Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
For avid golfers, there’s always a quest to improve their game. However, it’s not always easy to carve out enough time for both practice and the responsibilities of home ownership. Imagine, though, if the two worlds of home improvement and golf could intersect. Could you actually make adjustments in your home that also improve your golf game?
The answer is a resounding “yes!” With a few purposeful upgrades, you can create spaces within your home and yard that allow you to practice golf and improve both your living environment and golf skills simultaneously. Here’s how you can use home improvement projects to benefit your golf game while also boosting the value and enjoyment of your home.
1. Create an Indoor Putting Green
Why It Helps: Putting often makes or breaks a round of golf. Practicing consistently can lower your scores, but it can be hard to find time to visit the course. By installing a putting green in your basement, garage, or even a dedicated room, you can practice your short game year-round without leaving your house.
How to Do It: This project doesn’t have to be as challenging as it sounds. You can purchase golf mats designed to simulate the feel of a green, making for a great indoor practice area. Golf mats come in various sizes and are often easy to roll up when not in use. Installing a synthetic turf that mimics the conditions of a real putting green can also work if you want a more permanent fixture. For a creative touch, consider adjustable stimp settings or slight elevations to challenge yourself with different putt difficulties.
Added Home Value: A home putting green could be a unique selling point if you choose to sell down the road. Even if a prospective buyer isn’t a golfer, the space can often be repurposed as a play area or entertainment room with ease.
2. Build a Backyard Chipping Area
Why It Helps: Chipping and pitch shots are vital to lowering your score, especially when you’re near the green but not quite on it. Having a dedicated backyard area allows you to practice these tricky shots with regularity.
How to Do It: Select a section of your yard with some open space, preferably at least 10-15 yards long. Level the ground, and add short-cut grass or an artificial turf surface to mimic the conditions of a golf course. Install a few different flags at varying distances to practice your aim. Adding a small bunker or sandpit nearby can up the challenge, giving you a way to practice those bunker shots without the mess of sand on your actual lawn.
Added Home Value: An outdoor golf practice area can be framed as a multi-use garden area, adding charm and function. Even for non-golfers, a neat, well-kept patch of artificial turf can add aesthetic value to your backyard.
3. Install a Golf Simulator in a Spare Room or Garage
Why It Helps: Golf simulators provide the full experience of playing a round of golf on some of the world’s most renowned courses—all from the comfort of your home. Practicing on a simulator can help you get to know your distances, improve your accuracy, and hone your skills in real-time, weather-free conditions.
How to Do It: First, make sure you have a room with sufficient ceiling height and enough space to allow you to make a full swing without interference. Some simulators require screens, projectors, and sensors, while others can work with just a tablet or smartphone. Although higher-end simulators can be costly, there are budget-friendly models that focus on shot analysis and swing speed, ideal for honing specific skills. This project is perfect for a garage, basement, or even a spare room.
Added Home Value: A golf simulator adds a luxury feature that could attract potential buyers interested in sports or entertainment. The space can also double as a media or game room if the equipment is mobile.
4. Add a Storage Area for Golf Equipment
Why It Helps: It might not improve your swing, but having a dedicated storage area for your golf equipment will keep your gear safe, organized, and ready for quick access when you have time to practice.
How to Do It: Many garages have unused wall space that’s perfect for building a small storage area for golf clubs, golf balls, and golf gloves. A simple pegboard or wall-mounted storage system can keep your golf bag, gloves, and accessories organized and out of the way. For golf balls, consider small bins or clear containers so you can quickly check your inventory.
Added Home Value: An organized garage appeals to homebuyers because it emphasizes functionality and cleanliness. Plus, adding extra storage space is nearly always a plus, regardless of the specific use.
5. Construct a Home Gym with a Golf-Focused Workout Area
Why It Helps: Core strength, flexibility, and balance are essential for an effective golf swing. Creating a space in your home where you can work on these areas will improve both your golf game and your overall fitness.
How to Do It: Convert a spare room, basement area, or section of your garage into a workout zone. Invest in equipment like resistance bands, stability balls, and kettlebells. Install a large mirror to check your form and add foam mats for comfort. You might also include a space for swinging a weighted club or doing swing drills in front of a mirror. These workouts will help strengthen the muscles you rely on in your swing, making your time on the course even more productive.
Added Home Value: A home gym is a highly desirable feature, especially for buyers looking for convenience and fitness options. Tailoring it slightly to golf makes it unique but not overly niche—it can still cater to general fitness needs as well.
6. Install an Outdoor Putting Shed
Why It Helps: If you love to practice your golf game but don’t want your equipment to overtake your living space, a putting shed could be the answer. It combines the benefits of a practice area with the added privacy and focus of an outdoor “golf zone.”
How to Do It: Many pre-fabricated sheds can be customized or retrofitted to hold a small putting green or mat inside. Installing shelves for golf gear, adding a few small storage areas, and perhaps even setting up a hitting net inside can give you a complete golf practice setup. Consider a retractable door or a small patio for chipping practice just outside.
Added Home Value: Like a “she-shed” or “man cave,” a putting shed provides extra square footage of livable space on the property, adding value and appealing to buyers looking for unique outdoor entertainment areas.
Final Thoughts
Turning home improvement projects into golf practice areas is not only a clever way to save time but also adds unique features to your home that can increase its value and appeal. From installing golf mats for an indoor putting green to adding outdoor chipping areas and golf simulators, these home enhancements make it easier to fit golf practice into your life without leaving the house.
These upgrades allow you to pursue your passion while creating functional, fun spaces within your home. So next time you’re working on a project or considering an upgrade, think about how you might make a home improvement that’s also an improvement to your game.
Jordan Fuller – With a knack for course reviews and golf tips, Jordan Fuller, the founder of GolfInfluence.com, shares a passion for helping players succeed.