DIY Network

Building a Backyard Sports Complex NFL star Michael Strahan helps a family create the ultimate backyard sports haven. From "Special Presentation" episode DHFA-STM

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Figure D

8. Place golf cup in the hole. Put a piece of scrap wood that is just larger than the cup over the top, then, using rubber mallet, hammer it into the hole until the cup is flush with the surface of the box. Fully line the cup with blue painter's tape to keep glue from sticking to the cup after the carpet has been adhered.

9. Apply the carpet adhesive by placing a good size quantity of glue onto the plywood top and spreading it out with the trowel's smooth face. Go back over the glue with the notched side of the trowel (figure D) to ensure a good seal between the glue and the carpet.

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	Figure E
	Master carpenter Dave Slurz (squatting) demonstrates how to attach the 1 x 8 boards along the outer edges of each box in order to guarantee a smooth, flawless path for the golf ball.
	Figure F
	Even before the miniature golf course is completed, the Valinoti children couldn't resist the fun!

10. Cut a piece of carpet larger than the tee box. With one person holding the carpet over the top edge, two other people slowly roll out the carpet over the glued top of the plywood box.

11. After the carpet has been laid, roughly remove air bubbles with your hands by smoothing from the middle to the ends of the box. Then go over the surface with a metal pipe that is wider than the box. Apply even pressure as you roll the pipe along the surface to guarantee that the carpet has made complete contact with the glued surface (figure E).

12. To trim the excess carpet, use a utility knife to cut into the carpet until you hit the frame of the box. Slide utility knife down the length of the box to remove excess carpet, using the frame as your guide. Continue around entire box.

13. Locate the golf cup under the carpet. Use a utility knife to pierce the carpet above the cup, and cut around the hole to remove the unwanted carpet. Remove the blue painter's tape and any excess glue that may have fallen into the cup. Also check the sides of the box for any excess glue that may have seeped out.

14. Attach two of the 1 x 8 boards along outer edges of each box setting the height of the rail 1/2" higher than the height of a golf ball to serve as side rails. This will guarantee that when a ball is hit, it will not fall off the edge of the box. In addition, you will be able to use the ricochet off the rails as an additional way to redirect your shots. For the tee box without a hole, attach the rails 2' from the edge, and cut one edge on each rail at a 45-degree to create a place to tee off.

15. A compression latch is used to bring the tee boxes together to make a tight and secure connection. We attached the latches at an angle at the four corners of each box, and we also put latches at the transition from the first box that has no hole to the second box that contains the pop-up hole.

16. In order to ensure a true playing surface, it's important that the entire course be level (figure F). Use cedar shingles and extra pressure treated plywood as shims under the outside edges of each box to adjust the level.

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