Designer Spotlight: Mike Riley Where Course Design Meets Creativity

Mike Riley is a designer pro like no other. His work transforms synthetic turf into a custom-designed green space that mirrors the feel of premium golf courses. With roots tied to historic influencers like Nicklaus Design and Robert Cupp, Mike brings his own brand of creative discipline to every project.

THE MASTER CRAFTER OF GREENS

Michael Riley Design shows a passion for strong design clarity and visually stunning, playable synthetic greens. Inspired from a young age by the role of natural flow and geometry, Mike Riley leverages his experience working with Nicklaus Design and Robert Cupp. Valuing the legacy of 35 years of hands-on design experience, Southwest Greens formalized a relationship to integrate natural course attributes with advanced synthetic turf performance characteristics.

With a background in plant sciences from Clemson University and a short stint playing professional golf, Mike was offered a pivotal role to work for Jack Nicklaus' design firm. As both a site coordinator and a design associate, he was privileged to be participate on Nicklaus golf courses in multiple high-profile locations including California, Tucson, AZ, Hawaii, Colorado, and Japan. He literally learned the craft of course design and construction from the ground up with a golf legend. One of the courses he worked on, the Kiele at Kauai Lagoons in Hawaii, was named Best New Resort Course by Golf Digest in 1989.

Visit one of Mike’s masterpieces and you’re immersed in a story where precise contours and clean shapes meet the thrill of golf excellence. Every form and feature is the result of years of mastery. Working closely with our turf specialists, Mike ensures that every green is tournament-worthy — whether it’s a home green or a master plan for an estate.

INSPIRED DESIGN, UNMATCHED PLAYABILITY

For those who love the game seeking a slice of tournament-level design in their backyard, Mike’s creations are in a class of their own. His unique blend of design experience and craft and synthetic turf materials delivers a surface that’s always ready for play. If you’re dreaming of a backyard putting oasis that rivals championship-level greens, now’s the time to make it a reality.

BRING THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HOME

Reach out today to learn how Southwest Greens can bring championship design right to your Metro New York yard. Perfect your putt and let your passion thrive!