10
Virginia Golf Report March 008
Need a Putting Green in Your Backyard?
Southwest Greens Has the Solution
D
o you want to improve your putting or short game but just can’t
find the time to get to your golf course to put the practice in? If
so Southwest Greens might have the solution to your problem.
There’s a new trend in outdoor living that is gaining in popularity,
especially with golf enthusiasts. Home owners are adding putting
greens to their backyards and these greens are about as close as you
can get to the real thing.
“The greens are constructed very similar to a putting green at
your local golf course,” said Jim Olson, the owner of Southwest
Greens of Virginia. There’s a gravel base, then stone dust is used for
contouring. After that a type of padding is used and then a synthetic
golf turf called polypropylene is laid on top. When it’s complete the
look is very much like a bent grass green.
Olson, an avid golfer himself that plays to a single digit handicap,
is involved in every aspect of the green building from design to
construction. “It helps that I’m a golfer,” said Olson, adding that
he’ll work with the customer to give them exactly what they want.
“I’m a perfectionist so I want it to be right.”
Probably the best thing about the synthetic greens is the lack of
maintenance that is required. Unlike a bent grass green that needs depending on size and added elements like sand traps.
to be cut almost every day and aerated and top dressed a couple of Olson has been involved with Southwest Greens for five years
times a year, the Southwest Greens putting surface only needs a and actually got into this line of business when he saw a Southwest
once a year maintenance program. Don’t worry about watering or Green and could not believe just how real it actually looked. “I just
applying chemicals, they’re not needed for synthetic greens. never realized there was something this nice out there.”
Many PGA Tour and Champions Tour players are strong endorsers Several local facilities have used another product offered by
of the Southwest Greens. Former VCU star and PGA Tour Pro Southwest Greens. The University of Richmond practice facility,
John Rollins is a Southwest Green owner. So is Vijay Singh, Sergio which has covered bays to hit in during poor weather, installed Tee
Garcia, and Jim Furyk. In fact over 30 tour pros pick the Southwest Lines which gives a much more realistic feel than mats seen at most
Greens as their choice for home practice. ranges. Salisbury Country Club also has these installed on a part of
“The greens react just like a real putting surface,” said Olson. their driving range. With the Tee Lines a golfer can actually place a
“You can hit a pitch shot and the ball will actually react just like a tee into the hitting surface.
real green.” Olson adds that you only have to look at who actually has a
Green speed is another area that is very similar to a bent grass Southwest Green to realize the quality of his product. “The Tour
green. Typically most of the Southwest Greens stimp at about 10 for players aren’t paid to endorse our product, they use Southwest
green speed, but that is completely up to individual desire. Greens because they’re the best.”
Sizes range anywhere from 350 square feet up to 4000
square feet. Price can range from $3,000 up to $80,000,
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