How Rickie Fowler Created the Ideal Backyard Turf Setup With Southwest Greens
When a PGA Tour pro installs a practice setup at home, you can be sure it needs to be the real deal. Rickie Fowler — known for his signature style and serious short game — turned to Southwest Greens to bring his backyard vision to life, 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 offer him a tour-grade practice area right outside his door.
The larger of the two greens covers approximately 1,800 square feet. This one carries history — Southwest Greens completed it in 2012. It's 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 incorporate GB177 synthetic turf, a high-performance putting surface that produces the consistent roll and speed a player like Rickie requires during practice sessions. The smaller green also got a finishing touch with GB134 fringe turf, lending it that clean, precise edge you'd expect at a top-tier golf facility.
The outcome? A two-green setup that lets Rickie practice on all aspects from mid-range putts to precise lag putting, right from the convenience of his own backyard.
BEYOND JUST FOR GOLF
This is where the project gets genuinely interesting. Rickie's home isn't just a golfer's retreat — Southwest Greens also installed a bespoke bocce ball court featuring precision-laid synthetic grass that keeps play smooth and consistent game after game. It's the kind of upgrade that turns a backyard into a true entertainment destination.
And for the performance-focused side of things, Southwest Greens installed synthetic grass for a pole-vaulting practice zone, specifying Bolt turf for that project. Bolt is engineered to withstand high-impact athletic use, making it the ideal choice for a sport that requires a reliable, safe landing and approach surface.
HOW ARTIFICIAL TURF MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR ATHLETES
For a professional golfer managing a demanding tour schedule, the last thing you need is a natural grass putting green that needs continuous irrigation, mowing, and periodic reseeding. A synthetic grass installation remains picture-perfect year-round with minimal upkeep — and that's a real advantage when your time is limited.
Artificial putting greens throughout Los Angeles and Southern California have advanced significantly. The GB177 surface used on Rickie's greens is engineered to replicate 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 enjoy a Los Angeles and Southern California backyard putting green worth bragging about. Southwest Greens of Southern California builds custom artificial putting greens for commercial and residential properties of all sizes — whether you're looking for a compact 200-square-foot green to improve your short game or a multi-hole layout like Rickie's.
From the initial design to the final blade of synthetic grass, every Southwest Greens installation is crafted with the same attention to detail you witnessed on this project.
Looking to begin planning your own outdoor putting green in Los Angeles and Southern California? Contact Southwest Greens today and find out what's possible in your Los Angeles and Southern California space.