Indoor putting greens are the pinnacle symbol of “I have all the leisure time in the world” and they are often the stereotypical items found in the offices of big bosses in movies and TV shows. They are a great stress reliever and make a wonderful present.
But, they are also very useful when it comes to perfecting your swing. You may sometimes feel like risking it, but golf often requires fair weather to play. So, depending on where you live, you may not be able to get to the course for weeks, if not months on end.
An indoor putting green is a great way to keep up the practice and make sure you don’t forget any of those skills you worked so hard for.
Just because you can’t head to the course doesn’t mean you should lose out on the practice. Even if you just don’t have the time, using an indoor putting green is a great way to tighten up those skills. You will be able to lower your handicap without even leaving your home.
Need to get someone that retirement gift ASAP and don’t have time to browse? No problem, here’s our top pick for the best indoor putting green.
Top 5 Best Indoor Golf Putting Green
OUR TOP PICK
Champkey PUTTECH PRO Golf Putting Mat
EDITORS CHOICE
Loowoko Wood Golf Putting Green Mat
BEST VALUE
OUR TOP PICK
Champkey PUTTECH PRO Golf Putting Mat
Length: 106.8 inchesWidth: 15.36 inches
Our top pick for the best indoor putting green is this Champkey putting mat. It is super affordable but doesn’t compromise on quality.
This indoor putting green is great for those wet and windy days when you’re missing the course. Although it doesn’t have any actual sand or water included, it does feature a bunker and a water hazard. This would be a great gift for a friend who loves golf but can’t get to the course that often.
It is also a relatively affordable gift. Compared to other, simpler, designs this putting green is very well priced.
But the lower than average price is no indicator of inferior quality. This putting green has non-directional turf and non-slip material on the underside of the mat.
Another great feature of this indoor putting green is the automatic ball return. You can just keep on playing and playing for as long as you want. There will be no accidentally hitting balls into the undergrowth and losing them forever with this green.
The automatic ball return chute is also attached to the mat itself, which will help to keep the mat flat and steady.
There is also, of course, the main hole that sits in between the bunker and water hazard. All three of these sit atop a ramp which will give you that extra challenge.
Pros
- Features automatic ball return
- Features bunker and water hazard
- Affordable
- Golf balls included
Cons
- Automatic ball return not available for all holes
EDITORS CHOICE
Loowoko Wood Golf Putting Green Mat
Length: 122 inchesWidth: 14.5 inchesThis indoor putting green might be the most expensive option on this list but, when you see it, you can understand why.
Whereas other, cheaper, alternatives are made from plastic and polyester, this putting green is made from beautifully polished wood. It’s the kind of wood that would go well with classic office furniture. It would make a great retirement present or perhaps a 60th or 70th birthday present. The wooden ball return chute needs to be dismantled so that the green can be rolled away. This is a bit more work than other rollable indoor putting greens, but not enough to make it an issue. Besides, this indoor putting green is supposed to be out on display. It even features a polished wooden stand to rest your club on when not in use.
Even the automatic ball return ramp is made from beautifully polished wood and is also attached to the mat which will help to keep it flat and steady. Even with non-slip rubber underneath, putting mats can sometimes bunch up and be awkward to keep straight.
Pros
- Smart wooden design
- Ball return
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Wooden club rest
Cons
- Expensive
- Wooden parts need to be dismantled for storage (but mat still rolls up)
BEST VALUE
VariSpeed Putting System
Length: 120 inchesWidth: 20 inchesIf you’re looking for an indoor putting green specifically to improve your skills, then this is a great option. This green features adjustable speeds, so you can choose between 4 Stimpmeter tested speeds. You will also be able to see exactly where the ball traveled with the ball traces. So you can see exactly where you might be going wrong and then also see your improvements.Also included alongside the mat is a booklet which includes training exercises to help improve your aim. This is a great indoor putting green that you can easily take out to play a few rounds on and then roll up and put it away. It has a simple layout so it can easily be rolled away for storage.This putting green can really help improve your abilities, but it is also designed to be fun. The mat is thin and there is no ramp towards the end so there is not enough depth for a hole. But there is instead a raised green section with a little flag added instead.
Also included in the booklet are games for multiple players, so this isn’t just for pros who need to improve.
Pros
- Adjustable speeds
- Includes booklet with training exercises and games
- Visible ball traces
- Can be rolled up for storage
Cons
- Thin polyester material
RUNNER UP
SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green
Length: 124 inchesWidth: 16.25 inches
This is a very affordable and standard indoor putting green. It has one hole that sits atop a ramp so it’s the sort of putting green that will let you practice your aim, but with a little added challenge.
