| Natural
vs. Synthetic golf greens...
In our opinion, only a
purist would appreciate a Natural Putting Green. We've had one in
our back yard for over ten years and can tell you all the reasons why you
wouldn't want one. They
take a specialized mower, a special grass seed and maintenance that
requires aerifying, frequent mowing, irrigation, fertilizers, fungicides,
insecticides...in short, constant attention!
To start, you'll need a hand
greens mower. The price of an old beat-up one from a country club
would start around $1000. New ones are close to $4000! You'd
also need to rent, borrow or own other equipment like a verti-cutter,
aerifyer, roller, top-dresser, fertilizer spreader, and cup changing
equipment. A good, well-drained site with plenty of air circulation
and full sun is a prerequisite of course.
Lastly, a degree as a turf
specialist in agronomy would be helpful as well as a pesticide applicators
license, unless you want to pay the price to have someone else
monitor your turf. Access to professional materials such as
fertilizers and fungicides is also a consideration. Due to various
diseases, trying to grow bentgrass greens in the Pacific Northwest is a
challenge for even the most skilled golf course superintendents
Below is a cost comparison
prepared by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
comparing maintenance costs of a natural green vs. a synthetic
green. These are based on having someone else doing all the
maintenance. Still want one, or would you rather have a synthetic
one? Please contact
us and let us give you a quote.
A Natural Green
TIFDWARF BERMUDAGRASS MAINTENANCE BREAKDOWN
Data provided by Golf
-Course Superintendents Association
These figures are
based on the following:
1. There is an experienced, knowledgeable agronomist on staff to
oversee the above services.
2. Facility owns its own maintenance and renovation equipment. If
not, equipment purchase or rental expenses are extra.
3. Green is built to U.S.G.A. specs. If not, additional pest
control, renovation and irrigation may be necessary.
SYNTHETIC PUTTING GREEN MAINTENANCE
BASED ON 2000
Sq. Ft. GREEN
|
Maintenance
Service
|
No. Services
per year
|
Cost per
Service
|
Annual Cost
|
Monthly Cost
|
|
FERTILIZATION
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
PEST CONTROL
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
WEED CONTROL
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
IRRIGATION
MAINT.
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
TOPDRESSING
|
4
|
$
94
|
$
376
|
$ 31.33
|
|
VERTICUTTING
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
AERIFICATION
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
OVERSEEDING
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
CUP CHANGING
|
0
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
$ 0
|
|
POWER RAKING
|
4
|
$
85
|
$
340
|
$ 28.33
|
|
ROLLING
|
4
|
$
25
|
$
100
|
$ 8.33
|
|
COST PER
SQUARE FOOT
|
|
|
$
0.41
|
|
Product Information