From Garage to Golf Bay: An Indoor Simulator Build in Highland, IL
Not every great golf setup starts with a finished room. Some of the best ones start with a garage, a big idea, and someone willing to make it happen. That’s exactly the situation our team at Xtreme Green Synthetic Turf walked into for this project in Highland, IL. The customer had converted a section of his garage or workshop into a dedicated simulator space. The bones were there. LED lighting was in. The walls and ceiling were up. What the space needed to really come alive was the right turf under his feet, including a separate putting surface that would make the whole thing feel like an actual course. If you’re curious what goes into synthetic turf for indoor golf and hitting surfaces, this one’s a good look at how it all comes together.
The Space: A Garage Converted Into a Golf Simulator
This was a garage or workshop-style space the customer had already claimed for golf, the kind of setup a lot of serious players piece together over time. The car was still parked on one side. The rest was simulator equipment and bare concrete. And bare concrete isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s wrong for the experience.
The customer wanted turf covering the simulator footprint and a distinct putting surface in the same space. That second turf section is what sets this install apart from a basic flat mat. It gives the space a finished look and adds a second use beyond simulator swings.
Completed installation in Highland, IL, showing the distinct putting surface alongside the main hitting area.
What the Installation Required
Installing on a concrete slab in an indoor setting has its own set of considerations. The surface needs to be clean and level, and the turf has to be cut and secured in a way that holds tight against a wall system that wasn’t built with turf installation in mind. Our team handled all of it, starting with prep and finishing with clean edges all the way around.
The putting surface required a second turf product with a different pile height and texture. Getting the seam between the two surfaces to sit right takes precision. You want it to read clearly as a putting surface without creating a trip hazard or an uneven feel underfoot. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, surface consistency and proper seaming are among the most critical quality factors in any turf installation, and that’s especially true when two different products meet in the same footprint.
- Concrete slab prep to ensure flat, secure adhesion
- Primary hitting surface turf, low pile for realistic club contact
- Separate putting surface with contrasting pile and texture
- Clean seaming between the two turf products
- Finished perimeter edges tight to the metal wall panels
Why This Kind of Build Works So Well
Garage simulator builds are some of our favorite project types. Before the turf went in, this was a concrete floor under metal walls with LED strips overhead. After, it looked like somewhere you’d actually want to spend a few hours on your short game. That’s the thing about a well-installed turf surface: it defines a space without requiring a full renovation around it. Our professional synthetic turf installation process is built for exactly these kinds of real-world conditions.
The Putting Surface: A Detail Worth Getting Right
The shaped putting surface isn’t just aesthetic. It gives the owner a dedicated practice area separate from the simulator bay, so the space serves two purposes. Our team at Xtreme Green Synthetic Turf builds custom putting green turf for all kinds of spaces, and pairing it with a hitting surface in the same footprint is something we do well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indoor Golf Turf Installs
Can you install synthetic turf directly on a concrete slab?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common substrates we work with for indoor installs. Proper prep, cleaning, and leveling the slab beforehand is what makes the difference between a surface that holds long-term and one that shifts or bubbles over time.
What’s the difference between the hitting surface and the putting green turf?
Hitting surfaces typically use a shorter, denser pile that lets the club move through cleanly without affecting contact. Putting green turf is even shorter and tighter, designed to give the ball a true, consistent roll. Using both in one install, seamed together cleanly, is something our team does regularly.
How do you maintain turf in a garage or workshop space?
Indoor turf is about as low-maintenance as flooring gets. Light brushing or vacuuming to keep debris off, and occasional grooming to keep the pile standing upright. No watering, no weather damage, no seasonal wear. We’re happy to walk any customer through synthetic turf maintenance so the surface stays in top shape for years.
Do you work on projects outside of Indianapolis?
Yes. This Highland, IL project is a good example. Our team travels for the right jobs, and specialty indoor installs like this one are exactly the kind of work we enjoy. Reach out and tell us what you’re working with.
Got a Barn, a Garage, or a Spare Room? Let’s Build Something.
You don’t need a finished basement or a dedicated studio to have a great indoor golf setup. A garage works just fine. Our team at Xtreme Green Synthetic Turf has worked in garages, workshops, training facilities, and everything in between. If you’ve got the space and the vision, we’ll take care of the turf.
- Custom hitting surfaces and dedicated putting areas
- Concrete slab installs, clean edges, precise seaming
- Licensed and certified installation team
- Premium turf products with a flawless finish guarantee
