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This Green is for a Do-It-Yourselfer Who Really Likes Golf
Company offers putting surfaces you can install
By BILL HUFFMAN FOR THE TRIBUNE
Reprinted with permission from The East Valley Tribune
Originally Published June 30, 2005
It was not that long ago that synthetic putting greens were considered a costly backyard amenity that ranged in price from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on the size and additional perks like chipping pads, bunkers, water features and landscaping. Those costs have been sliced in half by Mirage Putting Greens of the Valley, which has offered its do-ityourself putting green packages since February through its diyturf.com program.
Now, with a little ambition, you can own a backyard putting green for as little as $1,425 (240 square feet) to $4,945 (800 square feet). One of 300 Mirage dealerships worldwide, Mirage Putting Greens of the Valley is headquartered at Cracker Jax Driving Range in Scottsdale. This year, it will do more than 400 projects Valleywide, of which 60 percent will be greens and 40 percent synthetic grass surfaces called Lazy Lawn.
Mirage feels so strongly about its quality of products, which are manufactured in Dalton, Ga., that it recently started offering do-it-yourself putting green packages, said Jay Giesbrecht, the president of the Scottsdale dealership. "Sure, it takes a little work to build a green,’’ Giesbrecht said. "But if you watch our video — and you have a little imagination — it’s really pretty easy."
Why would Mirage, which averages about $6,000 per green/lawn for a professional install, give up the extra money to let people put in their own putting greens or lawn? "We’ve got three crews working full-time, and we’re still about four weeks out (on future jobs),’’ Giesbrecht explained. "We just feel that if saving money is paramount, then why not let people build them if they’re confident enough?"
According to Pete Lugowski, the sales manager who heads up the project, Mirage sells more greens and synthetic turf than any other company in the world. "The initial reaction to the do-it-yourself greens has been huge,’’ Lugowski said. "In fact, several of the ones I have sold and followed up on have turned out really well."
Mirage’s do-it-yourself greens include four packages, which are all pre-cut and preseamed: the Par (15x16 square feet, $1,425), the Birdie (17x26, $2,645), the Eagle (18x33, $3,210) and the Double Eagle (25x32, $4,945). The workload includes clearing the green site, planning and shaping the new green, hauling in the tons of decomposed granite needed for the base, and laying the turf. "We make three types of turf, and the type you get with the packages, which is our Tour-Putt line called Country Club PG Turf, is awesome,’’ Lugowski said.
Mirage also makes a deep sand-filled surface and a short-nap nylon surface. But in terms of durability and realistic results, Tour-Putt is in a league of its own, Lugowski said. "It’s a tightly packed, spring-set fiber, which is three times the height of nylon,’’ he explained. "Tour-Putt offers a smooth ball roll like putting on bent-grass, and will even check up shots.’’ To reach Mirage Putting Greens of the Valley, call (480) 659-7822 or visit the Do-It-Yourself Web site at www.diyturf.com.
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