Putting mini-golf in my backyard

I'm going to be putting a mini golf in my backyard. The gophers have destroyed the lawn, so I am going to cover it with astroturf and a few putting holes.

I will post pics as time progresses.

nice ... my neighbours did that ... it was fun for about 5 months ...

Awesome !

You need a Bill Murray avatar.

Yes I can see that. It would have its limit.

So what I plan on doing, is making just holes, not an entire putt course. This way the yard is not forced to be mini golf. It's just nice lawn that I dont need to cut..oh and it happens to have some golf puts in it if you want to play.

I remember when I was about 10 or 12 out in the back yard hitting golf balls at the garage. And my dad coming out and yelling at me "MIKE! CUT IT OUT DAMMIT! YOU'RE DENTIN' THE SIDING." Ah...memories.

Haha ... same thing for me with tennis ... serving at the garage door ... lol

So yesterday I had this guy come and give me a quote on putting the fake lawn in. The booth at the show said $8 to $12 per square foot. When I told him this, he immediatly frowned and said the girls had no idea how much it costs (even though at the booth there were only guys).

After talking, he gave me a quote of $13,000 for my 600sqft backyard. Um, that's about $21.60 square foot.

Checking online, you can buy the turf for about $2 to $6 per square foot. So the cost for the material is $1800, and the cost to install it is $11,200? I don't think so.

I told him I think I will keep looking around.

I think he thought I was an easy kill and could rip me off and I would have no idea.

Surely there's more to what he was going to do than drop turf ?

CamperJohn

I am a student at SDSU and recently put down a very nice putting green for my dad bach in huntington beach. IF you want, I will install it in exchange for some programming or website design tips. I am really new to programming, but I can definatly lay turf!

What kind of mini golf are you looking for. The one I did for my Dad was about 10feet by 20 feet practice green like you would see at a golf course.

NOw if you want actual minigolf I could start creating a list of materials and designing some holes, or you could design them and I will get that minigolf course down in the most cost effective way possible. All it will take is a couple of my buddies from SDSU and a 30 pack and you got yourself a full days labor team!

I just may take you up on that offer. I am excavating right now, and soon will be pouring concrete for the Jacuzzi slab. But after that I will be doing the lawn itself.

Are you free for a day or two around August 1? That's when I think I will have the concrete work done and will be starting the turf.

Give me your email and phone number. Mine is john@mccarthy.net at (858) 678-0197

So the excavation is almost complete. I thought it would take 1 day to remove the earth from the backyard, so far it is almost 7 days of work and it's still not done. About 90% done though.

There is way more earth than I thought. 6 inches * 860 square feet is alot of earth.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6362/p1010020ku6.jpg

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9306/p1010029nc5.jpg

Next comes laying forms for concrete curbs and the patio forms. I am putting a large patio where you see that lolipop tree.

Forms for curbs ?

Have you looked into a curb machine (not necisarily that brand), those things are awesome for residential projects.

I have, but not really excited about it. I need some tall curbs, some short. I am not sure how it can be done.

I guess I should investigate first - you're right.

I've never seen one of those machines that does curbs higher than about 6-8" at the rental places around here.
Looking at your last photo there now I'm guessing roughly 18" for that part along the left side around to the fence.

Yes the places I called said they only did 6 inch curbs. I think I will have to do it with forms. I do need a 10 inch curb.