458]

Agreed very cool, and I want to follow your success. What are you using again for the putting surface/grass itself? Trunk liner? Not a disparaging question, simply trying to understand.

[Ty_Webb]

I think he’s talking about the Toyota Camry trunk carpet material that Ben Crane (?) said was the best stuff out there. I think he suggested that he had tested an unnaturally large number of types of carpet. Maybe even used the word obsession. I bought some off eBay for my project. Haven’t tried it yet though.

[A.Princey]

Here's the 3% grade that I created out of the ripped 2x3's, they form a wedge that rises to the far back corner.

The stuff I'm using for the 'grass' is either marine/boat carpet, trunk liner or speaker box liner. Here it is below.

[Leftymoose]

That looks like a great project. Keep us posted

[cardoustie]

Awesome idea - thanks for sharing

 

My wife suggested we get a small one in the backyard a few years back. ... it's 7x15'

 

Tough to use at this time of year - it's 13*F out right now - unless you're lit up on single malt

 

 

[A.Princey]

Ideally, I'd like one outside too, that would respond more like a real green. Chipping would be manageable and undulation could be sculpted easier with gravel/crushed stone.

 

With this one, I'm putting a recycled rubber, 1/8" mat atop the plywood, and then a 2mm foam underlayment pad on top of that. My hope is to slow the speed some and make close chipping doable.

[dxdgenert]

Keep us updated on the underlayment materials. I was planning the same thing to soften things up.

[A.Princey]

Keep us updated on the underlayment materials. I was planning the same thing to soften things up.

Sure thing. Most courses I play aren't elite caliber and stimp around 9 or less. Even if this project churns out 10'+, it will still make me happy to be putting balls through winter.

[Pigems]

Nice work, I can’t wait to see it finished. :)

[A.Princey]

There may be a slight delay in production, as I just today threw my back out! Combination of hunching over for this proj and fondly throwing my 2 year old around and into the air. My heavy-ish set of irons at D7-8 seem like torture objects at this juncture.

[gary3aces]

Great idea.Hope you feel better and can finish the job.

[A.Princey]

Well, against mine and loved ones best judgement, I've trudged on. For some reason bending over feels good on my back, almost like a slouch that stretches but doesn't tax my muscles. Anyway, here's the slope and flat area, not completely screwed to the supports, so final contouring is going to change slightly. The bank will be more pronounced and the flat area will be larger, the sheets are floating in center somewhat. The 5/8" sheet was the way to go. I'm pleased!

[dxdgenert]

Showed my wife your design... "Nope!" LOL, that doesn't mean it won't happen, however...

[A.Princey]

Showed my wife your design... "Nope!" LOL, that doesn't mean it won't happen, however...

Just joke about it now and again in casual conversation, with other people around as a buffer.

Literally start threatening to build it, and laugh it off despite being serious. Eventually the idea will creep into her subconscious. Then, start leaving little notes around about building material, maybe a drawing/schematic. Take the measuring tape into the designated area and make it obvious. Just tell her it's a quick survey to see what "could" be doable. Lastly start making the "could be's" firm statements and test the water. Tell other people your plans with her in ear-shot, as this is almost better than telling her directly. Say you've gotta go get some wood for the frame work to see it it's a good fit, yadda yadda.

 

It will all seem harmless to start, but before she knows it, she's really comfortable about the plan actually happening. This is sorta how I went about it. Also, downplay the size and impact of it, but you might receive the same foul treatment as I did once the construction is underway.

 

Tread lightly, like bringing frog up to a boil. Warm the water slow enough and she'll be cooked without knowing what happened!!! Good luck!!

 

BTW, isn't marriage lovely??? LOL

[A.Princey]

Wood base complete, rubber base stapled down and holes drilled. Only parts left are the foam under layer and trunk liner top.

[Mych]

Showed my wife your design... "Nope!" LOL, that doesn't mean it won't happen, however...

I've thought about building one that can lay on the garage floor and and be driven over to park her car when not in use. I've also thought about building one that covers our pool's hot tub area. I can sell it to the wife as a leaf/grass barrier rather than a putting green.

 

So basically the only thing holding me back right now is figuring out how I'm going to get her to approve.

[tincup27]

Cool write up. Thanks for sharing! Always looking for ideas to do this.

[rawdog]

Not sure how easy to do this would be, but what if it could be designed to fold up to the wall like a Murphy bed. Too many moving parts, maybe, but one could dream...

[A.Princey]

I've got the foam glued down and holes drilled. Just cut the carpet, placed the material down and have the glue drying as I type. My last hurdle is probably the toughest and most crucial piece of the final 'finish'. I am kind of lost as how to cut the carpet to access the holes without it turning to crap and being really rough/crude. It's really nappy and like a woven plastic, similar to a Peacoat wool with tons of interwoven fibers that flex. My plan is to use a steel can(small quart stain can is perfect dia), then cut the lip off and grind the edge super sharp. I will then heat the bottom edge cherry red and push through the hole??? Yay or nay, I will do a trial on the scrap left over first? Hopefully it will cut a clean circle and cauterize the edge to seal the fibers.

[Sean2]

Wood base complete, rubber base stapled down and holes drilled. Only parts left are the foam under layer and trunk liner top.

 

I like your wheel barrow. :-)

[mokedaddy]

My best advice on cutting the carpet is use a brand new razor blade. Cut a slit in the middle of the holes and then trace out the hole using the blade tight against the base material that the carpet is glued to. The sharper the blade and the tighter the carpet is pulled the easier it will be to cut.

[dxdgenert]

I've got the foam glued down and holes drilled. Just cut the carpet, placed the material down and have the glue drying as I type. My last hurdle is probably the toughest and most crucial piece of the final 'finish'. I am kind of lost as how to cut the carpet to access the holes without it turning to crap and being really rough/crude. It's really nappy and like a woven plastic, similar to a Peacoat wool with tons of interwoven fibers that flex. My plan is to use a steel can(small quart stain can is perfect dia), then cut the lip off and grind the edge super sharp. I will then heat the bottom edge cherry red and push through the hole??? Yay or nay, I will do a trial on the scrap left over first? Hopefully it will cut a clean circle and cauterize the edge to seal the fibers.

Couldn't you cut the hole in the wood 4.375-4.5" and then just "stuffed" the padding and turf under the cups, which have an outside diameter slightly larger than 4.25"? That would negate the need for such a precise cut to the turf.