For most New Jersey backyards, the best putting green turf is a short, dense, textured nylon putting surface (about 3/8 to 1/2 inch) from an established golf-turf line, installed over a compacted, well-drained stone base. Examples with published specs: SYNLawn Precision Putt (3/8", 47 oz face weight, rated 10–12 on the Stimpmeter) if speed matters most; SYNLawn Classic Putt (1/2", 34 oz, 9–10 Stimp, permeability over 150 inches per hour) for a forgiving, fast-draining all-rounder; and the ForeverLawn GolfGreens True Putt series (3/8", 42 oz, 1–2 lb/sq ft sand infill) for low-infill precision putting. If you also want to chip onto the green, look at a taller putt-and-chip product. Disclosure: DreamFields USA is a New Jersey turf installer and maintenance company. We sell installation and service, not a turf brand, and no manufacturer paid for this page.
Landscape turf is made to look like a lawn: tall, soft, and usually polyethylene. A putting green has to do the opposite. It needs to let a ball roll true and at a predictable speed, and it needs to stand up to the same small area being walked on every day. That's why golf-specific lines use much shorter piles, tighter construction, and, in every true putting product we compared, nylon yarn, which both manufacturers here describe as durable. Sand infill is then brushed in to tune speed and help the surface hold a shot.
New Jersey adds a few problems of its own: heavy summer storms, freeze-thaw cycles that heave a poorly built base, and leaf drop from mature trees in older neighborhoods. A green with great specs on paper can still roll badly if water sits in the base or the contours settle after one winter. So this page compares turf products by their spec sheets, then covers the install details that decide whether those specs show up in your yard.
Related DreamFields guides: backyard putting green installation in Central NJ covers sizing, base, and permits; putting green installation cost covers what drives the price; and putting green cleaning and maintenance covers keeping it rolling. This page is the product-selection step.
| Product | Yarn | Pile height | Face / total weight | Speed or infill (published) | Backing / drainage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYNLawn Precision Putt (SG326) | 100% nylon, textured diamond, 4,200/8 | 3/8" | 47 oz / 84 oz | Stimpmeter 10–12 | 20 oz embossed coating; no permeability figure listed | Golfers who want the fastest, most realistic roll |
| SYNLawn Classic Putt (CLPUT) | Nylon, textured diamond, 4,200/8 | 1/2" | 34 oz / 60 oz | Stimpmeter 9–10 | Black PU backing; permeability >150 in/hr | All-round backyard greens; wet or low-lying yards |
| ForeverLawn True Putt series (St. Andrews, Augusta, Sawgrass) | Textured nylon monofilament, 4,200/8 | 3/8" | 42 oz / 79 oz | 1–2 lb sand per sq ft | Embossed rubber secondary | Precision putting with low infill; three colorations |
| ForeverLawn EZ Putt | Heat-set textured diamond nylon, 4,200/8 | 1/2" | 34 oz / 91 oz | 2–3 lb sand per sq ft | 3 mm foam secondary | A more cushioned feel underfoot |
| ForeverLawn Pro Putt & Chip | Heat-set textured diamond nylon, 4,200/8 | 7/8" | 53 oz / 80 oz | 4–5 lb sand per sq ft | BioCel polyurethane secondary | Greens where chipping and pitching matter as much as putting |
Specs from manufacturer spec sheets accessed October 15, 2026. ForeverLawn notes heights may vary by 1/8 inch and weights by a few percent. Specs are subject to change, so confirm the current sheet on your quote. Not ranked against each other, and no prices shown.
SYNLawn's spec sheet describes Precision Putt as built with nylon fibers on an embossed backing that "accepts shots" and delivers a 10–12 on the Stimpmeter. It's a 3/8 inch, 47 oz face-weight turf, with a 3/16 inch gauge, a tuft bind over 8 lb, and a limited lifetime warranty. That is the densest face weight of the short putting products here. The sheet doesn't list a permeability figure, so the base drainage plan matters even more. Ask your installer how water leaves the green.
