Synthetic putting greens in Australia

A synthetic putting green is a short, dense artificial turf laid over a shaped and compacted base so that a golf ball rolls much as it does on a real green. This page explains how they are usually built, how the turf and infill choices differ, how they are looked after, and what to ask before hiring an installer, with a directory of Australian businesses that offer them.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is not affiliated with any business listed, and listing is not an endorsement or recommendation. It sells nothing. Check current details with the businesses' own websites before making decisions.

The guide

How a synthetic putting green is put together, from the ground up, and what keeps it rolling true.

What a synthetic putting green is

A synthetic putting green uses a purpose-made putting turf: a short, tightly packed pile designed for a smooth, consistent ball roll, rather than the longer pile used for artificial lawns. Installers stress that ordinary landscape grass does not perform like a putting surface. Greens range from a small backyard or balcony green to multi-hole layouts with slopes, tiers, a fringe and chipping areas. Some businesses also distinguish a putting green, built for putting and short chips, from a golf green with a turf designed to take full lofted shots, which is generally harder to install.

Site preparation and excavation

Most installers start by choosing a reasonably flat, well-drained spot with enough room for putts of different lengths, then removing existing grass, soil, stones and debris. Some lay a weed membrane before the base goes down. Sloping sites take more work, and installers note they can add to the cost. Greens can also be laid on existing concrete or other hard surfaces, but the preparation is different, often with an underlay or a glued-down turf, so ask how your installer handles your surface.

The base

The base is what makes a green putt well. It is usually a compacted crushed rock or road base, topped with a finer layer such as crusher dust or blue metal dust that is screeded, wetted and compacted. Contours, breaks and small mounds are shaped into this layer before the turf goes on, because the turf follows whatever is underneath. Commercial greens may use a heavier-duty base. Some systems add a shock pad or heavy-duty underlay for a softer feel. Base depth varies by installer and site, so ask what yours will be and why.

Drainage

A green should drain quickly so it is playable soon after rain and water does not pool. Synthetic putting turf is generally free-draining through its backing, so most drainage depends on a porous, well-compacted base and on falls that carry water away from the green and from nearby buildings. Ask how surface water will leave the site, especially on clay soils or where the green sits low in the yard.

Putting turf: nylon and polypropylene

Putting surfaces are commonly made from nylon, polypropylene or a mix, and some use polyethylene. In general, sand-filled polypropylene greens rely on a layer of sand among the fibres to set the speed and hold the surface down, while nylon putting surfaces are usually mostly fibre with little sand. Manufacturers of nylon greens claim a truer roll; makers of polypropylene products point to non-sand versions that are ready to use once laid. The trade-offs are feel, speed, how the green holds a chip shot, and how much sand topping-up is needed, so ask for the fibre type, pile height and infill requirement of the exact product in writing.

Infill, speed and settling

Where a turf is sand-filled, washed or kiln-dried silica sand is brushed into the pile at the manufacturer's recommended rate, then the surface is rolled or wetted to settle it. The amount of sand is one of the main ways installers adjust the green's speed, sometimes described as a Stimp reading. Some installers note that a new green settles over its first few months, which can change the roll. Non-sand products skip this step.

Fringe, cups and flags

A fringe is a border of longer-pile turf around the putting surface. It defines the edge, slows a missed putt and gives somewhere to chip from. Cups are set into holes cut through the turf and base, usually back from the fringe, and many layouts have two to four cup positions so you can vary putts. Flags, flag poles and chipping mats are usually optional accessories.

Maintenance basics

Synthetic greens do not need mowing, watering or fertilising, but they are not maintenance-free. Installers commonly recommend brushing to stand the fibres up, clearing leaves and debris with a blower, occasional rinsing, and keeping an eye on weeds at the edges, seams that lift and small tears. On sand-filled greens, infill levels may need topping up over time to keep the speed and roll consistent. Follow the turf manufacturer's care guidance, as it can affect the warranty.

Directory

Australian businesses whose own websites show that they offer synthetic putting greens, grouped by state. Each entry was checked against the business's own website.

What is listed. Only businesses whose own website could be fetched or seen and showed putting greens are included. Where a site shows putting green turf but does not clearly say it installs greens, the note says so. The list is not complete and is in no particular order within each state.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation, and this page is not affiliated with any business below. Prices, warranties and service areas are deliberately left out; ask each business directly.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask a putting green installer

Plain questions worth asking before you agree to a quote.

What is the warranty on the turf, and separately on the installation, and can I have both in writing?

Turf makers' warranties and installers' workmanship warranties are usually different, with different conditions. Get the terms, not just the headline.

How deep will the base be, what materials will you use, and how will it be compacted?

A well-built, compacted base is what keeps the roll true. A cheaper quote may simply mean a thinner base.

How will water drain off and away from the green?

Pooling water and soft spots ruin a green. Ask about falls, the base material and where the water ends up.

What turf is it exactly: brand, product name, fibre type, pile height and whether it needs sand?

Nylon, polypropylene and other fibres, and sand-filled versus non-sand products, play and age differently. Ask for the specification sheet.

How many cups, what fringe and what contours are included in the price?

Cups, fringe, chipping areas and shaping are often extras. Make sure the quote matches the design you have discussed.

What ongoing maintenance will the green need, and will doing it myself affect the warranty?

Brushing, debris removal and sand top-ups are normal, and manufacturers' care rules can be a condition of the warranty.

Can I see or speak to recent customers with a similar green?

Recent references, ideally a similar size and site, are the best guide to how an installer's greens actually play after a few seasons.

About this page

syntheticputtinggreens.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any business listed, and listing is not an endorsement. Inclusion is free and no business paid to appear. Information was checked against the businesses' own websites in October 2026; products, service areas and terms change, so confirm current details directly with the businesses linked above.