2022 Landscape Installation of the Year Award: Residential Category

the links at windy way by synlawn

Nestled amongst the rolling foothills near Denver, Colorado, a golfer's paradise emerges from a sloping 5-acre plot converted into one of the largest private residential golf facilities in the United States. The massive custom golf complex features six unique tee boxes, two fairways, four turf bunkers, and extra-large golf putting green dubbed "The Links at Windy Way Ranch."

The show-stopping practice golf course was the vision of one resident inspired after attending a golf short-game scoring school by guru Dave Pelz. Pelz's private backyard golf facility has been called "The World's Greatest Backyard" by the Wall Street Journal. It features 2-1/2 acres of SYNLawn's artificial grass carefully crafted into replicas of several of the world's most challenging golf greens.

The Links at Windy Way golf course was a dream come true for the homeowner, who wanted to create a generational property to be handed down through the family for years to come while simultaneously satisfying his daily golfing habit. The homeowner turned to Nick Perea and the team at SYNLawn Colorado to realize the ambitious vision.

Planning for this one-of-a-kind custom golf facility required clever engineering to preserve the delicate high-desert ecosystem. River rocks from the property were collected and repurposed, creating a dry riverbed around the enormous putting green, guiding healthy water runoff. Retention boxes are included in the design-build to further aid in proper water drainage and to help weather the harsh Rocky Mountain winters.

Requiring several months and approximately 20,000 sq. ft. of turf to complete the project, the Links at Windy Way now serves as a private golfing oasis for the homeowner who takes advantage of feeding his passion from the convenience of his home's backyard, sans an occasional snow day. Overall, the completed project exceeded everyone's expectations, and the homeowner could not be happier.