The Case for Synthetic Putting Greens: Why Some Courses Are Making the Switch

In the last few years, several par 3 courses have made the switch to synthetic putting greens.

The technology for artificial grass has grown (pun intended) exponentially over the years, and this continued advancement begs several questions:

1. Can golfers get over the initial hurdle of artificial greens?
2. What are the pros of a synthetic green?
3. Should more courses make this transition?
4. Will this trend continue or are there real limitations?

Let’s take a few minutes to dig into these questions further.

Can golfers get used to playing on an artificial green, or is this too much to ask?

For better or worse, golf is a sport that’s steeped in tradition. Almost every golfer grew up playing on grass greens (which they probably complained about more than once), so introducing an artificial putting surface on an actual course will invite a few critiques.

I thought long and hard about introducing artificial greens at my par 3 course. I made the following assumptions as I considered this move:

• Most casual golfers will adapt to the new putting surface over time
• Serious golfers might never get over the perceived hurdle of an artificial green
• All of us want consistent putting conditions, which synthetic greens provide

My ultimate conclusion looks something like this: If you own a short course in an affluent area with plenty of dedicated golfers, you should probably stick to traditional greens. You can generate the type of revenue needed to maintain solid playing conditions and you can avoid alienating golfers who will refuse to buy in to synthetic greens.

If your venue has a limited budget and primarily targets casual golfers, I think synthetic putting greens deserve serious consideration. Casual golfers are more likely to get on board with this innovation, and you can reduce your maintenance costs significantly.

Why Short Courses Should Consider Synthetic Putting Greens

One of the biggest challenges faced by par 3 golf courses is the maintenance of traditional putting greens. During my 7 years as a course owner, I made greens maintenance a priority, but there was a real cost. Course owners know that well-kept greens are time-consuming and expensive.

To compound these challenges, par 3 courses typically appeal to newer golfers who can be clueless when it comes to repairing ball marks and other greens etiquette. They’ve watched Happy Gilmore, so slamming their club into the green after a missed putt seems like a harmless act of frustration.

Furthermore, finding a solid greenskeeper is no small task. Owners are forced to either do the greens maintenance themselves (like I did) or hire someone who has the skills and dedication to keep those greens in tip-top shape. A skilled greenskeeper can often make more at a championship course, so keeping talent in house can be really difficult.

Artificial putting greens offer an effective solution to the challenges associated with maintaining 9 or 18 greens on a limited budget.

However, these greens are best suited for true short courses. Ben Best, the owner of Suncoast Golf Center, had this to say about the viability of synthethic greens:

Mr. Best shared a few other details worth noting:

1. The greens will never be better than grass at receiving a tee shot, but the technology is really good and the cushioning to receive these shots will keep getting better.
2. Artificial greens are best suited for shots under 200 yards. Shots over 200 yards tend to bounce off the green. Again, this may change in the future, but for most par 3 courses, this isn’t an issue.
3. Expect fast greens (consistently 10-11 on a stimpmeter). These are PGA Tour level speeds.

4 Ways Artificial Greens Can Save Courses Money

1. Reduced Maintenance Costs

This is the biggest obvious benefit to synthetic golf greens. My biggest expenses every year were connected to greens maintenance.

Maintaining traditional putting greens involves a range of time-consuming and costly tasks, including mowing, aerating, fertilizing, soil testing, and watering. These activities require expensive chemicals, special sand, reliable equipment (greens mowers, sprayer, topdresser, etc), and proper certifications.

In contrast, synthetic putting greens require minimal upkeep. This results in a dramatic reduction of maintenance costs, freeing up resources for other areas of the course.

2. Water Conservation

Watering grass is an ongoing expense for golf courses, especially in regions where water is a limited resource or costly to obtain.

Getting that water to the greens is yet another challenge.

My course had an irrigation system that was installed in the 1970s. This system wasn’t very effective. I spent each morning dragging a hose and sprinkler to the center of nine different greens. Then I would hand water areas that the sprinklers didn’t reach. On top of that, I had the joy of dealing with irrigation leaks whenever they decided to show up. Not exactly the best use of my time, and I’m sure other short course owners can relate.

Artificial putting greens use no water, which helps par 3 courses save on water/electric/irrigation related bills.

This water conservation benefit is crucial in areas that face drought conditions or have strict water usage regulations. Switching to synthetic greens allows golf courses to operate more sustainably while cutting down on one of their operational costs.

3. Lower Labor Costs

The labor required to maintain traditional putting greens can be substantial, as grounds crews must regularly mow, treat, and maintain the grass. This process starts early in the day, and may require ongoing attention throughout the day.

For smaller par 3 courses, finding a team to tackle these tasks is no small feat. Keeping that team happy with competitive pay, time off, and benefits can be even more difficult.

Synthetic putting greens require far less time and expertise. With a set of greens that mostly maintain themselves, a smaller team can focus their energy on other aspects of the course and the overall customer experience.

Artificial greens can help par 3 golf courses reduce labor costs significantly.

4. Long-Term Durability

One of the biggest advantages of artificial putting greens is their day-to-day durability. Unlike natural grass, which can suffer from too much foot traffic, pests, fungus, or unfavorable weather conditions, synthetic greens are designed to withstand constant play for years.

Suncoast Golf Center is three years into their synthetic greens experiment. I asked Ben Best how long he expected their greens to last before they were going to need replacement turf. He replied:

This durability allows golf course operators to see a return on their investment year after year. Given that many par 3 courses cater to casual golfers and beginners looking to grow their skills, the ability to maintain a consistent surface without the ongoing costs is a major advantage.

BONUS: YEar-Round Playing Conditions & Quick Storm Recovery

For some courses, cold weather limits the number of rounds that can be sold each year. If a golfer walks on a frosty green, that grass will die. As a result, most courses offer delayed tee times during the winter months (or just close for the season).

Other courses are susceptible to heavy rains in a short time. It can take a traditional green hours to recover from a torrential downpour. Synthethic greens drain quickly and can be ready for play again in just a few minutes.

Regardless of weather conditions, synthetic greens offer the possibility of more rounds played and less turf damage to repair.

Should More Par 3 Courses Switch to Artificial Greens?

The technology is in place for more courses to make the switch to artificial greens — but should they?

My personal take is this: All short courses are different. Owners need to carefully consider the following in their cost benefit analysis:

• What type of golfer does your course serve?
• What is the longest hole you offer on your course? Anything over 200 yards might not be a good fit for an artificial green.
• Will making this change alienate your most consistent customers? Does that matter?
• Do you have the cash flow to justify a significant investment up-front?
• How long will it take for the artificial greens to pay for themselves?

Will This Trend Continue to Grow?

I think so.

We’re moving into an area of innovation in golf. We’re seeing new par 3 courses open on a regular basis, and some of these courses (like Shortland Golf Club and Pine Royale) are making it clear that old rules can, and sometimes should be, broken.

As the short course movement continues to gain momentum, the benefits of artificial putting greens become increasingly apparent. These synthetic greens offer an excellent way for courses to maintain high standards while reducing maintenance challenges.

It’s reasonable to assume that some entrepreneurs will see the strengths of utilizing modern artificial turf instead of committing to a rigorous greens maintenance program with significant recurring costs.

Agree/Disagree?

Fire away in the comments below.

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