Nylon versus Sand-Filled Synthetic Putting Greens
Posted by: admin in Untagged on
Jul 19, 2010
I am submitting my thoughts as a Synthetic Turf Golf Green installer of more than a decade as to the differences in a Nylon Golf Green and a Sand-filled Synthetic Surface.
First off, I would like to note that many companys Nylon product are being replaced with a Polyethylene. It is the same tufting techniques and construction method. The end product is almost identicle to that of the Nylon and the product durability is equalled. This being said I will hereon refer to Nylon Golf Greens as Polyethylene.
Polyethylene Golf Greens
Cost
Installed $16-18 per square foot Product $5-8 per square foot
Putting
There is no break-in period needed, the ball runs end over end as there is no “grain” to this material. It runs at a stimp speed of approximately 9.5 and can be increased to 11 to accommodate a faster ball speed if desired.
Because there is no sand in-fill there is no inconsistencies in the ball roll. This product will run just as true after 15 years as it will the first day it is installed.
Chipping and Pitching
This product will not hold average golf shots from over 40 yards (unless the golf green is over 1,000 square feet). From within 30 yards, the action on the golf ball is uncanny to that of a natural golf green. When properly chipped onto the ball will take one bounce then check up and then roll out, just as it should. The ball will mirror the action put on it by the golf club.
Overall Assessment
Precision Greens made the switch from sand-filled golf greens to a Polyethylene Technology in the year 2000. The reason for this was obvious; Our original install was at our home office in South Surrey and it was a sand filled golf green. After two years, depressions formed in the areas we would stand the most, most typically right beside a hole after you would pull a ball out. The in-fill became inconsistent and rolled at speeds that were almost uncontrollable. The in-fill hardened so much that it could not accept shots or even chips. It would be like playing on your garage floor. We then rolled a nylon (polyethylene)surface out over top of the old one and the difference was like night and day. The playability is unparalleled.
We have now seen the polyethylene product installed for a decade and they are smooth and functional and beautiful, just like day one. For 99% of the applications we highly recommend the polyethylene surface.
Sand-filled Golf Greens
Cost
Installed $15-17 per square foot Product $$4-7 per square foot
Putting
There is a 4-8 week break in period for this product for it to start putting reasonably well. There is great potential for this product to run smooth but it takes great care and attention. The ball will always follow a “grain” as the fibres will generally bend over in one direction more than the other creating the bent grass look. If you continually broom the green followed by a few passes with a 500lb + roller, this will create the ideal putting surface. This process will keep the in-fill even and then bend the fibres back over for smooth putting.
The problem with this process is the attention it takes. If these care and maintenance steps are not performed then the sand in-fill will bind together creating an inconsistent putting surface. When this happens, the sand-filled golf greens will not absorb shots from any distance and it will roll at an uncontrollable speed, making it unrealistic for both putting and chipping.
Chipping and Pitching
If your sand-filled green is well maintained, you will be able to hold shots from longer distances. 100 yards and sometimes farther depending on the shot maker isn’t unheard-of. From within 30 yards it is somewhat unrealistic, creating a ‘false sense of security’ to the shot maker as the golf green will stop a shot immediately. This is unrealistic for most golfers.
Overall assessment
This product can be good. If one is to continually maintain this product it should hold shots for 3 to 4 years before having the sand in-fill bind together too much to keep working. There will always be a grain to the product and it will never putt quite as smooth as the Polyethylene products.
The biggest problem reported from a sand-filled golf green is moss and weed growth in the fibres. Sand is a place where growth can be prevalent if you do not keep an eye on things. Precision Greens has been assigned to semi-annual maintenances of other company’s sand-filled golf greens (and our own from 1999/2000 when we installed this technology). This includes pressure washing, de-weeding, removing moss, and topping up with fresh sand and a total cleaning of all of the fibres. This process fails to get the green in its original condition.
I recommend this product for target greens and pitch and putts. I do not recommend this product for the average backyard golf green.
First off, I would like to note that many companys Nylon product are being replaced with a Polyethylene. It is the same tufting techniques and construction method. The end product is almost identicle to that of the Nylon and the product durability is equalled. This being said I will hereon refer to Nylon Golf Greens as Polyethylene.
Polyethylene Golf Greens
Cost
Installed $16-18 per square foot Product $5-8 per square foot
Putting
There is no break-in period needed, the ball runs end over end as there is no “grain” to this material. It runs at a stimp speed of approximately 9.5 and can be increased to 11 to accommodate a faster ball speed if desired.
Because there is no sand in-fill there is no inconsistencies in the ball roll. This product will run just as true after 15 years as it will the first day it is installed.
Chipping and Pitching
This product will not hold average golf shots from over 40 yards (unless the golf green is over 1,000 square feet). From within 30 yards, the action on the golf ball is uncanny to that of a natural golf green. When properly chipped onto the ball will take one bounce then check up and then roll out, just as it should. The ball will mirror the action put on it by the golf club.
Overall Assessment
Precision Greens made the switch from sand-filled golf greens to a Polyethylene Technology in the year 2000. The reason for this was obvious; Our original install was at our home office in South Surrey and it was a sand filled golf green. After two years, depressions formed in the areas we would stand the most, most typically right beside a hole after you would pull a ball out. The in-fill became inconsistent and rolled at speeds that were almost uncontrollable. The in-fill hardened so much that it could not accept shots or even chips. It would be like playing on your garage floor. We then rolled a nylon (polyethylene)surface out over top of the old one and the difference was like night and day. The playability is unparalleled.
We have now seen the polyethylene product installed for a decade and they are smooth and functional and beautiful, just like day one. For 99% of the applications we highly recommend the polyethylene surface.
Sand-filled Golf Greens
Cost
Installed $15-17 per square foot Product $$4-7 per square foot
Putting
There is a 4-8 week break in period for this product for it to start putting reasonably well. There is great potential for this product to run smooth but it takes great care and attention. The ball will always follow a “grain” as the fibres will generally bend over in one direction more than the other creating the bent grass look. If you continually broom the green followed by a few passes with a 500lb + roller, this will create the ideal putting surface. This process will keep the in-fill even and then bend the fibres back over for smooth putting.
The problem with this process is the attention it takes. If these care and maintenance steps are not performed then the sand in-fill will bind together creating an inconsistent putting surface. When this happens, the sand-filled golf greens will not absorb shots from any distance and it will roll at an uncontrollable speed, making it unrealistic for both putting and chipping.
Chipping and Pitching
If your sand-filled green is well maintained, you will be able to hold shots from longer distances. 100 yards and sometimes farther depending on the shot maker isn’t unheard-of. From within 30 yards it is somewhat unrealistic, creating a ‘false sense of security’ to the shot maker as the golf green will stop a shot immediately. This is unrealistic for most golfers.
Overall assessment
This product can be good. If one is to continually maintain this product it should hold shots for 3 to 4 years before having the sand in-fill bind together too much to keep working. There will always be a grain to the product and it will never putt quite as smooth as the Polyethylene products.
The biggest problem reported from a sand-filled golf green is moss and weed growth in the fibres. Sand is a place where growth can be prevalent if you do not keep an eye on things. Precision Greens has been assigned to semi-annual maintenances of other company’s sand-filled golf greens (and our own from 1999/2000 when we installed this technology). This includes pressure washing, de-weeding, removing moss, and topping up with fresh sand and a total cleaning of all of the fibres. This process fails to get the green in its original condition.
I recommend this product for target greens and pitch and putts. I do not recommend this product for the average backyard golf green.
