Kawonu Golf Club—an invitation-only, golf-only destination—is poised to deliver an immersive playing experience unlike anything currently offered in the region. The club is targeting a spring or early summer 2027 opening.

After more than 30 years without a new private golf club in the Greenville, S.C., area, a transformative project is taking shape just 17 miles south of downtown. Kawonu Golf Club—an invitation-only, golf-only destination—is poised to deliver an immersive playing experience unlike anything currently offered in the region.

Located in Simpsonville, the 18-hole club is the vision of longtime Greenville businessman Barton Tuck and veteran golf course designer Scott Ferrell. The duo is aiming to create a course and community that prioritizes golf and camaraderie above all else, distinguishing it from other area clubs that offer a wide range of recreational amenities like tennis, swimming, and pickleball.

Kawonu’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the land itself—a 290-acre site steeped in history as former Cherokee hunting grounds and a Revolutionary War battlefield. The layout, designed by nationally acclaimed architect Andrew Green, will thoughtfully incorporate the site’s five existing lakes and 60 acres of protected Reedy River floodplain. Minimal earth-moving and a commitment to environmental stewardship are central to the club’s sustainable approach.

Green, known for celebrated restorations of historic venues like Inverness Club and Congressional Country Club, will be taking on one of his rare ground-up design projects with Kawonu. His work is expected to emphasize strategy, natural aesthetics, and playability across a course that will serve as the centerpiece of this exclusive destination.

Construction officially begins this week with a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by approximately 150 founding members. The club is targeting a spring or early summer 2027 opening.

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