Installing a Golf Green at Home in Dubai
There is no soil in the UAE, only sand. This is why installing a golf green here requires a different base type.
By Stephen Pickering
Yes, you can put an artificial golf green in a Dubai villa garden, and a small one starts at 20 m². I'd install it on concrete screed. Every time. The slope, the breaks and the hole positions are shaped into that screed before anyone picks the grass, so they're the first things you decide.
Far more people enquire about golf putting green installations for their garden than they did five years ago. An artificial putting green at home will be part of the garden, but there's a different preparation and installation process.
Why we recommend concrete screed for your golf green
Under any base in the UAE, you'll find sand. Gravel or aggregate laid over sand settles and moves. As it moves, the green that was designed for you turns into a different green, and putting it right means lifting the grass and redoing what's underneath.
On a putting green, the roll of the ball shows up every change in level.
Concrete screed is one rigid slab. It holds the shape it was laid to, so the falls stay where they were put. That's why we recommend it: it'll stand the test of time over the long run.
The value of a putting green is how convenient it is. In relation to the installation, it's important that the finished green is consistent and the breaks are designed to be subtle.
A putting green at home, from screed to first putt
In a garden, the type of ground preparation is decided by what's already there, such as sand, existing tiling or natural grass. There are three types of ground preparation, and which one you need depends on that surface.
A putting green skips that choice. The screed goes down first, shaped to the slopes you've agreed. It then needs 12 hours to dry. After that the grass goes on as a dry fit, the same method we use when a garden's being installed over concrete, tiles or decking. The holes go in once the screed installation is complete.
We've installed putting greens at villas in Jumeirah Golf Estates and Arabian Ranches, and a commercial green at Raffles Hotel on Palm Jumeirah, with a contoured surface and a fringe round it.
How much space does a garden putting green need?
Measure first. A three-metre putt needs three metres of putting surface, plus room to stand behind the ball.
We install putting greens in three sizes:
| Size | Holes | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| From 20 m² | 2–3 | A private practice green with putts from several directions. Putting only. |
| From 60 m² | 4–6 | Green, fringe and a chipping apron for short pitches and bump-and-runs. |
| 100 m² and up | 6–9 | A larger shaped green with real breaks, a fringe and an apron. |
More than one cup lets you putt from different spots. You can leave a flag in one hole while you work on another.
A fringe is the band of slightly longer grass around the putting surface. It gives you somewhere to chip from and onto. If you've got room for one, I'd include it.
How much slope should a golf green have?
Not much. The USGA Green Section suggests the slope across most of a green usually shouldn't go over 3 percent, which is 1.7 degrees. At a green speed of ten feet on the Stimpmeter, it treats any slope of 3 percent or more as too steep for a hole (Putting Green Speeds, Slopes and "Non-Conforming" Hole Locations, USGA Green Section Record).
So the faster the green rolls, the gentler the slopes have to be.
On 20 m² you reach that limit quickly. A slope has to level out before the hole, and a small green doesn't give it much room. One steep tier can rule out several hole positions.
Agree the slope before the screed goes down. It can't be changed on installation day.
What happens to a putting green in rain and summer heat?
Rain here is rare, and it's heavy when it comes. Concrete screed is not porous, so water cannot drain through it like a black sand base. The falls have to be designed to take the water somewhere instead. Where it goes depends on your garden, and it's one of the things we check when we measure up.
From June through August the green's too hot to stand on barefoot at midday. So's your paving. If the green falls into shade in the afternoon, it cools quickly and is comfortable well before evening, and a hose brings the surface temperature down in seconds.
Who shouldn't put in a putting green?
I'd skip it in three cases.
You've got less than 20 m². That's where our smallest green starts. Below it, I'd put a putting mat on the terrace and save the screed.
You're renting. Screed is permanent, so you'd be pouring a slab in somebody else's garden. Landlords tend to notice. Get their agreement in writing, or wait until you own the place.
You want to hit full wedge shots. Even our largest greens are designed for putting, short pitches and bump-and-runs. They aren't a driving range.
FAQs
How long does an artificial putting green last in the UAE?
At least ten years. The grass carries a manufacturer's warranty whose length depends on the grass specified for your green, so get the term from us in writing. Grass that fails early here usually wasn't properly UV stabilised. Ask to see the test certificates.
Does a putting green need much maintenance?
No mowing, watering or reseeding. Brush it every few weeks to keep the fibres upright, and rinse off the dust now and then.
Can I put a green on a roof terrace or over existing tiles?
It depends on what's there now. A terrace already finished in sound, level concrete screed can be a good candidate. Tiles have falls and joints set for drainage, not for a rolling ball, so we'd need to see them first.
How do I see the grass before I decide?
Ask for a sample pack. They're free, they come from the manufacturer, and you can collect one at our Al Quoz showroom. Look at it in daylight in your own garden. Photos really don't do it justice.
If you're thinking about a green, measure the space first and talk to us before anyone pours anything.
If you'd like someone to look at your garden, book a site survey. We'll measure the space, check the levels and the drainage, and put the specification in writing.
Stephen Pickering has worked for Maze for over three years and is highly knowledgeable about grass product specifications and product quality. He has over 20 years' experience in sales and product roles in the UK and the Middle East.
