The short answer, for home lawns, no, growing grass on sand is not recommended. Sand doesn't hold water, or nutrients very well, and grass there will require plenty of attention throughout the summer. Some grasses do better in sandy soil, but %100 percent sand will be more trouble than it's worth. How deep is this sand layer? Where do you live?

My experience is different. It is probably different because my original soil is pure limestone. In fact the old quarry it three streets over. In my yard, the sandy fill I used supports the greenest grass. It is 8 inches deep at the left edge and feathers out to nothing in the middle of the yard. Grass is greener with any sand.

>"If I buy top soil, I will break my back"

Buying a couple bags of top soil at Home Depot will not suffice. You'll need a truck load delivered and can hire the job to be done for you.