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Editor's Note: Part One of this story appeared as yesterday's Lawn & Landscape Online daily feature. Click here to read that story.
STAYING ON PAR. Since putting greens are not merely “pieces of carpet thrown on the backyard,” the high-quality, synthetic turf greens require substantial materials, time and training investments on the part of the contractor and his crew, stated Brian Foster, director of operations, United Turf Industries, Wichita, Kan. “These aren’t inexpensive, and they need to be installed correctly,” he said. “It has to function like an actual putting green on a regular golf course.”
In other words, putting green installation involves a little more than tacking a piece of AstroTurf to the client’s lawn. To create a functional, consistent synthetic green, contractors must juggle large amounts of material and intensive labor costs. “You’re putting in about 45 pounds of material per square foot, and that’s a lot of weight in the wheelbarrow,” Foster said. “It’s also a lot of man-hours involved: about three-days worth.” In addition, the installation breaks out into series of sprints, moving quickly when filling the base, slowing down when shaping the green and speeding up again when adding sand to the structure.
| CHOOSING CERTIFICATION |
United Turf Industries (UTI) noticed the struggle in syncing all these installation elements five years ago when it began installing SofTrak putting greens. Although several companies were installing artificial golf greens, the inconsistency led to a brief shelf life, causing many greens to be torn out as quickly as they were going in, he remembered. The need for trained installers and common putting green installation knowledge initially resulted in a dealer network. Over time, even with dealers selling the golf greens, the company realized it had yet to saturate the market. The decision to focus on landscape contractors, who already were in customers’ backyards installing amenities, eventually led to the Certified Installer program. “They already had labor and equipment – it was a warm market,” said Brian Foster, director of operations, United Turf Industries, Wichita, Kan. “Plus, we still wanted to make sure that no matter where the turf system was put in, it would be put in the same in Florida as in Texas.” The program also heightens exposure of synthetic putting greens and allows contractors to establish niche markets in addition to their current services, he added. Basically, contractors interested in becoming a certified installer of SofTrak putting greens simply fill out a one-page application, which gives UTI basic information about the company’s annual sales, services and customer base. Once accepted, contractors pay a certification fee, which covers the cost for one of UTI’s trained technicians to fly to the contractor’s site for personalized training. “That way, all our certified installers are on the same page, and not 10 different pages,” Foster noted. “But the real drive behind the certification is that it’s an added benefit to the customer – someone has taken the time to be certified.” All Pro Putting Greens ensures service consistency by providing its dealers and installers with abundant training information, such as a 24-hour help line and detailed, step-by-step videos demonstrating a putting green installation Heptinstall said. In addition, contractors are required to purchase a green, install it and use the finished product as a display piece for customers before they can become All Pro dealers. “This way, they become comfortable with the installation process,” he stated. |
Timing and site access also act as veritable hazards to putting green installation, related Dan Sowash, owner, Heritage Landscaping, Warren, Ohio. “Since you’re usually dealing with 20 tons of stone or so, being able to get to the site is an issue,” he remarked. And, since several materials must arrive at the site at the same time, contractors must effectively schedule deliveries to ensure efficient installation.
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Training also involves a look at follow-up service, since it’s important to avoid marketing greens as “no-maintenance” products, Foster stressed. “If you want it to be up to standard and close to a true putting green, you need to maintain the green once a quarter,” he said. “Take a broom and stand the tips up on the fibers and make sure the sand is level.” And, Sowash insisted on annual spring maintenance and clean up, removing debris that accumulates over the winter and grooming the green’s surface. “It usually only results in a couple of hours,” he said.
Ultimately, can the synthetic putting green trend take off, even for clients who don’t know their nine iron from their putter? Mike O’Brien, owner, Backyard Greens, Feasterville, Pa., believes that landscape contractors can overcome skepticism by reminding clients of the educational and enjoyable benefits of greens – and relating those features to the ways in which they currently use their backyard space. “These greens are great – even for people who don’t golf,” O’Brien maintained. “And, it’s such a popular sport now – not only for adults, but kids are playing so much younger now. It’s simply a good teaching and practicing tool.” – Kristin Mohn
The author is Assistant Editor – Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at kmohn@lawnandlandscape.com.
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