How Rickie Fowler Designed the Ideal Backyard Turf Setup With Southwest Greens

When a PGA Tour pro builds a practice setup at home, you know it needs to be the real deal. Rickie Fowler — known for his signature style and elite short game — turned to Southwest Greens to bring his backyard vision to life, 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 outdoor putting greens that give him a professional-grade practice space right outside his door.

The bigger of the two greens measures approximately 1,800 square feet. This one carries a story behind it — Southwest Greens completed it back in 2012. It's held up beautifully over the years, a real 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 feature GB177 synthetic turf, a high-performance putting surface that provides the consistent roll and speed a player like Rickie expects during practice rounds. The compact green also got a finishing touch with GB134 fringe turf, adding that crisp, defined edge you'd expect at a professional golf facility.

The result? A dual-green setup that allows Rickie practice on everything from mid-range putts to detailed lag putting, right from the convenience of his own backyard.

MORE THAN JUST FOR GOLF

Here's where the project gets truly interesting. Rickie's backyard isn't just a golfer's retreat — Southwest Greens also designed and installed a custom bocce ball court featuring precision-laid synthetic grass that delivers smooth, consistent play game after game. It's the kind of feature that turns a backyard into a full entertainment destination.

For the sport-oriented side of things, Southwest Greens installed synthetic grass for a pole-vaulting training zone, specifying Bolt turf for that installation. Bolt is engineered to withstand high-impact athletic use, making it a strong choice for a sport that demands a reliable, safe landing and approach surface.

HOW ARTIFICIAL TURF MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR COMPETITIVE ATHLETES

For a pro player juggling a demanding tour schedule, the last thing you want is a natural grass putting green that needs continuous watering, cutting, and seasonal reseeding. A synthetic grass installation looks picture-perfect year-round with low upkeep — and that's a genuine benefit when your prep time is at a premium.

Artificial putting greens have evolved considerably. The GB177 surface used on Rickie's greens is engineered to mimic the feel and playability of a real 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 backyard putting green that impresses every guest. Southwest Greens constructs custom artificial putting greens for commercial and residential properties of every size — whether you're seeking a modest 200-square-foot green to refine your short game or a multi-hole design like Rickie's.

From the initial design to the last blade of synthetic grass, every Southwest Greens installation is built with the same standard of precision you saw on this project.

Set to begin planning your custom outdoor putting green? Contact Southwest Greens today and find out what we can do in your space.