It's really not THAT tough to build. Granted, I turned my entire backyard into a putting surface by killing and scraping away st Augustine, throwing down a thin layer of sandy loam, and then seeding it with paspalum. I got lucky in that I didn't realize how much contour I had until it was complete. But I basically have what used to be known as a "push-up" green. ie, they used to just push up a bunch of native soil and called it a green.
To do it right:
1. Make friends with a local golf course superintendent(their advice can be had for a 12 pack).
2. Ask him when he is core aerating next and if you can help out that day and get paid in greens plugs.
3. Figure out where you want the green and make every thing that is currently alive dead.
4. Get enough sand and peat moss/organic material to blend and put down a 6" layer. Google "usga greens mix" to come up with the ratio.
5. Develop the contour but don't get crazy as it can lead to headaches later. You can fine tune it with sand as it grows in.
6. Add the layer of grass plugs, sand them in really good, and start watering, rolling and dusting with sand.
One major thing that I left out is to either incorporate your green in between the existing irrigation or move the heads around to accommodate.
Also, the mower is the most expensive part of the whole deal. Find and procure that before you ever start. It can be used as a poor man's roller before and for a few weeks after you put the plugs down.
Also, be sure to consider the timing so that winter doesn't get ya. Give yourself at least 8-10 weeks before the first frost for the health of the turf and so that you can get it grown in and enjoy the damn thing during the winter.
Hope this helps and I'll be happy to answer any questions. But you might want to wait for a couple of the resident superintendents to chime in.