Salt Lick

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of collaborating with the golf design team of Todd Clark, Brent Hugo and Ron Whitten on Salt Lick Golf & Hunting Resort, a new 45-hole destination resort in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Set across 620 acres of natural sand dunes and open prairie, the site features dunes rising up to 30 feet high, expansive native grasslands, and not a single tree. The resort includes two 18-hole golf courses, each with its own unique character.

The Dunes course plays over, around and on top of the massive dunes on the west side of the property. Natural, ragged-edged bunkers and expansive waste areas reinforce the windswept feel of the landscape.

The Prairie Course offers a striking contrast, featuring ribbon tees, fairway-height turf throughout, and steep grass-faced bunkers that create a bold aesthetic.

To further distinguish the two courses, we paid particular attention to the appearance of the playable turf, specifically the grass species and mowing patterns. The Dunes Course features bentgrass with a subtle striped pattern, while the Prairie Course uses bluegrass with a more pronounced criss-cross pattern, giving each course its own distinctive visual identity.

We also animated the longer native grasses to convey the winds that are characteristic of the site, adding another layer of realism to the animation.

One of the site’s most distinctive landmarks is the 458-metre-tall KWCH TV tower. Rather than trying to avoid it, which would have been a difficult task given its central location, we made it a feature of the project, using it as a memorable visual reference throughout the visuals.

The resort is currently scheduled to open for play in late 2028.