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4. Compacting Sub-Base
Material
 Compacting
is necessary to keep the surface from settling
irregularly, causing an undesirable ball roll when
putting on your putting green. There are three tools you can use to compact the
sub-base. A lawn roller, plate compactor, or a
ride-on double drum roller. These items can be rented from local rental
establishments.
Before you start the compacting process,
you will need to spray the entire sub-base with water,
but do not saturate it.
If you use a crushed rock base below the
limestone sub-base, The crushed rock does not need to be
compacted. It serves as a base for strength
and drainage.
Your crushed limestone sub-base should be sprayed with
water and compacted in layers of sub-base material
when using a lawn roller or plate compactor. Using a gas
powered roller (pictured) is the easiest.
Rent a ride-on roller with a front roller that vibrates
and where water can be applied to each roller during
operations. Spray the entire 4" sub-base with
the water so that it is damp all the way through.
Make sure not to over saturate. Roll the surface
of the sub-base from end to end, with a small amount of
water being dispensed to each roller (so that no
sub-base material will be picked up on the rollers),
until you have rolled over the whole area. Repeat
rolling the surface, if necessary, to ensure a solid,
smooth foundation for your green.
During the compacting process of the sub-base, you may
have small bumps, ridges, low spots or dips on the
surface. Use a rake or shovel to smooth over those
areas. Then go back over the sub-base with the plate
compactor or roller. You will want the surface to be
completely smooth and solid. Make sure to build in any
slope or contour that you desire at this point. Try
rolling a few golf balls over the surface of the
sub-base to test the surface. You will want the ball to
roll in a relatively straight path with little movement
from side to side.
Sweep the loose stones from the green, after it has set and just before laying the
synthetic putting green on the surface. You may notice pit
holes from stones being swept away and you may see some
stones sticking above the surface. We suggest that
you put down a thin layer of sand in those areas.
When the artificial putting green is laid on the sub-base surface,
the sand will act to make the backyard putting green surface
smooth.
The turf will adhere to whatever surface you create,
within reason. Make sure that you don't create too
much of a slope, the ball may roll too fast and off the putting green. In general, drop the slope approximately 1"
for every 10 ft. in the length of your sub-base.
Again, test the surface with a few golf balls to check
the slope of your sub-base. The ball will break the same
on the sub-base as it will on the putting green.
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