From Kitchen Renovation to Backyard Golf: A Canadian's Dream Green
When the snow finally receded enough to reveal a patch of green amidst the lingering white, the author instinctively seized the putter waiting by the back door and dashed outside to roll a few putts. This simple act marked the culmination of a unique journey that began not with a desire for a golfing paradise, but with a seemingly ordinary kitchen inspection.
The Unlikely Path to a Putting Paradise
The story originates in late summer, when the author's wife suggested viewing the kitchen in a house for sale just three doors down. The author was already familiar with the property, not for its beautiful island or fancy backsplash, but for the standout feature in the backyard: a professional-grade putting green. In a neighborhood where such an amenity was entirely unexpected, it captured immediate attention.
"Yes," the author recalls saying, maintaining a measured tone. "We. Should. Go. Look. At. That. Kitchen."
Following six months of cleaning, purging, and navigating a frenzied real estate market, the couple became the proud owners of not only a new kitchen but also a backyard putting green complete with four holes and two small bunkers. The move occurred on a bitterly cold day in early February, making the wait for spring particularly agonizing for any golfer enduring a stubborn winter.
Unveiling the Green and Its Creator
With the entire green now exposed, the author's wife suggested consulting the paperwork left by the previous homeowners to identify the installers. This advice proved unnecessary, as the author had previously noted the company name and number from the side of their truck during the green's construction years earlier—purely for research purposes, of course.
A call to Greenside Turf was answered enthusiastically by owner Jeremy Stunt, who remembered every detail of the project. "You're one of my few with a sod-stacked bunker," Stunt remarked, explaining the creative solution to elevation challenges. "From a build standpoint, I'm like, 'What am I gonna do? You can't just build a retaining wall on a putting green.' So the answer was a bunker wall."
Stunt's passion and storytelling flair immediately resonated, reminiscent of conversations with dedicated golf industry figures. "It's a toy that you don't need, but yeah, you want one," he said of his greens. "It's for a niche market, but if you build them right, they will last."
Crafting Backyard Dreams for Diverse Clients
Greenside Turf handles a variety of projects, often installing turf yards for those wishing to retire their lawnmowers permanently. However, creating golf greens remains Stunt's favorite endeavor. His clientele includes parents seeking family fun, hardcore golfers desiring practice space, and individuals simply wanting to impress with a cool backyard view.
"One interesting client is the father that gets to babysit at the same time," Stunt shared. "So we say, 'OK, let's put in a bunker, but let's put in beach sand.' He gets the best of both worlds, his baby can play sand castles, he's got this green, and even his wife's happy."
A Unique Professional Journey
Stunt's path to this specialized profession is fascinating. His grandfather, Rudy Pilous, was head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks and won a Stanley Cup in 1961, relocating the family from Canada to the United States. As a teenager in Florida, Stunt swapped hockey for golf, immersing himself in a golf community home to PGA Tour pros like Fred Couples. He entered landscaping, eventually working on golf course construction under legendary designer Tom Fazio.
After the 2008 housing market crash, Stunt returned to Canada, channeling his expertise into creating backyard paradises for golf enthusiasts. His background enables him to tackle ambitious projects, such as a 30,000 square-foot green complex with a tee box for full shots over a pond. "He said, 'I'm tired of fishing out balls from the woods,'" Stunt recalled of one client. "He would hire a kid to go pick up the balls he hit from his yard with a canoe in his pond. So we built a golf hole instead."
Technical Excellence and Canadian Adaptations
Stunt emphasizes using high-quality materials, including nylon, propylene, and polyurethane turf varieties designed for different shot ranges—from long balls at 150 yards to close chips at 30 yards. His approach ensures each project resembles a genuine golf course rather than a mere outdoor putting mat, with contours, breaks, and tiers adding authenticity.
Prices start around $20,000 and can escalate based on client imagination. "Here in Canada, there is nobody that builds them like I do," Stunt asserted. "Some people just roll out some turf and run. They don't give the creative touch to make it look like a real green."
Green speeds typically begin at ten on the stimpmeter, adjusting with sand or ceramic bearing infill. "The more you play on it, the faster your green gets," Stunt explained, noting that maintenance might involve slowing speeds over time with equipment like a plate compactor.
Canadian winters necessitate specific adaptations, such as robust foundations to withstand frost upheaval. "I think just building them right, you know, with a proper foundation to make them last," Stunt said. "It needs some love."
A Golfer's Reflection
As the conversation concluded, the author found himself glancing at his putter, recently banished from the new kitchen. While golfers are known for daydreaming, moving into a house with a putting green was an unexpected turn. The author cherishes nearly every aspect of golf—the challenge, camaraderie, outdoor setting, and even solitary play in the rain.
However, one realization emerged: putting practice had never been a favorite activity. Now, with a personal green just steps away, that may very well change, transforming a backyard into a perpetual slice of golfing heaven.
