More than 24 million people played golf in the U.S. in 2020, and over 2 million acres of land in the U.S. is currently devoted to golf courses. It’s no wonder putt-putt is such a popular activity— it’s all the fun of golf with only a fraction of all the walking. 

If you’re looking to build a miniature golf course, you’re going to need turf for the best playing surface. And, because you’re likely running some narrow margins, it’s important that you’re able to properly calculate and prepare for the right amount of turf you need to create all of the holes and features. Don’t worry, we’ll show you how. 

Initial Considerations 

The cost to install a mini-golf turf depends on the size, materials, and whether it will be indoors or outdoors. 

• The average indoor mini-golf course size is 6,500 sq ft. Indoor miniature golf course sizes range from 2,500 to 12,000 sq ft. 
• The recommended size for an indoor 18-hole miniature golf course is 9,000 sq ft.
• The average outdoor miniature golf course size is 22,000 sq ft. Outdoor mini-golf courses range from 13,000 to 30,000 square feet. 
• The recommended size for an outdoor 18-hole miniature golf course is generally between 15,000 and 22,000 square feet, but sites as small as 9,000 sq ft can be feasible. 

Since indoor turf may not require drainage, outdoor courses may have the additional cost of a base for drainage. 

Turf Miniature Golf Course Costs 

Businesses spend an average between $150,000 and $250,000 to develop an 18-hole mini-golf course. A significant portion of this cost is real estate and landscaping to turn that real estate into a playable surface. 

On average, the cost of mini-golf turf installation and materials is $8.00 to $30.00 per square foot. 

• The base that is installed underneath turf is usually around $1.00 to $4.00 per square  foot. You need a 3 to 4 inch layer of crushed rock, gravel, or decomposed granite to cover the entire area for proper drainage for outdoor areas.
• Infill ranges from $1.00 – $10.00 per sq ft. Silica sand is one of the most popular choices for golf and putting turf. You need 1 to 3 lbs per square foot to weigh the turf down and keep the fibers upright for the best ball roll. 
• At Turf Factory Direct, we offer putting green and miniature golf turf that ranges in price from $1.40-$3.50 a square foot. 

Costs vary depending on whether you go DIY or use a professional contractor, the material choices, the size of the area, and geographical location. 

What About Putting Greens?

A putting green is different from a miniature golf course in that it is often a supplement at a larger golf course or an area into and of itself. The nice thing about putting greens is that they can scale to any size, from inside a garage or basement, to a professionally done, massive enterprise. 

Average Putting Green Sizes

While putting greens on the PGA Tour measure about 5,000 to 6,000 square feet, one can typically practice their entire short game on a green that is a fraction of this size. 1,000 sq ft is the typical backyard putting green size, but people have built greens of all sizes. 

Average Putting Green Costs 

A putting green will have the same basic breakdown of costs as a mini-golf course, $8.00 to $30.00 per square foot, but overall costs are cheaper due to the smaller size and simpler design.

• The base that is installed underneath turf is usually around $1.00 to $4.00 per square foot. You need a 3 to 4 inch layer of crushed rock, gravel, or decomposed granite to cover the entire area for proper drainage for outdoor areas.
• Infill ranges from $1.00 – $10.00 per sq ft. Silica sand is one of the most popular choices for golf and putting turf. You need 1 to 3 lbs per square foot to weigh the turf down and keep the fibers upright for the best ball roll. 
• At Turf Factory Direct, we offer putting green and miniature golf turf that ranges in price from $1.40-$3.50 a square foot. 

According to Home Advisor, contractors will charge between $18 and $25 per square foot to turn your lawn into a putting green. 

• A 100 sq ft green will run between $1,800 and $3,000.
• Installing a medium, 200 sq ft putting green averages $4,300 for most homeowners. 
• Bigger artificial putting greens of 500 sq ft or more will likely cost around $9,000.

Why turf instead of natural grass for mini-golf courses?

It’s true that artificial turf has a higher upfront cost than natural grass, but natural grass costs more to maintain in the long run. You might be thinking that natural grass is a better option for a putting green or miniature golf course. But, hold off— turf has serious advantages over natural grass:

• Turf is durable – It can’t be trampled, drowned, dried up, or divotted by swinging clubs, and it’s easy to repair if it is damaged.  
• Turf is low maintenance – No weeding, no watering, no fertilizer, no pesticides, no mowing— it’s a win-win for you alone or employees if you have them.
• Turf saves water – Synthetic turf needs no water, sunlight, or oxygen like other plants, so it can look great and last a long time in drought-prone areas, and even stand up to Arizona heat. 
• Turf is attractive – It’s always green and even no matter what you do to it. 
• Turf is consistent – One of the many benefits of turf for golf is that its design allows balls to bounce and roll consistently so you can up your game to a hole in one in no time.

Turf Factory Direct Has You Covered

If you’re looking to start a new project, Turf Factory Direct is the supplier for your mini-golf course or putting green. Get in touch with us today, or start browsing products now!