Putt At Home

Not too many people suggest putting a driving range in their backyards for obvious reasons. We've all seen and laughed at Hamptonite Chevy Chase as he smacked a golf ball around his mansion in the movie Caddyshack. Launching golf ball into the ocean from your oceanfront home is not a bad idea, but what about putting?

Well, there are some businesses in the Hamptons that can hook you up so that even when you are at home, you can practice your golf game, alone or with friends and family. Having a putting green setup outside of your house adds a unique flavor to the yard and also really will help your golf game.

Southwest Putting Greens and Putting Green of Long Island are two businesses that do just that. Setting up a putting green that looks cool and classy needs to be left to the professionals. Buying one of those makeshift putting greens for your office and setting it up outside of your estate just isn't going to cut it.

The design of these greens is just so unbelievably cool. Both companies actually design and create real-deal putting greens that are incredibly pleasing to the eye, right in your backyard.

Creating a putting green begins with a vision. Using state of the art technology, a green maker can work on a project on a computer, using the exact layout of the place in your yard that you wish to place the green.

Having a beautiful putting green installed in your backyard takes both science and art. Installing the putting green, putting in the correct grass or turf and the surveying process is the science - designing the greens is certainly the art.

How the green is going to be set up and how it will challenge the player needs to be determined, as do ways that the green will fit in with the rest of the landscaping on your property.

Putting greens can even be set up with sand bunkers, which add to the challenge and look gorgeous behind the backdrop of any type of Hamptons water, whether it be ocean or bay. Being the owner of an oceanfront putting green is pretty neat.

Depending on your property, both companies also offer you the ability to set up not just a green, but a hole as well. If you have the space, the companies will take the time to offer you both options, so that you can enjoy the luxury of breaking out another club besides your putter. Of course, a caddie will not be provided.

So let's talk dollars and cents. Most projects cost around $20 per square foot, but others can cost more or less depending on which options you choose. One option, synthetic grass, is a state of the art material that does any green justice. Many professional stadiums and sports facilities use the same type of material as it has a look and feel that is very natural. And it doesn't need to be maintained every week.

From an investment perspective, installing a putting green will add value to your home - but don't let that be the only reason you get one of these. After all, golf is a lot of fun and practicing on your own green will turn playing on a real course from a long and frustrating walk into a fun, bragging-rights-worthy day.

- David Lion Rattiner

Southwest Putting Greens and Putting Green of Long Island can be found at the Hamptons Home & Garden Show. For more information, contact Southwest Putting Greens at (877) 260-7888 or Putting Green Of Long Island at (800) 390-4508.

Back to Contents