- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,198,341
- Reaction score
- 59
The pieces appear to be in place. Stunning sand dunes, a remote setting that offers room for growth and an ownership group that appears ready to put the pedal to the metal.
Golf architect Todd Clark, who has a number of Kansas projects under his belt – including the soon-to-open redesign at Kansas City's Swope Memorial municipal – finally got the green light from local officials on a massive 45-hole resort complex in Hutchinson, less than an hour from Wichita, Kansas, and about three hours from the Kansas City market.
Salt Lick Golf and Hunting Resort was approved by the Reno County Planning Commission, and on June 24 the board of commissioners stamped Industrial Revenue Bonds intended to offset any property tax increases on the property for the next 10 years. If Clark and his team stay on schedule, the project could be ready for full play in late 2028. The 619-acre site is expected to house two 18-hole courses and a nine-hole, par-3 course.
"We are now full steam ahead," Clark told Golfweek. "We can get the clubhouse. We want to get 18 open by next fall for a soft opening and then follow it right up. In 2029, Prairie Dunes is hosting the U.S. Senior Open, so we want to have everything ready to go.
"It's a big golf course. There's a strip of massive dunes that goes right through Hutchinson, and these natural sand dunes that are 30 or 40 feet tall, very similar to Prairie Dunes. It's going to be something very special."
The first phase of the project will include the Salt Lick Dunes course, as well as a clubhouse, a lit putting course and practice facilities, and around 50 lodging units.
Soon after, the second phase will include a second championship course, and CC's Loop, a nine-hole course, as well as about 75 more lodging units. The final phase will add more lodging.
The impact is expected to be tremendous: A feasibility study done by the state said 50,000 visitors could make their way to the property each year with an economic impact of between $25 million and $35 million in the county.
"We have big-boy golf holes," Clark said. "The two golf courses are going to be the two longest in the state of Kansas. We're going to be pushing 7,800-7,900 yards on both of them, with six sets of tees. The fairways are going to be 200 feet wide. You can hit the ball around, but you're gonna have to know how to get around this golf course. It's gonna be fun."
Clark struck up a friendship with Kansas developer Jim Klausman, who has a number of holdings in the northeast part of the state. The Hutchinson News, a USA Today Network property, wrote this in January:
Clark, who previously designed Lawrence Country Club in Kansas as well as Mules National in Missouri, said he believes the resort offers the perfect complement to Prairie Dunes, which is currently ranked 13th on Golfweek's Best top 200 Classic Course list.
"This is really going to elevate Hutch as a destination. Prairie Dunes, they're national members. And they want this. Everybody wants to come in. They're already flying in with their private planes, so our goal now is to put a product that brings in even more people, and I think we've done that with what we have right now. We've got five to six holes grassed and have grass on the range, too," Clark said. "We have nine holes shaped and irrigated as of today, and then by September we'll have the other nine on the Dunes Course. They're just big, massive rolling dunes. We're just using the natural sand, and the greens will go from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. Big Humpty Dumpty, rolly greens, but not crazy.
"We're not doing anything stupid, and the bunkers, well they're getting fit in. So, we're getting everything established with all the native grasses and everything. It's going to be spectacular."
The site includes the former Cottonwood Hills course, originally designed by Nick Faldo, which closed due to financial problems several years ago. The original plan was to make the site a residential course and sell up to 500 homes, but the plans fell through.
"I played the old Cottonwood," Clark said. "They worked around trees, cedars and cottonwoods, and they didn't really take advantage of the dunes at all. It was going to be residential. But things have changed. This destination models work and that's why this will be great for Hutchinson."
For Clark, this project represents the culmination of his professional efforts.
"I've been designing for 35 years, but this is probably the pinnacle for me. To have an owner that trusts you to go build 45 holes and not bring in another architect, it's pretty special. He gives us free rein to go design what we want to, and we're having a lot of fun," Clark said. "So we're we're down there, probably two to three days a week. We bought a house there, and we're there all the time, and it's special. We're so close, we drive a Gator (ATV) over to the site, so we're pretty intimate with this piece of property and every time we do a hole, we're saying, 'OK, that's a great hole. That's the best one.' And then we build another one.
"So I think people will be shocked. I'm excited. It's, it's just going to be a blast. I'm just like a little kid. Now, I'm like give me all 45 holes. I want to go play."
