McKellar • February 4, 2025
Another Green World
Construction of Kawonu Golf Club in Simpsonville, South Carolina, will begin in early 2025. It will be the first new private club in the Greenville area for more than 30 years and will include a golf course designed by Andrew Green.
Many golf architecture fans first became familiar with the name of Andrew Green only in 2023, during the PGA Championship at newly renovated Oak Hill, or later that same fall, when Atlanta's East Lake shut down following the Tour Championship to embark upon a Green renovation of its own.
At first glance, it seemed surprising that someone outside the triumvirate of Tom Doak, Coore-Crenshaw or Gil Hanse had managed to land such plum assignments - in the new millennium, these men and their firms have dominated the headlines of classic course restoration - but these are only some of Green's most high-profile gigs. The 46-year-old Virginian had already amassed a sizable body of work, minus the tournament hoopla, at Golden Age lodestars like Inverness in northwest Ohio, Congressional in suburban D.C., and Rhode Island's Wannamoisett, venerated host of the Northeast Amateur. The architect has also guided refurbishments at a trio of Philadelphia clubs - Huntingdon Valley and Philmont (both William Flynn designs) and Whitemarsh Valley (George Thomas). Along with East Lake, he's worked at Donald Ross-pedigreed clubs, including Scioto in Ohio and Interlachen in the Twin Cities. He's taken on modern courses by Tom Fazio and Robert Von Hagge, and soon his team will break ground on the principal's first original design - in the serendipitously named South Carolina community of Greenville.
One of the most anticipated new private golf clubs in the Carolinas is officially entering its final stretch. Kawonu Golf Club, the private, golf-only club rising near Greenville, South Carolina, has officially begun sodding and grassing operations across its 18-hole championship course — a significant milestone signaling the project's move toward a 2027 opening. Since breaking ground in April 2025, construction has progressed steadily across the property, including full earthwork and shaping of the course and installation of the irrigation system. More recently, the focus has shifted to sodding around greens, tees, and bunkers, with grassing now moving across greens, tees, and fairways in sequence with irrigation — bringing grass to the full playing corridor. "This is a pivotal moment for the project," said Scott Ferrell, founding partner of Kawonu Golf Club. "For much of the past year, progress has been focused on the underlying structure of the course — work that is essential, but largely unseen. With grassing now underway, the course is beginning to reveal itself in a more complete and tangible way." The course itself comes from acclaimed architect Andrew Green, designed to follow the natural contours of the land and routed through rolling terrain, open meadows, and mature hardwood forest. That land-led approach has guided every phase of construction, with the emphasis squarely on preserving the character of the landscape while shaping a course that feels cohesive and enduring — the kind of strategy-driven golf that's becoming the new standard for top-tier private clubs across the country. "Grassing represents a real shift in how the course is experienced," said Green. "The underlying work has positioned the course exceptionally well, and now, as the turf is established, you begin to see the rhythm of the holes and how everything connects across the property. It's an important step in bringing the vision to life." As grassing moves forward, the focus shifts from construction to course conditions. Leading the grow-in process is Director of Agronomy David Barrett, who has been closely involved throughout construction and brings more than two decades of experience at top-ranked clubs, including a notable tenure at Congaree Golf Club — widely regarded as one of the most respected private golf experiences in the South. "The groundwork has been done at a very high level," said Barrett. "With shaping complete and systems in place, we're well-positioned for a successful grow-in. Our focus now is on developing strong, consistent turf conditions that will set the foundation for how the course plays from the very beginning." Beyond the championship course, Kawonu is being built as a fully integrated, members-first private experience. The club will include a dedicated golf training center, a clubhouse with dining, a small collection of on-site cottages for overnight stays, and a fishing pond and cabin situated along one of the property's lakes for member fishing and gathering — programming that reflects the club's core philosophy of slowing down, spending time on the land, and prioritizing the experience over the spectacle. With grassing now underway and a 2027 debut on the horizon, Kawonu Golf Club continues to take shape as one of the most closely watched private golf launches in the Southeast — a thoughtful, strategy-driven, golf-only club designed around the natural character of the land and built for members who want the game at its most essential.
Sodding milestone signals final stretch of construction at private Greenville-area club. Greenville, SC – Kawonu Golf Club, the private golf-only club under construction near Greenville, South Carolina, has begun sodding and grassing operations on the club’s 18-hole championship course, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress toward a 2027 opening. Since breaking ground in April 2025, work has progressed across the property, including full earthwork and shaping of the course and installation of the irrigation system. More recently, construction has focused on sodding around greens, tees, and bunkers. Grassing will now move across greens, tees, and fairways in sequence with irrigation, bringing grass to the full playing corridor. “This is a pivotal moment for the project,” said Scott Ferrell, founding partner of Kawonu Golf Club. “For much of the past year, progress has been focused on the underlying structure of the course—work that is essential, but largely unseen. With grassing now underway, the course is beginning to reveal itself in a more complete and tangible way.” Course architect Andrew Green designed Kawonu to follow the natural contours of the land, routing holes through rolling terrain, open meadows, and mature hardwood forest. That approach has guided each phase of construction, with an emphasis on preserving the character of the landscape while shaping a course that feels cohesive and enduring. “Grassing represents a real shift in how the course is experienced,” said Green. “The underlying work has positioned the course exceptionally well, and now, as the turf is established, you begin to see the rhythm of the holes and how everything connects across the property. It’s an important step in bringing the vision to life.” As grassing moves forward, the focus will shift from construction to course conditions, with Director of Agronomy David Barrett leading the grow-in—the process of establishing healthy, consistent turf across the course ahead of opening. Barrett has been closely involved throughout construction and brings more than two decades of experience at top-ranked clubs, including Congaree Golf Club. “The groundwork has been done at a very high level,” said Barrett. “With shaping complete and systems in place, we’re well-positioned for a successful grow-in. Our focus now is on developing strong, consistent turf conditions that will set the foundation for how the course plays from the very beginning.” Kawonu Golf Club remains on track for a 2027 opening. Founded as a private, golf-only club, Kawonu is centered on delivering a thoughtful, strategy-driven golf experience shaped by the natural character of the land. In addition to the 18-hole championship course, the club will include a golf training center, a clubhouse with dining, a small collection of on-site cottages, and a fishing pond and cabin situated along one of the property’s lakes for member fishing and gathering.
