My Backyard Golf Green Construction Has Started!! (USGA Green Build)

Making a start today on my home putting green! We are going all out and building a USGA Golf Green.
USGA greens construction video: • USGA greens constructi...
USGA Green Construction Article: archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/usgam...
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[@LawnTips]

Have a few guys commenting about drainage and I didn’t include what’s happening in future during this video. (I try and cut out too much talking in these vids because I talk way too much sometimes 😂) Where the water collects from the road I’m is installing a big pit drain and running the water from there into the dam. Luckily all the issues with where the water seeps in are isolated to that one spot. I had planned to get it done before the rain hit but the rain came in a day earlier than predicted. Will also be pumping out the existing water once this weather clears up, looks to be tomorrow. I’ve also got Matt (one of my best mates) who is a civil engineer and has helped me with all of the designs for drainage etc. This is also a little different to building a road and other projects, I recommend having a look at how USGA greens are built to get an idea on drainage for greens and how it works. With the green it needs a perched water table so that we can keep some water in the root zone. The water doesn't need to be flushed out straight away. (I’ve got a link in the description). I’ll dive a bit deeper into this when I start installing drainage .

[@cainekingsley1239]

Did he read the documents you are referring to? They are a guide line. It also states that herring bone with one outlet drainage designs like the one at the end of your video are not ideal. it also states that your top grade and bottom grade don’t need to be the same. Just to expand the sub grade controls the water flow out of the top grade, the sub grades job is not to take in that water but to put in into the ag drain and get rid of it asap. When the sub grade stays wet that’s when you will get sink holes and water pumping up to the surface every time you mow it. After reading the documents you posted I feel it only reinforced my point.

[@LawnTips]

@@cainekingsley1239 hey mate, he sure did 👌🏽 I did put a comment on the herringbone Photo saying it’s just a draft and we aren’t done also. Also yes subgrade and the final grade don’t need to be the same but I’m personally doing that so I can mimmic it with stakes and follow for fill levels etc. By the way I wasn’t having a go at you or anything. Was just trying to clear up all the questions that might come in later. Do you work with roads? Or construction? Always good to have input and other peoples opinions 👍🏽

[@cainekingsley1239]

I didn’t take it personally. I am also not trying to sound like I am attacking your work. I was just offering my opinion on issues you may face after completion. Yes I worked in civil construction for 15 years and mostly on new road construction and drainage. Golf green construction is basically the same drainage principles from what I have seen In documents.

[@chosen1one930]

​@@LawnTips are you going to have your material tested? The rootzone and rock? If not you need a intermediate layer so the rootzone won't go down into the rock leaving you with holes in the green....extremely important

[@chosen1one930]

​@@LawnTips it's not just USGA sand. It's 90% to 95% sand 5 to 10% peat. You need peat in the sand, the peat holds the moisture so you can have amazing turfgrass without watering every day

[@M_G_D_1]

I literally couldnt be more excited for this series. A golfer/grass lovers dream!

[@JeffSmith-eq3kc]

I did this in 2018. Made it 1,400 square feet. Hired a company to do the excavation and then worked with my country club superintendent to accomplish the rest. Took about a month and a half to do. The most painful part for me was installing the drainage system. Pebbles aren't easy to move around and get the correct undulation with! We went through a few options but found the correct rootzone. It's 95%+ sand and has done great. Again, getting the undulation correct was brutally time consuming! Used 777/007 bent grass at an 80/20 ratio. Grow in went well but the first summer was definitely a learning experience! Felt like everything that could go wrong did. Since then it's been great. It's A LOT of work and things will happen but I enjoy it. You'll have a great time with it. Wish I could post pictures!

[@damienquinn]

I guess it's good intel discovering that watercourse exists during this ridiculous wet era. It would never have reared its head in the years of drought gone by. So it gives you the best chance of future proofing. It's a good thing!

[@niektalen1982]

let's not forget that this boss started with a backyard. to ensure that everyone can also get a beautiful lawn. Now the groundsman has started his OWN golf course

[@mteske1]

Can’t believe I missed this. Feel like I didn’t get notification. Really loving the green build series.

