There is nothing like a great game of golf. Getting to spend even a couple of hours per week outside on the golf course can be more than therapeutic – to many, it is a way of life. Of course, one of the reasons we all get to enjoy this game is the fact that courses are easier to maintain these days than ever, thanks to artificial putting greens that have become the standard among emerging golf courses around the world.

In the old days, putting greens were no more than nicely shaved plateaus of grass no different than that which made up the rough that surrounded them. After a long enough period of time, it was determined that a new solution needed to come into play in order for a game to run fairly and smoothly, as the putting surface was extremely unreadable thanks to the non-uniform lay of the green. The solution? Artificial putting greens.

Artificial putting greens are, in a nutshell, plastic versions of their older cousins. They are typically created to be of uniform thickness (in terms of grass height), with different lays spread out upon the green. The idea is that it is flat in some areas, and sloped in others, in order to create a more varied playing field. Artificial greens are much easier to maintain, as they never have to be treated or mowed, and are extremely easy to clean. In the end, the money saved by implementing an artificial green far outweighs that of caring for an unpredictable natural green. While it is debatable by many purists, artificial greens are generally thought to far outweigh the competition in terms of playability, ease of use and amount of necessary care. There are no downsides to artificial greens except that some folks may like a more natural surface.

So the next time you stop by your favorite golf course, consider what lay beneath your feet as you take that all important putt on the eighteenth hole. Chances are it is an artificial green, and it’s what is helping you to excel at the game!