Synthetic Grass Golf Putting Green
Artificial grass or synthetic grass as it is also known is becoming more and more popular with golfers the whole world through. None more so than for a private golf putting green to hone their skills. Being the great golfing master that he is, Arnoud Fiolet of European Golf says ‘In many sports, we observe a world-wide trend away from ordinary grass and towards artificial grass’. He emphasises the high value attached to high a quality golf putting green. He more than anyone realises the growing importance of artificial grass in the sporting industry.
Fiolet runs a company that lays an eye watering 4 million square metres of artificial grass per year. He goes on to say that the ‘Important reasons are the intensity of use, the maintenance aspects, and, of course, the costs.’
But it’s not only golf that is turning to this durable surface. Prominent football clubs are also showing a growing interest in artificial grass. In Holland,clubs like Heracles and Volendam have ‘switched over’ to synthetic grass.. The FIFA and UEFA are coming on board also. The qualifying competition between England and Russia, for the European Championships of 2008, was battled out on artificial grass.
Fiolet remarks: ‘In the case of golf, we’re still in the early stages, but artificial-grass golfing greens are on the up and up. And no wonder: the characteristics of our artificial-grass greens come close to normal greens – the similarity is between 90 and 95 percent.’
Short game and long game
Importantly and as you would expect, the characteristics of the synthetic grass base vary from sport to sport. After all, a hockey pitch is completely different from a football field or a golfing green. Because of this, many European Golf team are teaming up with major sports companies and laboratories to develop, build and install high-quality artificial-grass systems.
Fiolet also comments ‘A sand-filled, artificial-grass green is played in the same way with an iron 5 as you would a normal green. The grass responds in exactly the same way’. He continues, ‘For chipping and putting, we use the unfilled versions. These can produce home-course speeds! Or, if you prefer a challenge, you can opt for Augusta National.’
A golfer closer to home, Darren Clarke, works on his short game on a private golf putting green in his home. Over half of all golf shots are taken on and around the green. Therefore, any golfer will see the sense in focusing their training there. So what better way to do this than to have Apco Synthetic Grass install this for you!
Excellent alternative
Not only are European Golf’s projects focused on the small golf putting green but also go much farther. The number of golfers is rapidly expanding, both on professional and amateur levels. This has resulted in not only in a need for extra 18-hole classic golf courses, but also for the smaller 6 and 9-hole initiatives. For these, artificial grass proves to be an excellent alternative. Fiolet: ‘We are developing such projects all over Europe. For example in Spain, where water is a problem, and in places where the available space is limited. A new group of golfers has stood up; people who are quite happy to play the occasional game on a driving range or a 9-hole, artificial-grass court.
Allowing the green fee to be reduced as well. In Vlaardingen, a town near Rotterdam, all 27 holes of FreeGolf are outfitted with artificial-grass greens. The majority of the golfing public is more than pleased. The use of artificial grass in the golfing sport is on the up and up, resulting in greater investments and, therefore, a higher quality in general.’
For a free consultation from Apco Synthetic Grass contact Colm today on 01-6263496 or through our contact form.