[@lithgowlights859]

Not being a golfer, that looks huge, but I cant wait to see what it ends up like. Big thanks to all your sponsors too

[@LawnTips]

Going to be fun! Huge shoutout to the sponsors. None of this would be happening without them 🤙🏼

[@rodgah01]

as you're finding out quickly, the 2 most important things with bulk earthworks is planning and handling water and weather. I see someone else commented about having it drain to the dam, I have to agree......although you are putting in subsurface drainage eventually, you dont want the layer you have exposed getting as water logged as the layer you just stripped off in the mean time......its not as much a bad material problem (clay) as it is a free flowing drainage issue. The way I would of approached it is.......finding a wet area of natural ground(that isnt a catchment) is obviously a watercourse -> dig uphill and create a catchment pit/trench that will need to be drained or pumped away from your work area......then strip workarea. Work from the lowest point (dam edge) to the uphill section so incase a cheeky storm rolls through your work area free drains. When you pile your excess material.......if its dry and needs to be used later -> round the heaps off so there isnt any chance for water to pool on it and soak in. if its wet and needs to be used -> lay it out as thin as possible somewhere and let it dry before use. Piles of wet material will affect the hard ground below them creating soft wet spots so try to avoid doing that where you need it to be hard. Piles of wet material and deep holes filled with wet material like your dam wall stump hole basically never dry out underneath....not to the point of being compacted and as tight as natural dry ground. Lime works ok but it has to be worked into the soil probably ~200-300mm depth for your application and will dry up the surface you have, but wont help with it being naturally wet unless you stop the source uphill. You're doing well man, you have decent co-ordination for someone completely green, and I'm sure you're learning all this as you go.

[@fknmadman2847]

you need to dig a trench between the green and dam to let the water flow into the dam so it's not sitting on the green. that's my 2 cents worth apart from that WOOOOOOHOOOOO bloody good work so excited to see this starting to come together

[@LawnTips]

Already done my man 👌🏽

[@boxboxbox196]

Looking forward to see the final result. Keep up the good work. As for the dam, in the future maybe you could stock the dam with some yabbies. The kids will love catching them!

[@timbrown395]

The existing soil looks dam fine for a paddock!

[@Striperman]

I should have flown you in for a week when I did my reno. It would have been done quicker, cheaper and better lol. Excited to see your progress 👍💚🦸

[@Gazpanther2011]

Massive job man. This La Niña Spring/Summer is going to drive you nuts. It'll make for interesting content 😂😂

[@jameswillett118]

Getting stuck in mate! Bet that feels good, well done

[@waynehayes8237]

This should be a great series of videos to watch.

[@chrislewis3322]

Look up Waterscapes Australia get the Dam into a water feature!!! bring wildlife plus make it the best looking water hazard ever

[@LawnTips]

Maybe in future! Not much space in the budget for that yet

[@timawn]

Don't even care about golf but really stoked to see this finally getting underway 👌🏼

[@LawnTips]

Haha thanks mate!

[@TheMustangs05]

i have been watching since you the old house and have became a golfer in the last year so this is fun for me!

[@sirwalterlawniediylawncare7367]

As a golfer I can't wait to see the final product. You are smashing mate. 👍👏

[@chrispaslay3599]

I can't wait to see more! Cool stuff!

[@DylanBrayshaw]

This is a great video series, so stoked to see it take shape. Keep ‘em coming.

[@pomwah1489]

Yes baby! That’s some hard work and can’t wait to follow along. Great progress and good luck with each step 👍 and up the kuyu baby woooooooooooo let’s gooooooo!!!!!

[@matthewstuart2054]

Love the long format videos, it is awesome to watch this all come together

[@dickyyy116]

From UK. Got make this a disc golf course too ;) looks stunnning

[@tonejac]

Congrats on getting started on the green. It’s what we’ve been waiting for all these months since you moved into the new place. Exciting times. Can’t wait to see the progression from week to week as you build it all out.

[@Patrick-oi9np]

Sooo Excited for this green build, its so new and different nobody has done it. Hope it brings a lot of people towards your channel throughout this build =)

[@Puffy_49]

I can tell I am going to love this series. The binging starts today!

