For amateurs and professionals alike, it's the same. Up to 60 per cent of a round is spent with a putter in hand. Cut down on the number of putts you take on the green and, bingo, you've got a lower score. Sounds easy? As we all know, nothing is easy in golf. But the desire to improve the putting stroke is evident in a new phenomenon that has hit these shores, that of the back garden all-weather putting green.
Since Dublin-based Headway Sport and Leisure secured the Irish franchise for Huxley Golf's all-weather surfaces last October, the interest in the product here has grown appreciably. Queries have ranged from the possibility of installing one on the top of a seven-storey office building - "Anything is possible," claimed Conor Redmond of Headway - to the actual installation in a number of suburban back gardens.
Of course, not just anybody can afford to transform a portion of a back garden into a putting green so that their golf game can reap the benefits. Firstly, you need the space (not exactly suited to the typical garden that goes with a three-bedroom semi-detached house) and, secondly, you need the finance. Prices range from £5,715 for a green measuring 15 ft by 20 ft (300 square feet) to £25,035 for 1,800 square feet and up to £45,615 for one of 3,600 square feet.
"The type of person we're getting making inquiries is someone with a bit of money and land, and who loves their golf," remarked Redmond, who previously worked in the golf industry in Myrtle Beach before returning home. "But if someone can afford it, then it is well worthwhile. Half an hour a day on the green will certainly improve a player's putting."
In fact, the bug has already caught a number of European Tour professionals. Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els and Ian Woosnam have all installed greens in their gardens while Paul Lawrie has recently placed an order for two, one for his back garden and another to be installed indoors. The concept of synthetic putting surfaces is not unique. Almost 35 years ago, in the United States, the first of the astroturf-type greens were constructed. But the technology since then has moved on significantly, and what is on offer today is far removed from those somewhat primitive constructions. Indeed, it is astounding how true the greens are and, after a number of putts, you'd almost be wishing that the greens at your local club could be so consistent.
"The beauty of this product is that we can design whatever type of green that the customer wants," said Redmond. "If there is a particular green from some course, or a favourite 18th green on the golfer's home course, then we can recreate it. Mostly, we'd get them to draw a sample of what they want with shape, undulations etc. Many tend to want hills and bumps in the greens and that can be done, but it is not really practical. What you should be using the green for is to improve your putting, so you really want most of the green to be quite flat with some subtle breaks."
The installation process for a green measuring 30 ft by 30 ft would typically take four to five days, with the green playable as soon as it is complete. However, dry weather is essential for certain aspects of the installation when kiln-dried sand is being applied to the base, which would require the installers to stop work and resume later if the weather was inclement.
The finished product, however, is extremely impressive. It has all the appearance of a tournament-standard green. "There is virtually no maintenance required. There is no spraying or cutting, and all that is needed is an occasional brushing or blowing to clear away leaves, while a light rolling now and then also helps the putting surface. It's even possible to stripe it like that of a green in a tournament by simply brushing the surface," said Redmond. However, it is important to keep the surface free of loose soil and mud because such material can clog and compact the fibres.
On all Huxley surfaces - whether for putting or tee-boxes or pitching areas - the fibres are bonded to a heavy-duty backing and result in a "free-draining, hard-wearing, low maintenance replacement for natural turf," while, in Britain, a large number of golf clubs and hotels have opted to use the surface on paths, cartways and patio areas.
One of the most significant endorsements came from the English Golf Union who installed all-weather practice tees and putting green at their national centre in Woodhall Spa. "The rising demand for our facilities was placing great pressure on natural turf with some areas needing to be re-laid every week. We looked for a suitable alternative that was able to withstand sustained use and take the pressure off normal turf, and these all-weather surfaces from Huxley Golf were selected because their feel and appearance is very close to that of closely-mown fine turf," explained Paul Baxter of the EGU.
Here in Ireland, although it has been available for just six months, the response has been growing with private individuals, companies and golf clubs making inquiries for a putting green that is available all year round.
