I want to buy a putting green

[mom0299]

My son is in 8th grade and is playing on the high school golf team this year. He would love to have his own puttnig green to practice. I think I'd like to get an indoor/outdoor putting green that can be moved fairly easily. Does anyone have any suggestions for something that won't cost a fortune? This will be his Christmas gift. I've also thought about getting one of those golf nets so he can hit in the backyard and not have to truck out to the field to retrieve his balls.

 

[webprinter]

I bought one for DH off of EBAY. I think it was about $35 and about 2 1/2 or 3 feet x about 9 feet and has 3 holes. We really liked it until the cats got ahold of it and now it is their own personal toy and sleeping spot. I have to vaccum it now before we can use it. I told DH that it was a birthday present for him but unfortunately the cats thought it was for them. I will try to find the seller. They will make them any size you want. Ours is obviously very durable since the cats haven't ripped it yet, (they roll around it, crawl underneath it and playfight on it.

 

[golfgal]

We have a couple and they really aren't worth it. We want to put in a putting green in our backyard actually. To practice putting inside just get some putting cups at any golf store and make a green anywhere. Practicing putting on all kinds of surfaces will actually help more then one of those putting greens. Heck, Tiger Woods used to practice his putting on a gym floor.

We practice on our different types of carpet in the house and on the kitchen floor.

The nets for hitting aren't all that bad as long as you either get a mat to hit off of or don't mind your grass being torn up. We also have a chipping net that we use inside that is fun.

 

[mom0299]

Thanks for the input. We do have one cat so I'll have to keep that in mind. By the looks of my yard I need to get a mat.
DS played in his first match today and got the best score in his foursome.

 

[Golf4food]

Those are ok for working on mechanics but do almost nothing for your touch/feel for the speed because the surface is so different from what you find on actual golf courses, and then you have no break to the putts. Problem then becomes the possibility that you become obsessed with your putting mechanics and lose your touch/feel, which is very, very bad. Putting is 99% feel and experience, 1% mechanics (unless your mechanics are terrible). Maybe talk to the golf coach about some ideas for other practice aids that would help? (Not saying not to get a putting strip also, just that they can cause more problems than they are worth if used too much by themselves.)

ETA: The best gift for any golfer has always been, is today, and always will be: LESSONS.

 

[ZuZugal]

My son is in 8th grade and is playing on the high school golf team this year. He would love to have his own puttnig green to practice. I think I'd like to get an indoor/outdoor putting green that can be moved fairly easily. Does anyone have any suggestions for something that won't cost a fortune? This will be his Christmas gift. I've also thought about getting one of those golf nets so he can hit in the backyard and not have to truck out to the field to retrieve his balls.

If there are ever any golf shows around where you live you might want to go. There is one close by us every winter, and it's great to go check out the new equipment...they usually have an indoor range set up as well. We purchased an indoor putting green at a show a few years ago and it is in our basement. I don't remember the manufacturer off hand but it was made well and the kids use it quite a bit. (around $100). Probably 10 ft long; undulating. Also have a large net set up in the basement to hit balls into and a mat to hit off of. works fairly well. they enjoy the chipping net too but not as much as putting. we don't have anything set up outside...range is closeby.

If you do get to attend a show they will sometimes discount the larger items on the last day of the show if they don't want to pack up and haul everything back to their store/warehouse. We have neighbors with an actual large outdoor putting green and they love it.