GVLtoday • September 4, 2024

A sneak peek of Kawonu Golf Club

Kawonu Golf Club 11th hole

We can hear you saying “fore” already. | Rendering via the Hughes Agency

Greenville County is getting its first invitation-only, private golf club in ~30 years. Located near Simpsonville, Kawonu Golf Club will sit on ~294 acres bordered by the Reedy River, Highway 418, and Fork Shoals Road.

We got a sneak peek of the course and spoke with founding partner Scott Ferrell + architect Andrew Green,who’s a pretty big deal in the golf world.

What’s in a name?

Kawonu is the Cherokee word for “duck,” and after taking a tour of the property, and we noticed there’s no shortage of waterfowl. In fact, a portion of the acreage will be used as a waterfowl sanctuary.

Ducks at Kawonu

Honk to it. | Photo by GVLtoday


Beyond golf

Ferrell says this is a “private, golf-only club,” meaning it won’t be a country club. However, there will be:


Overnight accommodations

A “low-key” clubhouse

Food + beverage options


Why here?

According to Green, the game of golf is “really defined by the ground on which it’s made.” He tells us there are no real rules to designing a course, but the land it’s built on impacts the way you play.

“We want to enhance and amplify the property, not destroy it,” Green told us.

Field of Dreams at Kawonu

Views for days. | Photo by GVLtoday


What’s different about this course?

The area boasts several lakes, a hilly terrain, and plenty of green (no pun intended). He hopes to “create the most epic journey possible and the course will be totally unique, but the best principles of the game will be here.”


When will the course be done and how can I join?

Construction is set to start early next year, and the course should be complete by early 2027. Membership sales started in May (the club hopes to have ~350), and although the club is invitation-only, you can fill out a membership inquiry form.


READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Kawonu Golf Club Is Creating Something New That Feels Old

By Club + Resort Business • February 10, 2026
The new South Carolina private club is under construction, slated to open in the spring of 2027, and will center its hybrid membership around golf. Scott Ferrell, Founding Partner of Kawonu Golf Club, has been in the golf industry for almost 40 years, which eventually led him to Greenville, S.C. He knew that a private club hadn’t opened in the area in over 30 years and started looking into land to open a private, golf-only club. After one piece of land fell through, Ferrell says the current land fell into his lap and he immediately got started by partnering with Barton Tuck who has developed other golf courses over the years. Now, two years into the construction of the project, the club has a little over a year until its grand opening.

Kawonu Golf Club architect Andrew Green receives Golf Digest award

By Upstate Biz SC • January 28, 2026
Green earns Best Renovation of the Year honors as Kawonu prepares for 2027 opening. Kawonu Golf Club, the private golf-only club under construction near Greenville, South Carolina, announced that course architect Andrew Green has been named Golf Digest’s Best Renovation of the Year for his acclaimed work at Chevy Chase Club in Maryland. The national recognition reflects Green’s growing reputation as a leading architect in traditional golf course design and comes as work continues on Kawonu’s 18-hole championship course, currently scheduled to open in 2027. Golf Digest’s annual awards recognize the most exceptional golf architecture projects across the country. Green’s renovation of the historic Chevy Chase Club was praised for its restoration of classic design principles, strategic interest, and thoughtful playability for today’s game. “Andrew has a rare ability to honor the history and character of a property while creating something that feels completely relevant for today’s game,” said Scott Ferrell, founding partner of Kawonu Golf Club. “That approach is guiding every decision at Kawonu. This award is a reflection of the talent and perspective our members can expect when the course opens.” Green is widely known for his sensitive restoration work at some of the most respected clubs in the country, including Inverness Club, Congressional Country Club, Oak Hill Country Club, and now Chevy Chase Club — projects that have earned national acclaim for their authenticity, strategy, and timeless design. At Kawonu, Green is leading the design of an 18-hole championship course routed across rolling terrain, open meadows, and mature hardwood forest. The course follows the site’s natural topography, creating a highly strategic and immersive golf experience that feels deeply connected to the land.  “Working at Kawonu has been incredibly special because the land has such a strong natural character,” said Green. “Our goal is to let the property lead the design — creating holes that feel inevitable, timeless, and fun to play every day. It’s exciting to see that same design philosophy being recognized at Chevy Chase, and I can’t wait for golfers to experience what we’re building at Kawonu.” In addition to the Chevy Chase honor, Green received further recognition from Golf Digest in the Best Transformation category, including a Third-Place finish for his redesign of Vaquero Club in Westlake, Texas, and an honorable mention for his renovation of Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Kawonu Golf Club is a private, golf-only club currently under construction near Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to the championship course, the club will feature a clubhouse and on-site cottages designed by architect Joel Newman, offering dining, gathering spaces, and overnight accommodations for an immersive member experience. Construction is currently underway, with the club targeting a 2027 opening. To learn more about Kawonu Golf Club, visit www.kawonugolfclub.com.