About
Riley worked on the Kiele Course at Kauai Lagoons, which was named Best New Resort Course by Golf Digest in 1989.
Michael Riley is a distinguished golf course architect whose career spans more than thirty years, known for merging tournament-level design with state-of-the-art synthetic turf technology. A graduate in plant sciences from Clemson University, Riley launched his professional journey with Nicklaus Design, working directly as a site coordinator and design associate on premier projects across California, Arizona, Hawaii, Colorado, and Japan. His early experience included working on the acclaimed Kiele Course at Kauai Lagoons, awarded Golf Digest’s Best New Resort Course in 1989—a testament to his design acumen. Drawing from mentorship by industry legends like Jack Nicklaus and Robert Cupp, Riley has become especially recognized for creatively transforming both private and estate greens into playable, beautifully contoured landscapes. His commitment to exceptional playability and aesthetics has made him a sought-after consultant for elite residential installations and club-level environments, consistently blending passion, precision, and practicality in every project.
