Jerry,

Sounds like a nice addition to your house.  I don't have any experience with those greens, but it would be great if you could take photos (before, during and after) and share those on the site.  I would like to hear, and see, how it all turns out for you.  I've thought about getting a green, so I'd like to get your expererience on the entire project.

JERRY S, I HAVE A SW GREEN. I HAVE HAD IT 4 YEARS AND I LOVE IT.

I LIVE IN THE HOUSTON,TEXAS AREA AND THE SW INSTALLER WAS/IS A TRUE PRO AT HIS WORK.

I HAD A VERY SPECIFIC SMALL AREA TO FIT MY FREEN INTO AND SW MADE IT WORK.

EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE SW COME BACK OUT AND TOUCH UP THE GREEN AND RESET THE SPEED.

MINE IS ABOUT 12 NOW.

I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SOUTHWEST GREEN.

Nice green Doug. 

Jerry, I've read alot on SW greens, seem to be the pro-ferred .

Enjoy guys!!

Deno

I too have a SW green.  I live in Austin and have had it about 3 years.  It's awesome.  I have some of the rough / longer grass around the edges for chipping.  Mine is approx 500sqft and sits in a corner in my back yard.  I'm out there about 3-4 times a week and even have it lighted for night putting.  I highly recommend SW green.  I have them come out yearly for the maintence and mine is running about 11.5-12.5 depending on the putt.  My biggest piece of advice if getting one would be to get it on the flattest piece of ground you have.  Mine has a very slight slope but even that makes down hill putting a little unrealistic.  Good luck

WOW you lucky. i wish i could have a green in my back yard. good luck!!

Thanks for all the tips guys.  Sounds like SW is the vote.  

I was planning to put some bumps and tiers in mine.  I'll have about 500-600 sq ft.  I'm planning to make it about 30x30 with one corner cut out for a sand trap.  If I make it a little slower that may help.  

thanks, Jerry

I'm not lucky.  I'm a hard worker.  But I have made some good choices in life...and some bad choices.  

I'm not rich, but I've made golf a priority.

I got rid of the wife and I'm raising two kids by myself.  The oldest one (10) is a golf nut. That makes it easier to justify the green.

I'll definitely post pictures.

--Jerry

Update.  4 dumptruck loads of fill material in the driveway, workers showing up this morning to break up concrete and fill in the pool. --Jerry

Congratulations, that's awesome.  I will definitely have a putting green in my yard some day.  That's awesome that your children will enjoy it as well.  Let's see some pictures!

Wish me luck. The plan is to move all the fill material and break up the concrete and tamp by hand, paying 3 local freelance landscape contractors to do it manually rather than paying to rent machinery.  I grew up working (carrying bricks and mortar for my bricklayer father and bucking bales of hay at night) and it has served me well.  I am in favor of manual labor.

Here are a couple of "before" pics. That is the first 40 yards of fill material.  may need a few more. --jerry

Progress...one day's work.  Hard labor is good for you. 

Jerry - that looked like a pretty nice pool.  Must have been a difficult decision to fill it in.  I thought about filling mine in as well, but I heard that the yard has a tendency to sink for a few years.  Where the guys installing the green worried about your yard settling after they install the green?

Nice pics Jerry. 

Keep the progress pics comin'.  I see the tamper in there. Very thorough job.  Good idea.  I'm sure you'll do a nice brick edging somewhere.

Deno

If you do it right, it won't settle.  I'm using a fill material designed to compact and compacting it with a reciprocating thumper every 9 inches.  it won't sink.  My latest estimate, from a guy whose work looks great and whose resume includes some pretty good names, always puts a 2" concrete slab under the green for insurance.  

935 am on the second day and we're almost through the first 40 yards (44 tons) of fill material. the concrete is broken up and we're filling like crazy.  Should be about done by nightfall.

--jerry