[@dontwastemytime277]

Man. I'm so excited for you. Best grass channel on the internet hands down. Can't wait to see you on the reel mower again.

[@emilylane170]

Absolutely Love drainage and leveling. Had a play around doing it at Iwasaki resort at Yeppoon and up at Laguna keys, Turtle Point golf course, back in 1990, 91. Wish I had kept going. Just loved it, just not enough money back then.

[@jordan54888]

Fancy reading yeppoon lol I live here

[@tippo5341]

That smirk mate as you coined the term "lets start diggin" was absolutely priceless!!!! LOoking forward to seeing the whole process from go to whoa...and the first putt sunk on the green...have been awaiting this project with anticipation....let her rip mate!!!! Cheers from Jordan Springs!!!!!

[@supernaturalzbest]

about to redo all our golf greens on the golf course i work at over the next 5 years using the usga build! so look forward to the progression

[@lukecoombe6977]

Looking forward to seeing how the job progress

[@Premier_lawns_official]

Great stuff Ben

[@jshyne213]

This is amazing you can even through up long videos of full time-lapse it's so fascinating I could watch them for half hour or so. Great stuff, can't wait it will be a fun project to watch as our season in the US is quickly ending.

[@rdrewj83]

Looks awesome! It’s almost as big as your last green at the old house

[@ih8ubarney322]

Have a look at a 5T pad foot roller, I hired one a month or so ago for shed slab earthworks. It did an amazing job

[@reverendjones5123]

Crazy, just found you and binge watched all your videos and was bummed i ran out of content. THEN THIS! Thank you, and wish you the best on this journey!

[@LawnTips]

Thanks for watching mate! Glad you are enjoying the vids!

[@jffro]

Loving it so far mate 👍 wicked cloud timelapse in there too…..Giddy up - she’s underway!!!!

[@LawnTips]

I was enjoying watching those clouds when I was editing haha. Thanks mate!

[@tompettersson2447]

If I had a say I would recommend a hole in one pin placement. Somewhere the ball feeds to fairly consistently. Looking great.

[@lukerobinson5060]

Love your work mate

[@shaneWARs1]

All I see is how good that dirt looks for a moto track

[@lukejtav7452]

Really looking forward to this series mate.

[@LawnTips]

Thanks bro! I’m so keen

[@lukejtav7452]

@@LawnTips long term, I’m keen to see what it takes to maintain to a playing standard.

[@stevebanks484]

Great work for 3 days. Be interested to see how you handle the lower (flooded) area. Wish I lived over there as I’d offer to help out as well. Keep up the good work mate 👍👏

[@davidmoli2587]

Too keen to see how this comes out

[@drfe21]

Trust the process !!!!

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Have fun mowing every day. I have a large backyard pitching range and spend 15 hours of mowing per 1 hour of golf

[@LawnTips]

That’s the dream for me mate! Plant growth regulators will be used a lot though to help

[@brendonbonacci448]

So flippin exciting brah!!!

[@timedwards1372]

Loving every video 👍

[@angusr7805]

Amazing!

[@jlush444]

Nice Ben Sims. 👌👌👌

[@calebevans8437]

Yo mate what up, welcome to another lawn tip vid.. looking good bro but dam that rain is hammering the progress cant wait for you to hit summer hopefully will be alot dryer and not to hot to be out there doing the work.. going off what happened in Europe over summer we might be in for a hot one aswell

[@Richorob]

So good!

[@moistchoice]

Love it mate. Cutting lasers in no time

[@LawnTips]

Hope so!

[@salawn]

Unreal m8. Looks so cool

[@LawnTips]

Thanks bro! Will be awesome once it’s done 🤙🏼

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Unreal

[@lefttool7928]

You are epic!

[@samthomas6045]

If you don't need it for the dam, you could possibly use that excess soil to make some custom adulations?

