How Rickie Fowler Designed the Perfect Backyard Turf Project With Southwest Greens
When a PGA Tour pro wants a practice setup at home, you know it has to be the real deal. Rickie Fowler — known for his distinctive style and exceptional short game — turned to Southwest Greens to make his backyard vision a reality, and the results tell the story.
Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what went into this one-of-a-kind artificial turf installation.
TWO OUTDOOR PUTTING GREENS, ONE PROPERTY
The focal point of Rickie's setup is a pair of custom-built outdoor putting greens that offer him a pro-grade practice area right outside his door.
The bigger of the two greens spans approximately 1,800 square feet. This one carries a history — Southwest Greens delivered it back in 2012. It has held up beautifully over the years, a genuine testament to skilled installation work. The second green — roughly 500 square feet — is a more recent addition and showcases Southwest Greens' latest premium products.
The second green — roughly 500 square feet — is a more recent addition and showcases Southwest Greens' latest premium products.
Both greens feature GB177 synthetic turf, a high-performance putting surface that produces the consistent roll and speed a player like Rickie expects during practice rounds. The smaller green also got a finishing touch with GB134 fringe turf, lending it that crisp, defined edge you'd expect at a top-tier golf facility.
The result? A dual-green setup that allows Rickie work on all aspects from mid-range putts to precise lag putting, right from the convenience of his own backyard.
BEYOND JUST FOR GOLF
Here's where the project gets truly interesting. Rickie's backyard isn't just a golf destination — Southwest Greens also built a one-of-a-kind bocce ball court featuring precision-laid synthetic grass that delivers smooth, consistent play game after game. It's the sort of upgrade that transforms a backyard into a full entertainment space.
For the more athletic side of things, Southwest Greens laid synthetic grass for a pole-vaulting training zone, specifying Bolt turf for the project. Bolt is engineered to handle high-impact athletic use, making it the right call for a sport that requires a dependable, safe landing and approach surface.
WHY ARTIFICIAL TURF MAKES SENSE FOR COMPETITIVE ATHLETES
For a professional athlete juggling a demanding tour schedule, the last thing you want is a natural grass putting green that needs ongoing watering, mowing, and annual reseeding. A synthetic grass installation stays picture-perfect year-round with low upkeep — and that's a genuine benefit when your time is at a premium.
Artificial putting greens in Pittsburgh have evolved considerably. The GB177 surface used on Rickie's greens is designed to replicate the feel and playability of a natural bentgrass green, so the hours he logs at home carry over directly to his results on the course.
CLAIM A CUSTOM PUTTING GREEN OF YOUR OWN
You don't have to be a PGA Tour pro to have a Pittsburgh backyard putting green worth bragging about. Southwest Greens Pittsburgh designs and installs custom artificial putting greens for commercial and residential properties of all sizes — whether you're looking for a small 200-square-foot green to improve your short game or a multi-hole setup like Rickie's.
From the initial design to the last blade of synthetic grass, every Southwest Greens installation is crafted with the same level of craftsmanship you witnessed on this project.
Set to get started on your very own outdoor putting green in Pittsburgh? Contact Southwest Greens today and find out what is possible in your Pittsburgh space.