Creating Exclusive Golf Resorts in Celebrity Backyards: A Closer Look
Celebrities are transforming their gardens into full-fledged golf complexes Discover how stars like Mark Wahlberg, Cindy Crawford, DJ Khaled, and Josh Allen are indulging their love for golf in the comfort of their own homes
Mark Wahlberg, Cindy Crawford, DJ Khaled, and Josh Allen all share a passion for golf that they've brought home with them. From putting greens to full-blown course replicas, the sport is becoming a popular addition to gardens and backyards for golf enthusiasts of all levels.
If the home in the US has artificial grass, there's a good chance it was installed by Back Nine Greens, a company based in Southern California. Since 1997, the company has completed over 10,000 projects and has expanded from its headquarters in Palm Desert to multiple locations nationwide.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to a surge in business for Back Nine Greens, as homebound golfers sought alternative ways to continue playing. Despite the company name, golf is not the primary revenue stream for Back Nine Greensits grass.
Artificial lawns provide a low maintenance option compared to natural grass, which is more susceptible to weather and requires regular care. Synthetic turf requires minimal upkeep and does not need to be watered, making it a convenient choice for hot locations where the company frequently operates. California, in particular, deals with frequent droughts, prompting state officials to urge citizens to reduce their water usage.
Back Nine Greens’ expertise has expanded beyond just backyards to include office spaces, playgrounds, pickleball courts, and more, all driven by increasing demand. However, golf continues to be its defining focus.
Artificial greens are designed to be played all year round.
Back Nine Greens
Golf art
According to Back Nine Greens founder and president Dominic Nappi, people are in search of golf art, even if they are unaware of it. Nappi, who touts being the first to utilize white turf rather than sand for crafting bunkers, asserts this.
"If we were watching the British Open or The Masters from our house and we looked out into the backyard, what would you want it to look like?" he added.
"These are like beautiful pieces of art in my eyes, and people want to invest in that kind of art."
The price of a generic artificial green, without bunkers, typically ranges from $15 to $25 per square foot. Some installations can span entire lawns. Tim Venturi, son of golf hall of famer Ken Venturi, had a 12,000-square foot green installed at his home, with larger installations costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The cost can be influenced by the condition of the chosen ground, with areas littered by trees, rocks, and other obstacles requiring additional work before construction can commence. According to Nappi, the factor that can significantly increase prices for larger greens, ironically, is drainage.
While these greens don't need to be watered, they can still be at risk of standing water in areas like Florida or Georgia with heavy rainfall. This can lead to mold and damage the experience of playing on the greens. While appearance is important, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the greens are playable.
"You can make it look pretty and beautiful and they love it, but it better play right," Nappi said. "Thats the beauty of it, you can deliver both."
Putting greens are tailored to fit the specifications of a buyer's backyard.
Back Nine Greens
Star power
And for his most high-profile clients, that delivery comes with an added pressure.
In 2013, Nappi was hired to create a five-hole putting paradise for Hollywood actor Wahlberg on his expansive 30,500-square-foot Beverly Park estate. The property was put up for sale for $87.5 million in April 2022, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Nappi spent three nights in a hotel room, repeatedly sketching designs only to discard them and start over. After seeking assistance from Tim Jackson, co-founder of Jackson Kahn, a golf course design firm known for Scottsdale National in Arizona, Nappi developed a 120-yard short game complex for the actor, complete with undulating hills and various pitching spots.
Nappi described it as the most challenging and rewarding job he has ever undertaken. He praised the exceptional quality of the green and deemed it impressive.
Some of the standout projects we've worked on include a custom putting green for Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber at their Malibu residence, a fully equipped one with bunkers that light up upon arrival for Bills quarterback Allen at his new home in Buffalo, and a grand putting complex for music producer DJ Khaled at his property in Miami Beach.
From time to time, our clients request something truly unique. For instance, Back Nine Greens was enlisted to enhance golf broadcaster Jim Nantz's backyard, where he had a replica of Pebble Beach's iconic seventh hole built at half its original scale.
The seventh hole is a par-three that holds special meaning for Nantz. It is where he married his wife, Courtney Richards, in 2012. Many famous golfers, including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, have played this hole, and the names of those who have made hole-in-ones, like Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, and Tony Romo, are etched onto the nearby "Rock of Fame."
A variety of other famous individuals have aimed to recreate some of the most well-known golf holes in the world on their own properties. Referred to as "the ultimate backyard" by the Wall Street Journal in 2012, the garden of American golf instructor and former NASA employee Dave Pelz in Austin, Texas is a haven for short game practice. The two-and-a-half-acre space, designed by SYNLawn, features replicas of the 17th holes at Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass ("the island hole"), as well as Augusta National's renowned par-three 12th.
Design by Nichols Architects / Photo by Mike Butler
The story behind Michael Jordans ultra-private, ultra-exclusive personal golf course
Welsh football icon Gareth Bale's property in Glamorgan, South Wales, features replicas of the latter two. The former Real Madrid star, known for his golfing prowess, also has a copy of Royal Troon's "postage stamp" 8th hole. The three-hole circuit was constructed by UK-based Southwest Greens Construction.
Arguably the most high-profile golfer of them all, Tiger Woods, has his own practice retreat. In 2010, when he moved into a mansion in Jupiter Island, Florida, he partnered with his own TGR Design firm to oversee the construction of a 3.5-acre backyard practice facility, complete with four greens and an array of bunkers.
However, Nappi's most cherished project was not for a celebrity, but for an amateur golfer in South Dakota. He built a 63-yard garden par three, and just a month later, the client won a tournament at his local club with a shot distance of just shy of 63 yards in a tie-breaking closest-to-the-hole competition.
"He had practiced hitting hundreds of balls in his garden and simply said, 'I had it down,'" Nappi remembered.
"It gave me goosebumps to realize that through the repetition of his swing, he was able to make that shot from that distance. That's truly impressive."