Although it is relatively standard, it features an extended ball return. This is a great feature and will allow you to keep playing for as long as you like.
There are also features designed to help you improve your skills and abilities. The surface features squaring and alignment guides at 3, 5, and 7 feet. This will help you track your consistency. This will also allow you to track your improvements.
Pros
- Features automatic ball return
- Rolls up for storage
Cons
- Basic design
RUNNER UP
Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green
Length: 124 inchesWidth: 36 inches
This indoor putting green (at the time of writing) is the most affordable option on our list. It has a very simple set up but still has great features.
Although it doesn’t have any plastic or wooden accents, this is actually a nice touch as it is most like a normal green.
This putting green features three different holes and two sand trap cutouts toward the top. It doesn’t have an automatic ball return feature but then, neither does a real golf course. It also features a gradual slope so presents a bit of an extra challenge to your aim. But not so much that it will become frustratingly difficult.
It also has a non-skid backing to make sure it doesn’t bunch or slide around as you’re playing. (So there’s no claiming that your aim was affected by the off-balanced mat).
Pros
- Rolls up for storage
- Multiple holes and sand trap cutouts
- Affordable
Cons
- Simple design
- Expensive for such a simple design
Indoor Golf Putting Green Buying Guide
On a Mat vs On the Course
Obviously, playing on an indoor putting green won’t be the same as playing on a real golf course. Some of the mats included on this list do try to be as close to a normal green as possible.
But others have tried to be different. In fact, having an indoor putting green that stands out and doesn’t try to be like a normal course may actually be nicer.
If you’re buying an indoor putting green to play on during wet weather, it might feel like you’ve got the inferior option. Like having to ride a bike because your car is in the shop. But, some mats, instead of making you wish you were actually out on a real green, will make you feel like you have chosen to use it.
Many indoor putting greens can be easily rolled up and put away, but some are nice enough to leave out as a feature. Using an indoor green doesn’t have to be the inferior choice, it can be something nice you do for half an hour in the mornings before work.
If you work from home or intend to take it into the office, it’s a good way to take a break from work and get in some extra practice and exercise too.
Materials
The main options for indoor putting green materials are wood and plastic. Plastic, as always, is generally the cheaper option. Wood looks nicer and is more durable, but can be a lot more expensive.
Most indoor putting greens will have a wooden or plastic frame or ramp with a polyester mat attached. Others will just be a mat. These are cheaper and are great for easy storage. They won’t have any extra features like a ramp or a ball return, but they will still give you the practice you need.
The most important thing to consider material-wise is the underneath of the mat. The backing needs to made from a non-slip or anti-slip material. Otherwise, whether on hard or carpeted flooring, the mat will slip about and potentially bunch up.
Not only is this annoying, but any lumps or bumps in the mat will affect your aim. This is also why you should make sure not to purchase a putting green with a very thin mat, as the texture of the flooring underneath may affect your playing.
Features
As mentioned in the section above, there is a fair bit of variety in indoor golf putting greens. But not many are overly complicated. Golf is itself a simple game, so having a simple indoor putting green makes sense.
The vast majority have a rollable mat with a short hole at the end. Some have more holes or have multiple holes of different shapes and sizes.
Others will have a ramp up to the holes which will provide a bit more of a challenge. This will also make it more like a real golfing green, so you won’t be practicing in a style that will be too easy compared to the real thing.
Another interesting feature that many have is a ball return chute. This pretty much does what it says on the tin and is a chute that sits beneath the holes and allows the balls to travel back to the start. This is great as you don’t have to keep walking to and fro to pick the ball out of the hole and can just keep on going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are indoor putting greens portable?
Generally, yes. Most indoor putting greens are designed to be easily rolled up and stored away.
This means that you can easily transport it to the office or take it on vacation with you.
Can I practice putting indoors?
Yes, that’s what putting greens are generally designed for.
Most can be used outside in dry weather, but the intention is to allow you to practice your aim indoors.
Will artificial turf affect my handicap?
Potentially.
Obviously, playing on flat artificial turf is very different from using a tee on a golf course with real grass. Indoor putting greens are intended to help you practice when you can’t get to a real course.
Or, they can just be a bit of fun, you don’t have to be an avid golfer to enjoy using an indoor putting green.
Indoor putting greens can help you practice but are closer to playing on a mini-golf course than a real grass course. Using an indoor putting green can help you improve your aim which may lower your handicap, to an extent.
But, once you get out on the course, the game will obviously be very different.
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