Classic Putt is SYNLawn's contractor-grade nylon putting turf: 1/2 inch pile, 34 oz face weight, and a 9–10 Stimp rating. It's slightly slower than Precision Putt, which many casual putters prefer. Its spec sheet lists permeability over 150 inches per hour and says it's suitable for putting greens, fairways, and high-traffic areas. If your yard holds water after a storm, a published drainage number is a real advantage.
ForeverLawn's True Putt series comes in three colorations (St. Andrews, Augusta, and Sawgrass) with the same build: 3/8 inch textured nylon, 42 oz face weight, and an embossed rubber backing that ForeverLawn says improves stability. The spec calls for only 1–2 lb of sand per square foot. ForeverLawn says lower infill means less maintenance, which fits a backyard where nobody wants to groom sand every week.
EZ Putt uses the same 4,200/8 textured diamond nylon at 1/2 inch, with a 3 mm foam secondary backing and 2–3 lb of sand per square foot. The foam layer is what sets it apart. Choose it if the green doubles as a place kids and guests walk around barefoot.
A pure 3/8 inch putting surface is too short to hold a chip shot the way a real green does. Pro Putt & Chip is a 7/8 inch, 53 oz nylon product on BioCel polyurethane backing with 4–5 lb of sand per square foot. As the name says, the taller, heavier build is designed for chipping as well as putting. ForeverLawn also sells a polypropylene Prime Putt & Chip at the same height. Our Central NJ install guide covers how to lay out chipping zones and fringe.
Disclosure: DreamFields USA is our company. We install and maintain turf in New Jersey, including backyard putting greens. A useful quote from us, or anyone, should name:
Staten Island readers can also see our Staten Island putting green page.
Tell us the green size you're picturing, how many cups, and whether you want to chip onto it. We'll visit, check drainage, and send a written scope that names the turf product and infill rate.
Get a QuoteFor most NJ backyards, a short (3/8 to 1/2 inch) textured nylon putting turf from an established golf-turf line, installed over a compacted, well-drained stone base, is the best fit. Published examples include SYNLawn Precision Putt (3/8 inch, 47 oz face weight, rated 10–12 on the Stimpmeter), SYNLawn Classic Putt (1/2 inch, 34 oz, 9–10 Stimp), and the ForeverLawn GolfGreens True Putt series (3/8 inch, 42 oz). If you want to chip onto the green, look at a taller putt-and-chip product such as ForeverLawn Pro Putt & Chip instead.
Most premium putting surfaces use nylon. Every true putting product we compared (SYNLawn Precision Putt and Classic Putt, ForeverLawn True Putt and EZ Putt) lists nylon yarn. Polypropylene appears in some value and chipping products, such as ForeverLawn Prime Putt & Chip. Compare the yarn listed on the spec sheet rather than marketing names.
Speed depends on the turf, the infill, and how the installer tops and grooms the sand. SYNLawn publishes Stimpmeter ranges of 10–12 for Precision Putt and 9–10 for Classic Putt. Not every manufacturer publishes a Stimp number, so ask the installer what speed to expect for the exact product and infill rate they're quoting.
It depends on the product. ForeverLawn's spec sheet lists about 1–2 lb of sand per square foot for True Putt, 2–3 lb for EZ Putt, and 4–5 lb for its 7/8 inch putt-and-chip products. More infill generally changes speed and how a chip shot holds, so follow the manufacturer's spec for the product you choose.
DreamFields quotes each green after a site visit, because size, contours, base depth, drainage, access, fringe and chipping areas, and the turf product all change the number. Our putting green installation cost guide explains those factors. Ask any installer for a written scope that names the exact turf product and infill rate.
Sources (accessed October 15, 2026): SYNLawn Golf Precision Putt (SG326) spec sheet; SYNLawn Golf Classic Putt (CLPUT) spec sheet; ForeverLawn GolfGreens True Putt series spec; ForeverLawn GolfGreens product specifications (EZ Putt, Prime and Pro Putt & Chip). Specs are manufacturer-published and may change, so confirm them on the quote.