The grass of a putting green is very important to the serious golfer. The grass must be very short so the ball can roll unhampered for a long distance. It must be free of weeds and other foreign plant matter, be durable enough to withstand the changing weather yet soft and subtle enough bend and move as the ball passes over the surface. However, the care, maintenance, and water usage of these greens are time consuming, expensive and have a negative environmental impact.

A cost cutting, eco-friendly solution is to use artificial greens. Synthetic greens can provide a high-quality putting surface without the maintenance and cost of seeded greens. Artificial greens are easy to purchase and install for both home and commercial use. Thanks to the many benefits of artificial grass, some golf courses are including synthetic greens in areas other than the putting green. Tee lines and in some cases the course itself can be replaced with artificial grass, giving the course a lush, green, uniform look that is resistant to drought and other common lawn ailments.

However, one of the biggest rewards of synthetic grass on golf courses is water conservation. The average turf requires up to 60 inches of water annually to look green and healthy. Unfortunately, it is impossible for natural rainfall to uniformly hydrate the greens since the presence of hills, valleys, sand traps and water hazards affect how moisture is absorbed and distributed across the course. Complex irrigation systems are used to control the watering process and to provide relief during periods of low rainfall. However, these irrigation systems typically use 20% to 50% more water than necessary. These alarming statists point to a need for a better system of water management for golf courses. Installing an artificial putting green and using synthetic grasses in other areas of the golf course will drastically reduce the amount of water required to maintain the course. It is a cost effective, environmentally friendly solution that will realize significant savings for all.

Golf courses are not the only prolific users of water. In America, 50% to 70% of drinking quality water is used to irrigate lawns. That translates into over half of American drinking water being poured onto the ground every single year. With droughts and famines in other parts of the country and in developing nations, the need to have a green lawn suddenly seems at odds with the need to converse and treasure drinking water. However, there can be a fair compromise between a beautiful yard and reducing water consumption. A home putting green made from synthetic grass will greatly reduce the amount of water required to irrigate the lawn. When you install a home putting green, you create a beautiful, functional space that can provide hours of entertainment for family and guests while reducing your carbon footprint and saving precious, increasingly scare drinking water.

It took small changes over the years to put our planet in peril; it can take small changes over the years to correct and reverse this problem. You do not have to give up your favorite pastimes, such as golf, to be environmentally responsible. The solution is to simply find greener ways to do the things you already enjoy. Look into playing on a course with an artificial putting green or installing synthetic grasses in your residential yard. You will be pleasantly surprised at how real and soft these grasses can be and even more surprised at how much water you can save each year.