The construction or renovation of a golf tee is a specialised service provided by Sports Ground Contractors and requires the correct equipment and materials coupled with the applicable skills and experience from the contractor.

The general procedure would initially involve the construction of the tee base. This would be performed using a 360 excavator, dumper and sub soil. The excavator would usually be fitted with a tilt bucket to aid the shaping of banks and contours.

A golf tee is a heavily used area of a golf course and therefore the installation of a drainage system would usually be the next stage; ensuring the surface remains in the best possible condition during heavy use and tough climates. A primary drainage trench would be excavated and 100mm drainage pipe installed and backfilled with drainage gravel. Following this, lateral drainage trenches would be excavated, 80mm drainage pipe installed and again, backfilled with drainage gravel. These lateral drains would then be connected into the main drain.

The sub soil surface would then be covered using rootzone, a high quality sand / soil mixture. The rootzone would be tracked in firmly and then laser levelled. A subtle fall from the back to the front of the tee is usually created to ensure adequate water run. The final stage would be to add some pre turf or seed fertiliser and install the surface using big roll tees turf, or tees amenity grass seed. In some cases, depending on budget an irrigation system may be installed to ensure adequate water can be supplied during the summer months.

Laser levelling the tee is a crucial stage and has become easier as manufacturers design laser grading machinery specifically for the sports turf industry. These machines are used for the construction and renovation of various sports turf surfaces ranging from golf tees, to bowling greens to football pitches and large school playing fields. Laser graders are available in a number of working widths depending on the application and can be operated with tractors ranging from 30HP upwards. The laser grader and laser are set up and operated in the following manner, to create a precision laser levelled surface.

A transmitting laser is set up on a tripod.

A measuring stick with a receiver is used to confirm the height the transmitting laser is set at.

Additional receivers are then attached onto poles on the laser grader at the height previously measured.

As the driver moves across the surface being levelled the laser transmits a beam to the receivers.

The receivers then automatically adjust the grading blade height ensuring the pitch is levelled to the desired height.

As the area is continually worked material from high areas of ground is moved into lows areas by the blade resulting in a precision laser levelled sports pitch.