[@Mattburto19]

Man smashed it out, drainage will be important by the looks

[@LawnTips]

Always is with a green! Can have some many on going issues without drainage

[@theaussielawn]

My hero 😍😜

[@LawnTips]

When are you coming to help out bro 😉

[@theaussielawn]

@@LawnTips when you invite me 😂 and when I'm not sick 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@crunchyapples33]

How's its mate, looks epic! I would definitely try to avoid any Ag drain going into the dam, send it to the ditch! Dam with fill up with sediment, fertilizer, nutrient run off, algae, etc. That bore water is pure, your dam will be much nicer with just bore water topping it up. Chur

[@SpudRunGolf]

Heck yes!!!!

[@LawnTips]

Thanks for tuning in mate! I’ve been following along with your journey 👌🏽

[@Shnikaz]

Yeahhhh buuddyyyyy 😎🤙🤙

[@siggi5395]

Good work, next jaehr is finisch 😁

[@christoespach1744]

Hi bro, Any plans for the soil you took out? If you're not going to use it on the coarse, would it not have been easier / less effort later, if you loaded it onto a skip to take away immediately?

[@TobiasSjovold]

Wohoo!

[@sambro16]

Not sure if they will serve regular everyday customers but give Adelaide Brighton Cement or Indepedent Cement a call in NSW and see if they will give you 1 Tonne bulk bag of hydrated lime. Make sure you're very careful with that as lime will burn so make sure you have good goggles on and a mask when using!

[@nicholassmith787]

hey Were the water is comming in from the drive way put a channel ditch along that edge to stop water from moving across the sub base

[@LawnTips]

Going to run one underneath the whole green. Through some pvc. Have a mate who’s does drainage work as an engineer 👌🏽

[@RyanTJohnson]

Just don’t make it too undulating. You won’t have as much fun! I’m so jealous. Drainage Drainage Drainage! I’m a pga professional so I know the bad things that can happen when it’s always wet… are you going to keep that fence or do something more decorative?

[@slippinreaction]

Hit up Lindsay Rural for the Lime bro. They look after our horticultural projects.

[@ryunoneeighty6606]

Hi mate, currently waiting for my soil spreader i ordered from you, just wondering if you have any tips of Wether you can scarify 6 week old couch turf or not? Needs to be done but not sure if being that new it will do any harm, thanks

[@jordan54888]

Oh deer the deer needs a good clean

[@volvogt21]

I'm no gofer but I'd love to have a green like that

[@travisgarratt9169]

Looking good! How much are the green fee’s? :D

[@jakegriffin4984]

You should dig a little drain across to your dam so you don’t have sitting water in you work area

[@LawnTips]

Will be doing as mentioned in the vid 👌🏽

[@jasonvarley4964]

Could you get away with no gravel & just sand for pure distinction?

[@vk2him]

How are you planning to get the gravel down to the greens? I'm predicting trucks are going to get bogged so will dump up the top in your car park ...

[@cainekingsley1239]

Your sub grade needs to run water towards your drainage, pooling is not what you want to happen. You also need that water out of your work site asap the longer it sits the more the ground will take in and it will be wet longer. Get your drainage around the outside in asap compaction can happen after

[@cainekingsley1239]

Just like building a road. Dewatering need to happen asap or you are going to be pushing poo up a hill.

[@LawnTips]

subgrade doesn’t need to run to the drains with a green mate. Have a read of the USGA article. But I’m doing a lot of subsurface drainage. Also pumping it this weekend, just waiting for the rain to clear

[@hatemondays]

Given the green will require pre-emergents, pesticides, fertiliser etc. is it wise to drain the green into Dam? I'd hate to see all that hard work result in algeal blooms and dead water way. Loving the build though it's gonna be mad, thanks for sharing

[@LawnTips]

Won’t be using pre-emergents on the green at all and if anything was to happen like that I’d be moving the drains. It will be contained though because it will be recycled back to the tanks, filtered and used to water the green again

[@jffro]

Punch bowl the lower smaller section ?

[@jlush444]

And also….. what variety are you planning Ben Sims?👌👌👌

[@treygriffin1932]

I sell John Deere construction equipment. You should look into a 2D system to go on the mini excavator if you still have digging to do. It will show that you are down to grade inside the cab. That way you dont have to keep getting in and out to check depth

[@lolsharkey7444]

hell yeah, looking forward to the final result! Also, why not use the skiddy? seems like it would be faster?

