Golf is a game of precision. The slightest miscalculation can make the ball miss the target, which is why golfers need a strong short game to score well. The great news is that practicing on artificial putting greens in Houston gives you that extra edge over natural grass courses.
Apart from being easy to maintain, synthetic putting greens offer golfers a consistent playing surface. You can expect a similar speed each time you hit the ball on these greens. You just need to maintain your green well to keep its speed on point.
What Is Speed in a Synthetic Putting Green?
Speed refers to how far the ball rolls on a green. Golfers measure this speed using a stimp meter. The stimp meter releases a golf ball at a height of one foot and measures the distance the ball travels.
The speed rating determines how difficult it will be to put on a particular putting green. A faster speed, as you might imagine, makes it more challenging to putt. On the other hand, a slower speed makes it easier.
What Speeds Do Golf Courses Have?
Speeds in natural golf courses range from 9 to 14 feet or more.
Old, shady courses that get a lot of use typically have slow speeds of 9 – 12 ft. Meanwhile, greens that get moderate shade use usually have speeds of 11-13 ft, which is a good average for most people. Finally, new greens offer speeds of 13 ft and above.
Factors That Affect Speed in Synthetic Putting Greens
Turf Age
The older a turf gets, the less spring it has and, therefore the slower it becomes. But don’t worry; that won’t start happening until after you hit 10 years or more as long as you maintain your putting greens in Houston properly.
Pile Height
The height of the grass determines how fast it will grow and how long it will take to reach its maximum speed.
Longer blades tend to slow down faster than shorter ones because there is more space between them for air to flow through them. This slows down their movement over time.
Infill Material
Experts recommend using a certain amount of infill materials for every square foot of turf installed to achieve a particular speed.
Go over and beyond this amount and you will have an overly fast surface. Skimp on it and you may end up with an overly slow surface.
How to Maintain the Speed of Artificial Putting Greens
Dry Sweep the Turf
Dry sweeping will remove any debris such as leaves and twigs. You can use a push broom or even better, a stiff bristle push broom. If there is not too much debris on your artificial turf installation in Houston, TX, you should sweep once or twice a week.
Fluff Up the Turf With a Power Broom
If you have a power broom, use it at least once a month on the synthetic turf putting green. This will help to keep the material from laying down flat in certain spots and raising in others.
Use Speed Rollers
Speed rollers are not just for golf courses; you can use them on your artificial turf putting green as well.
These devices will help to remove any creases or wrinkles on the surface of your turf. This will ensure that your green stays flat and even so that your balls will roll correctly towards their holes.
Keep Your Putting Green Speed On Point With an Artificial Grass Installation in Houston
One of the best advantages of synthetic turf over natural grass for greens is its customizability when it comes to speeds.
You don’t have to adjust your watering and mowing efforts to achieve a certain speed. All you have to do is let experts know of the speed you want. They’ll use the right turf and installation methods to do it in record time. They can also mimic popular landscaping trends with ease.
For fast and hassle-free installations, look no further than Houston Artificial Grass Pros. We only use premium synthetic turf for golf, so you’re sure to get a green that’s built to last.
What are you waiting for? Call us now at 832-604-0950 or contact us online using this form to get a free quote on your project!