How Much Does a Backyard Putting Green Cost? [2025 Data]

Putting Green Size

Backyard putting greens cost between $15 and $40 per square foot, and size is one of the biggest cost factors for this project. Do you want a small, 100-square-foot green just to putt the ball around, or are you an athlete looking to improve your game on a larger green of 500 to 2,000 square feet? You may score a discount per square foot for larger greens, but, of course, your total is still going to be higher overall.

Putting Green Installation Pro Costs

If you don’t want to deal with the fuss of DIY landscape design, hire a local putting green installation service. These pros are landscape designers with experience crafting this specific type of recreational area, which requires—at a minimum—landscape grading, land clearing, and artificial grass installation. Most landscape designers charge between $50 and $150 per hour, though some charge by the project.

Additional Pros to Consider Hiring 

Depending on the design, you might need pros with additional expertise to build your ideal backyard putting green. The sky's the limit, and some homeowners install decorative grasses and mulching, ponds, other water features, lighting, or hardscaping. You may need to hire a landscape architect or structural engineer for significant backyard remodels. 

Here are some pros to consider bringing in and their associated costs:

• Landscaper costs: $50–$100 per hour

• Hardscaper costs: $50–$100 per hour

• Landscape architect costs: $70–$100 per hour

• Electrician costs: $50–$100 per hour

• Plumber costs: $45–$200 per hour

• Excavation services cost: $120–$150 per hour

• Structural engineer costs: $70–$250 per hour

Green Type 

Are you planning to putt-putt on natural green, or do you want artificial grass that won’t require mowing and trimming? Artificial grass installation costs around $5 to $25 per square foot, depending on the type of artificial grass, while natural sod installation costs $1 to $2 per square foot. While artificial putting greens cost more up front, they tend to require less maintenance than natural greens, so they cost less in the long run.

You can also build less customized but more convenient putting greens with synthetic mats for between $460 and $1,360 or install a DIY putting green kit for $4 to $20 per square foot.

Additional Costs to Consider

In addition to the size, green type, and pros you hire to install your putting green, there are some extra cost factors to consider. Preparing the land, additional features, and long-term maintenance costs will impact your budget. 

Preparation

Land excavation costs about $50 to $200 per cubic yard, so account for this additional cost if your existing yard needs alteration. Before you can install the putting green, you may need to prep the yard to create a smooth, flat surface. Or, you may need the yard prepped with new hills and slopes to make your putting green more difficult to up your game.

Number of Cuts

More cuts of fringe and fairway, which allow you to practice different types of shots, can increase costs up to 10%. Anything above and beyond a borderless, standard green will push your costs higher.

Maintenance

Lawn maintenance costs between $50 and $220 per visit, and you could end up paying more if you need a specialty grass trimmed and manicured. You’ll need weekly or even daily services for a natural green, while artificial putting greens will cost far less in maintenance. Artificial turf still needs to be cleaned, so you may want weekly or monthly visits to keep it pristine.

Repairs

You may need to patch up the green or move a hole occasionally to keep things interesting. Patching an artificial lawn costs about $2 to $8 per square foot, while overseeding or reseeding sod costs $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot to get rid of bare spots. Adding or moving a hole will cost about $150 per hole.

Flagsticks, Holes, and More

Budget about $150 per flagstick and hole for the initial installation. The larger the course, the more holes you’ll need, so these materials can drive up your total costs quite a bit in some cases.

Even if you’re a serious golfer who just wants a standard putting green to practice, you might also want to consider the cost of obstacles to transform your green into a mini-golf course for kids or parties. These pieces can drive up installation costs but could make your green more usable and justifiable.

Common Putting Green Add-Ons

Extra features for your backyard putting green cost about $50 to $100 per hour to install, plus the cost of the materials, which varies based on the add-on.

But many of these bells and whistles can make your putting green more stimulating or will help improve your game. Hills, slopes, more cuts, and water features can all help your backyard putting green feel like a professional golf course. You may also want to add a storage shed to keep golf clubs and other game supplies safe from the weather.

The table below includes some costs for add-ons that home golfers may want to include with their new putting green.

The cost of landscaping can vary wildly, depending on the specific features you want to include in your putting green. Large stones used as obstacles, decor, or borders, for example, will cost more than bricks, individual plants, and other landscaping features. 

Cost to Build a Putting Green Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro 

If you’re taking on this project yourself, you can save $11 to $20 per square foot on labor costs, for an average cost savings of $500 to $8,000. On average, DIY putting greens cost between $500 and $2,000, although you could pay as little as $400 for a small green on a flat landscape. The easiest route is purchasing a DIY putting green kit for $4 to $20 per square foot, but you’ll also need to factor in costs to clear the land, leveling it, and ongoing maintenance, like watering, mowing, and repairs.

Keep in mind that installing a putting green yourself can be labor-intensive and take days or weeks. If you don’t design the green correctly, your golf game could suffer.

You can hire pros to take care of everything if you don’t have the time to invest in the project, or if you’re planning a large-scale putting green. Hire a putting green installation company to handle the design and installation and an artificial turf installer near you to handle the bulk of the work. Depending on the project, you’ll still need a landscape designer, excavation company, and landscaping services. 

Putting Green Cost Calculator

Calculations are based on the average square footage of a small home putting green, which is about 250 square feet, and 1 inch height. We converted these dimensions to 1 cubic foot. Calculations rounded to the nearest whole number.

How to Calculate Putting Green Costs

To calculate the cost of installing a putting green, follow these steps:

• Measure the area: Calculate the total square footage of the future putting green’s area.

• Get quotes from putting green services: Shop around to at least three local putting green services to compare prices. If possible, request the price per square foot.

• Multiply labor and materials cost by square footage: Once you have the putting green service’s price per square foot, use it to calculate the cost of materials and labor.

• Calculate land excavation cost: You’ll likely need to excavate the land to prepare for the putting green installation. Convert your land’s square footage into cubic yards, and then calculate the cost per cubic yard.

3 Ways You Can Save Money on a Backyard Putting Green

A backyard putting green can save you money on the cost of visiting a mini golf course or becoming a member of a professional golf course. However, installation can come with a high up-front investment, so follow these tips to reduce the cost of your putting green.

1. Stick With Simplicity

If you’re not on a mission to improve your skills for your Saturday golf games on a professional course, you can save money by cutting back on extra hills and bunkers. Simpler greens with flat, level surfaces and fewer curves will reduce the project cost.

2. Consider Size

The size of your putting green plays a big factor in the project cost. Although a larger putting green will cost more, you can get a deal per square foot. Think about how much space you’d benefit from and factor in the discounts you can get for going big.

3. Take a DIY Approach to Accessories

You could save hundreds by making accessories, like the flagsticks that mark the holes. You could also save by tackling some of the more DIYable work, like installing outdoor lighting, while leaving the sod or artificial turf installation to the pros.

Does a Backyard Putting Green Increase Home Value?

A backyard putting green can increase your home value, but it depends on several factors. Not every potential buyer plays golf, but having clean and well-maintained landscaping can really make a difference. According to the National Association of Realtors®, an attractive lawn can have a 217% ROI, and regular landscaping maintenance tends to pay for itself.

To get the most value out of your putting green, focus on enhancing the landscaping surrounding it. Ramp up the curb appeal to make your home attractive to potential buyers.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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