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Kansas set for massive new Salt Lick golf resort near Prairie Dunes
Continue reading...
Golf architect Todd Clark, who has a number of Kansas projects under his belt – including the soon-to-open redesign at Kansas City's Swope Memorial municipal – finally got the green light from local officials on a massive 45-hole resort complex in Hutchinson, less than an hour from Wichita, Kansas, and about three hours from the Kansas City market.
Salt Lick Golf and Hunting Resort was approved by the Reno County Planning Commission, and on June 24 the board of commissioners stamped Industrial Revenue Bonds intended to offset any property tax increases on the property for the next 10 years. If Clark and his team stay on schedule, the project could be ready for full play in late 2028. The 619-acre site is expected to house two 18-hole courses and a nine-hole, par-3 course.
You must be registered for see images attach
"We are now full steam ahead," Clark told Golfweek. "We can get the clubhouse. We want to get 18 open by next fall for a soft opening and then follow it right up. In 2029, Prairie Dunes is hosting the U.S. Senior Open, so we want to have everything ready to go.
"It's a big golf course. There's a strip of massive dunes that goes right through Hutchinson, and these natural sand dunes that are 30 or 40 feet tall, very similar to Prairie Dunes. It's going to be something very special."
The first phase of the project will include the Salt Lick Dunes course, as well as a clubhouse, a lit putting course and practice facilities, and around 50 lodging units.
Soon after, the second phase will include a second championship course, and CC's Loop, a nine-hole course, as well as about 75 more lodging units. The final phase will add more lodging.
The impact is expected to be tremendous: A feasibility study done by the state said 50,000 visitors could make their way to the property each year with an economic impact of between $25 million and $35 million in the county.
You must be registered for see images attach
"We have big-boy golf holes," Clark said. "The two golf courses are going to be the two longest in the state of Kansas. We're going to be pushing 7,800-7,900 yards on both of them, with six sets of tees. The fairways are going to be 200 feet wide. You can hit the ball around, but you're gonna have to know how to get around this golf course. It's gonna be fun."
Clark struck up a friendship with Kansas developer Jim Klausman, who has a number of holdings in the northeast part of the state. The Hutchinson News, a USA Today Network property, wrote this in January:
Clark, who previously designed Lawrence Country Club in Kansas as well as Mules National in Missouri, said he believes the resort offers the perfect complement to Prairie Dunes, which is currently ranked 13th on Golfweek's Best top 200 Classic Course list.
"This is really going to elevate Hutch as a destination. Prairie Dunes, they're national members. And they want this. Everybody wants to come in. They're already flying in with their private planes, so our goal now is to put a product that brings in even more people, and I think we've done that with what we have right now. We've got five to six holes grassed and have grass on the range, too," Clark said. "We have nine holes shaped and irrigated as of today, and then by September we'll have the other nine on the Dunes Course. They're just big, massive rolling dunes. We're just using the natural sand, and the greens will go from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. Big Humpty Dumpty, rolly greens, but not crazy.
"We're not doing anything stupid, and the bunkers, well they're getting fit in. So, we're getting everything established with all the native grasses and everything. It's going to be spectacular."
The site includes the former Cottonwood Hills course, originally designed by Nick Faldo, which closed due to financial problems several years ago. The original plan was to make the site a residential course and sell up to 500 homes, but the plans fell through.
"I played the old Cottonwood," Clark said. "They worked around trees, cedars and cottonwoods, and they didn't really take advantage of the dunes at all. It was going to be residential. But things have changed. This destination models work and that's why this will be great for Hutchinson."
For Clark, this project represents the culmination of his professional efforts.
"I've been designing for 35 years, but this is probably the pinnacle for me. To have an owner that trusts you to go build 45 holes and not bring in another architect, it's pretty special. He gives us free rein to go design what we want to, and we're having a lot of fun," Clark said. "So we're we're down there, probably two to three days a week. We bought a house there, and we're there all the time, and it's special. We're so close, we drive a Gator (ATV) over to the site, so we're pretty intimate with this piece of property and every time we do a hole, we're saying, 'OK, that's a great hole. That's the best one.' And then we build another one.
"So I think people will be shocked. I'm excited. It's, it's just going to be a blast. I'm just like a little kid. Now, I'm like give me all 45 holes. I want to go play."
Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Kansas set for massive new Salt Lick golf resort near Prairie Dunes
Continue reading...
