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

When a PGA Tour pro wants a practice setup on their property, you can be sure it needs to be the genuine article. 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 speak for themselves.

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 pro-grade practice space steps from his door.

The larger of the two greens spans approximately 1,800 square feet. This one actually has history — Southwest Greens finished it in 2012. It has held up exceptionally well over the years, a real testament to quality 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 demands during practice sessions. The compact green also got a finishing touch with GB134 fringe turf, lending it that clean, precise edge you'd see at a premier golf facility.

The outcome? A two-green setup that lets Rickie practice on everything from mid-range putts to careful lag putting, right from the comfort of his own backyard.

MORE THAN JUST FOR GOLF

This is where the project gets truly interesting. Rickie's home isn't just a golf destination — Southwest Greens also built a custom bocce ball court complete with precision-laid synthetic grass that delivers smooth, consistent play game after game. It's the kind of addition that turns a backyard into a full entertainment space.

For the more athletic side of things, Southwest Greens installed synthetic grass for a pole-vaulting practice area, selecting Bolt turf for that installation. Bolt is engineered to withstand high-impact athletic activity, making it a strong choice for a sport that demands a dependable, safe landing and approach surface.

HOW ARTIFICIAL TURF MAKES PRACTICAL SENSE FOR COMPETITIVE ATHLETES

For a pro golfer managing a busy tour schedule, the last thing you need is a natural grass putting green that needs constant irrigation, trimming, and periodic reseeding. A synthetic grass installation looks picture-perfect year-round with little upkeep — and that's a genuine benefit when your time is valuable.

Artificial putting greens across Austin have improved dramatically. The GB177 surface used on Rickie's greens is built to simulate the feel and playability of a genuine bentgrass green, so the hours he racks up at home carry over directly to his results on the course.

GET A CUSTOM PUTTING GREEN OF YOUR OWN

You don't have to be a PGA Tour pro to own a Austin backyard putting green that impresses every guest. Southwest Greens of Austin designs and installs custom artificial putting greens for commercial and residential properties of any scale — whether you're seeking a compact 200-square-foot green to refine your short game or a multi-hole setup like Rickie's.

From the initial design to the final blade of synthetic grass, every Southwest Greens installation is built with the same attention to detail you witnessed on this project.

Looking to start planning your custom outdoor putting green in Austin? Contact Southwest Greens today and find out what's possible in your Austin space.