Home turf

Photos by Huong Fralin

Simon Martinez (left) and Josh Widener work on the crushed stone base for the putting green in the beginning stages.

Brian Ruggieri (left) and company brush the artificial turf so it's ready for sand, which will make the blades stand up and provide visual realism.

In golf, as in most sports, practice makes perfect. But playing commercial courses can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you're proficient at the long drive but need to improve your short game.

For years, professional golfers such as Gary Hallberg, Jim Furyk and Craig Stadler have been working on their short games from the privacy of their backyards thanks to artificial putting greens.

While the trend has caught on in some markets across the country, it only recently was introduced at Smith Mountain Lake.

Brian Ruggieri, owner of Ruggieri Lawns in Moneta, said he recently installed the lake's first backyard artificial putting green. Ruggieri founded the landscaping company in 1978 and recently became a TourGreens certified installer.

Earlier this month, Ruggieri and company installed a putting green at the lakefront home of Bob and Laura McAuley.

Bob McAuley said he originally toyed with the idea of having one installed at his Charlottesville home, but the lay of the land wasn't adequate. After moving to Moneta three years ago, he eyed an unused portion of the three-acre tract and the gears started turning.

"We decided it would be a great place for a putting green," said McAuley.

The putting green was installed among the trees, just above the 800-foot contour, although the lake is clearly visible between the trees.

McAuley said he was looking for a way to help improve his game. Formerly an avid golfer, he was stymied by an injury and is working to get back into the game. As McAuley works his way back, the backyard putting green will be useful for practicing on his own time, he said.

The decision to have it installed meant another outlet for family entertainment, said McAuley. The McAuleys have four sons, two of whom enjoy golfing. Later this month, the putting green will be put to the test when the McAuleys host an extended family gathering.

"We're doing a family reunion for my father's 80th birthday," said McAuley.

The couples plans to have various events throughout the property, one of which will be on the putting green.

With the reunion nearing, the McAuleys wanted it installed in time. The process, which is weather-dependent, took about two weeks.

After clearing a small portion of the McAuleys yard, Ruggieri installed the crushed stone base for the 34-foot-by-20-foot putting green. It was topped with stone dust, then foam padding and finally the artificial turf.

Ruggieri said white sand is poured into the turf to make the artificial blades stand up. Black and green sand was sprinkled on top to cover the white sand and to make it look like real grass and dirt, he said.

To further create realism, the putting green has slight undulations like an actual course, said Ruggieri. He said the undulations were tested by rolling a basketball across the green and measuring its direction.

"Nobody wants it totally flat," said Ruggieri.

A 4-foot-by-4-foot tee box was installed below the putting green so McAuley can practice chipping and pitching, said Ruggieri.

"They say 50 percent or 60 percent of your shots [on the golf course] are putting and chipping," he said. "That's where they say you lower your score."

Ruggieri said multiple tee boxes and putting greens can be installed on a property. Alternately, tee boxes can be moved to vary the chipping distance.

Because the turf is artificial, it's maintenance-free, he said. Leaves can be swept off and rain won't wash away the sand nestled between the grass blades.

Ruggieri and McAuley declined to comment on how much the backyard putting green cost. Ruggieri said the price for installation vary, depending on how much excavating needs to be done, but the greens prices

TourGreens, an Atlanta-based company, was founded in 1996 by three-time PGA Tour winner Kenny Knox. It is one of several companies that installs backyard putting greens.