Designer Spotlight: Mike Riley Where Course Design Meets Creativity

Few match Mike Riley's eye for golf-inspired landscapes. His work transforms synthetic turf into a custom-designed green space that recreates the feel of elite golf courses. With roots tied to legendary names like Nicklaus Design and Robert Cupp, Mike brings his own brand of creative discipline to every creation.

THE MASTER CRAFTER OF GREENS

Michael Riley Design demonstrates a passion for strong design elements and bold yet playable synthetic greens. Inspired from a young age by the role of topography and layout, Mike Riley draws from his experience working with Nicklaus Design and Robert Cupp. Understanding the value of 35 years of hands-on design experience, Southwest Greens formalized a relationship to combine natural course elements 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 game-changing chance to work for the Jack Nicklaus team. As both a site coordinator and a design associate, he was happy to be involved with Nicklaus golf courses in various regions around the globe including Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii and Japan. He literally learned great golf course design and construction from the ground up with an industry pioneer. One of the courses he worked on, the Kiele course at Kauai Lagoons, won Best New Resort Course by Golf Digest magazine in 1989.

Play on a Mike Riley-designed green and you’re in a narrative where precise contours and clean shapes meet the thrill of a well-played round. Every hill and hazard is the result of a journey through experience and passion. Working closely with our turf specialists, Mike ensures that every green feels professional and looks beautiful — whether it’s a home green or a luxury estate golf green.

INSPIRED DESIGN, UNMATCHED PLAYABILITY

For golf enthusiasts seeking elite green design in their own space, Mike’s creations are the ultimate choice. His unique blend of design vision and synthetic turf performance delivers turf ready for action. If you’re dreaming of backyard putting green luxury that rivals your favorite course, now’s the time to take the next step.

BRING THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HOME

Contact us now to learn how Southwest Greens can bring tour-level greens right to your Tucson yard. Make every shot count and let your skills flourish!