How Rickie Fowler Built the Ideal Backyard Turf Project With Southwest Greens
When a PGA Tour pro builds a practice setup at home, you can tell it has to be the real deal. Rickie Fowler — known for his recognizable style and elite short game — turned to Southwest Greens to turn his backyard vision into 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 give him a tour-grade practice space just outside his door.
The larger of the two greens spans approximately 1,800 square feet. This one carries a history — Southwest Greens completed it in 2012. It has held up remarkably well over the years, a genuine testament to expert 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 include GB177 synthetic turf, a premium putting surface that provides the repeatable roll and speed a player like Rickie requires during practice rounds. The smaller green also received a finishing touch with GB134 fringe turf, adding that clean, defined edge you'd expect at a top-tier golf facility.
The outcome? A dual-green setup that lets Rickie work on everything from mid-range putts to careful lag putting, right from the convenience of his own backyard.
MORE THAN JUST FOR GOLF
Here's where the project gets really interesting. Rickie's property isn't just a golfer's retreat — Southwest Greens also designed and installed a custom bocce ball court featuring precision-laid synthetic grass that keeps play smooth and consistent game after game. It's the sort of upgrade that transforms a backyard into a full entertainment hub.
And for the sport-oriented side of things, Southwest Greens installed synthetic grass for a pole-vaulting practice space, specifying Bolt turf for the project. Bolt is engineered to handle high-impact athletic use, making it the right call for a sport that calls for a reliable, safe landing and approach surface.
THE REASON WHY ARTIFICIAL TURF MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR SERIOUS ATHLETES
For a professional golfer balancing a packed tour schedule, the last thing you need is a natural grass putting green that needs ongoing irrigation, mowing, and periodic reseeding. A synthetic grass installation remains picture-perfect year-round with minimal upkeep — and that's a big deal when your time is at a premium.
Artificial putting greens throughout Detroit and all of Michigan have advanced significantly. The GB177 surface used on Rickie's greens is engineered to simulate the feel and playability of a genuine bentgrass green, so the hours he logs at home translate directly to his results on the course.
GET A ONE-OF-A-KIND PUTTING GREEN OF YOUR OWN
You don't have to be a PGA Tour pro to own a Detroit and all of Michigan backyard putting green worth bragging about. Southwest Greens of Michigan constructs custom artificial putting greens for residential and commercial properties of all sizes — whether you're looking for a modest 200-square-foot green to improve your short game or a multi-hole layout like Rickie's.
From the first design to the final blade of synthetic grass, every Southwest Greens installation is crafted with the same standard of precision you experienced on this project.
Eager to get started on your very own outdoor putting green in Detroit and all of Michigan? Contact Southwest Greens today and find out what is possible in your Detroit and all of Michigan space.