[@LawnTips]

Skiddy gets bogged down cause of the wheels unfortunately. Need a tracked one to help out on the green

[@jozua715]

@@LawnTips not sure if it'll work for your application put can get tracks that go around the wheels

[@bbtank3000]

Deere needs to give you a bulldozer 😉

[@shadowsalc1706]

I would recommend Bobcat with tracks with level bar can get it done faster then using excavator for leveling

[@LawnTips]

Just need one with some tracks. Otherwise that’s exactly what I would have done 👌🏽

[@shadowsalc1706]

@@LawnTips nice are you going with toro or Rainbird for the sprinkler system. I would recommend toro just because it's easier to keep an eye on things but we have two 18 hole courses one has rainbird and the other one has toro

[@LawnTips]

@@shadowsalc1706 will be rainbird because the guys at Reece helping out with supply. Appreciate recommendations though mate!

[@sneakyisme]

I was thinking the same thing! Skid Steer would of been heaps quicker to bulk out, then I remembered your one doesn’t have tracks 🤦‍♂️. Surely the boys that supplied all your earthmoving equipment could of rustled up a Positrack for you 😜

[@lewie303]

Should have got the skid steer in there bro, would have been heeps easier

[@LawnTips]

Unfortunately it hasn’t got tracks so it sinks super quick.

[@johnthumble5154]

Revs seem a bit low on the excavator mate, is there a throttle dial in the cab?

[@LawnTips]

At the start they were yes, bumped them up 👌🏽

[@Ricky-qf4jb]

Think you may have trapped the water in there bro. With your spoil. Could make that a pond where its filled up and decant down into the lower pond when it gets too full then drainage falling towards the lower pond - then all your water run off is controlled. I'm no expert. Just my opinion bro, good digger skills too

[@ChrisRaethke]

Any reason you didn't use a bobcat and leveling bar to clean it up?

[@mackeycharli256]

So, I wasn’t the only one screaming at my phone 😂

[@LawnTips]

The skiddy had tyres unfortunately and sinks and soon as I get it in there. Should have a tracked one coming soon 👌🏽

[@ChrisRaethke]

If I had watched 30 seconds further I would have seen the tractor come into shot 🤦

[@dylan8285]

Just dig a little ditch to drain the water into the pond

[@LawnTips]

Did that yesterday 👌🏽

[@dwadrop]

460 square metres is bigger than my house block 😂😂😂

[@chosen1one930]

It's 12 to 18 inches usga greens build just so you know.

[@TreesnakeTV]

Do you watch “Spud Run Golf “ channel. He has a new video showing your drainage, gravel etc . 👍🏻

[@LawnTips]

Yeah I’ve watched a few of his vids. They are great 👌🏽 Built a few greens in the past mate, lots of experience with drainage too on the golf course haha

[@TreesnakeTV]

@@LawnTips yep no doubt you do mate , you been doing it long enough 😂 Always nice re spud run golf going through the same pain / pleasure in building 👍🏻 Enjoy ⛳️☀️

[@stevefraser5467]

How come you didn't use the posi with a spreader bar?

[@LawnTips]

What do you mean sorry mate? If you mean the skiddy, then it was too heavy and was sinking unfortunately. Need a track one for the job not the wheels

[@stevefraser5467]

@@LawnTips ah yeah sorry bro. I forgot you had the positrac swapped out for the wheeled one. A posi would've been perfect for that. Looks bloody good so far though. Love your channel, been watching for years

[@bando9482]

I seem to be the first non member

[@LawnTips]

My man 🤙🏼

[@wadly99]

Here's another backyard course. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJashWyGp7eZjZI

[@vincedonpsn9590]

Yaknowhatimean?

[@carisi2k11]

Does it meet LIV standards?!!!!!.........

[@Lawrence-Joseph-Norse]

Repent to Jesus Christ! Are you a sinner? Mark 2:17 King James Version 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.