Why cups and contours change the price

Putting green pricing tracks work scope. Extra cups mean more parts and precision cutting. Stronger contours require additional base material, shaping time, and installation skill. You are paying for complexity that delivers more shot variety and a truer golf experience.

Cost drivers when you add cups

  • Coring and cutting the turf cleanly for each hole.
  • Hardware per hole sleeves, cups, flags, and adhesives.
  • Base prep around the hole for firmness and drainage.
  • Layout time to place cups for proper slope and playability.
  • Extra finish work if a cup sits near seams or edges.

Cost drivers with stronger contours

  • More base import, placement, and laser-guided shaping.
  • Additional compaction passes to lock in form.
  • Fine grading and feathering to keep putts fair in target zones.
  • Relief cuts and tension control in the turf over breaks.
  • Extra infill management to hit speed targets on slopes.

Typical price impact in the U.S.

Actual numbers vary by region, site access, base type, and total square footage. These planning ranges reflect common residential installs.

  • Additional putting cup hardware and labor commonly adds about $125 to $250 per cup. Premium flagkits can add more.
  • Moderate contouring often adds about 5% to 10% to the project or roughly $1 to $3 per square foot.
  • Heavy contouring with multiple breaks and elevation changes can add about 10% to 20% or roughly $3 to $6 per square foot.
  • Challenging access, rock, or poor soils can push beyond these ranges.

Use these as rule-of-thumb estimates, not a quote.

Design for the right spend

Dial in cup count

  • For 250 to 400 square feet, 3 to 4 cups typically balances variety and budget.
  • Mix cup locations high side, low side, and one with a subtle break for practice value.
  • Keep cups a safe distance from seams and perimeters to reduce tricky cuts.

Contour strategy

  • Define a target stimp speed, then keep primary putting zones near 2% to 3% grade for fairness.
  • Concentrate bolder breaks in secondary areas and chipping targets.
  • Decide contours up front. You can add cups later, but reshaping the base after install is costly.

Ways to save without killing the fun

  • Prioritize two high-value cup locations, then add more only if the layout justifies it.
  • Select one feature ridge or tier, keep the rest subtle.
  • Right-size the green. A clean 300 to 400 square foot surface with smart breaks plays big.

Example budgets to show impact

These examples illustrate how cups and contours move the number. They are planning guides only.

  • 300 sq ft home green: Assume a base install at $22 to $30 per sq ft. Add 2 extra cups at $150 each adds about $300. Choose moderate contouring add 10% adds about $660 to $900. Total impact roughly $960 to $1,200 above the base install.
  • 500 sq ft performance green: Assume a base install at $20 to $28 per sq ft. Add 3 extra cups at $175 each adds about $525. Heavy contouring add 15% to 20% adds about $1,500 to $2,800. Total impact roughly $2,025 to $3,325 above the base install.

Your site, access, drainage needs, and final design will set the actual price.

Build steps that influence cost and timeline

  • Site prep and excavation to plan grade and drainage.
  • Base build in lifts, shaping breaks, and compacting.
  • Turf layout, seam planning, and tension control.
  • Hole coring, cup setting, and edge finishing.
  • Infill, brushing, rolling, and speed tuning.

Performance and maintenance

  • Artificial greens hold contours without rutting, so breaks stay consistent.
  • More cups add variety without adding meaningful maintenance beyond routine brushing and debris removal.
  • Stronger contours may need a touch more infill tuning to keep speeds consistent across slopes.

Ready to price your green

Tell us your target cup count and contour level. We will design to it and quote it straight. Start here: FusionTurf.