Erin Hills desired natural-looking walking paths that blended in with the course, but there were issues with erosion due to the hilly terrain. Their grounds crew was spending far too much time maintaining their walking paths when their efforts could be better spent maintaining the actual course in anticipation of the 2017 U.S. Open.

Kafka Granite developed a patented Wax Coated Pathway Mix, combining crushed stone with a polymeric wax to create an aesthetically pleasing, durable, and dustless pathway. This wax-coated aggregate mix creates a dustless, sealed, non-permeable, and natural-looking surface that’s perfect for use on a golf course, as it can stand up to both extensive wear and tear and the hilliest of terrain. The ease of installation and limited maintenance makes the Wax Coated Pathway Mix a top choice for beautiful, yet resilient, pathways.

These pathways have stood up beautifully to the challenging freeze/thaw cycles of Wisconsin’s climate. Even with approximately 18,000 rounds of golf each season — totaling around 30,000 people annually when factoring in golfers, caddies, maintenance staff and more — Erin Hill’s pathways have held up remarkably well over the years.

The grounds crew has been so pleased with this material that they ordered more in preparation of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Championship — making sure the course is absolutely pristine for this major open.

To learn more about this project, review our case study.