Andrew Green • February 4, 2025

Kawonu Golf Club Featured Fairway: February 2025

Hole 15

Kawonu Golf Club - Hole 15

"At Kawonu, the par 3s exude tremendous individual personality. Each hole is distinct, with significant differences in distance, direction, target size, and elevation that make them all memorable. These short holes accentuate the natural terrain on which they rest, offering a unique challenge to players at every turn. Among them, the shortest hole on the course is the par 3, 15th—a hole that embodies both charm and complexity.


At first glance, a short par 3 may seem straightforward—requiring only a wedge or short iron from the tee to the green. However, this apparent simplicity often masks the challenge they present. The allure lies in the target, which seems tantalizingly close yet deceptively demanding. Standing over the ball, every "troubled" swing thought floods the mind: Don’t miss it short, long, left, or right—every direction seems to spell disaster. These are the hallmarks of an excellent short 3, where precision and mental toughness are tested.


The 15th at Kawonu offers all these elements and more. With a 30-foot elevation drop from the tees to the green, the hole challenges players to judge both distance and line of play with precision. The green itself is angled in a way that adds complexity to every shot. A ball can roll onto the green from the left side without requiring much carry but may leave a daunting 140-foot putt to a back-right hole location. Conversely, most of the green demands a precise carry over a menacing bunker to hold the putting surface. Any shot that lands long risks trouble, as the rear green bank falls away steeply.


Strategically placed in the round, the 15th offers a moment of perceived opportunity. Following the demanding par 4, 14th, and preceding the dramatic, uphill 16th, this hole invites players to hunt the flag. With its elevation drop, unpredictable wind, and tantalizing challenge, the 15th showcases the powerful allure of a stunning short 3 and sets the stage for the journey Home.


In the world of golf, short par 3s often stand out as deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful components of any course. While they may lack the sheer length of a par 5 or the intricate strategic options of a challenging par 4, short par 3s provide players with opportunities for creativity, precision, and a test of nerves. Their influence extends beyond the scorecard, enhancing players’ skills, mental focus, and appreciation for the game’s subtleties."


- Andrew Green, Course Architect

The Story of South Carolina's Next Great Golf Club

By The Hole Story Podcast • July 6, 2026
Scott Ferrell joins us to share the journey of developing Kawonu Golf Club in Greenville, South Carolina, from land selection to design with architect Andrew Green, and the vision for a golf-only, community-focused experience. LISTEN HERE.

Kawonu Golf Club Is Becoming One of America’s Most Intriguing New Golf Destinations

By Athlon Sports • July 1, 2026
The latest construction milestones at South Carolina’s Kawonu Golf Club reveal more than progress; they offer the clearest glimpse yet of a private golf experience rooted in timeless architecture, thoughtful design and an unwavering commitment to the game. Every now and then, a new golf course comes along that quietly captures the attention of architecture enthusiasts long before a single scorecard is signed. Kawonu Golf Club is becoming one of those places. Nestled on more than 290 acres outside Greenville, South Carolina, the private, golf-only club has steadily built momentum over the past year without relying on flashy announcements or celebrity fanfare. Instead, it has allowed the land, the design team and a clearly defined vision to tell its story. Two recent construction milestones—the beginning of course grassing and the unveiling of the clubhouse complex—suggest that story is entering an exciting new chapter. For golfers who appreciate great architecture as much as great golf, these aren’t simply construction updates. They’re the first tangible signs that one of the country’s most anticipated private clubs is beginning to emerge from the landscape. Anyone who has ever watched a golf course being built knows the most important work often happens out of sight. Before fairways turn green, countless hours are spent moving earth, shaping contours, installing drainage and laying irrigation. It’s essential work, but it requires a bit of imagination to see what the finished product will eventually become. That changes once grass begins to take hold. Since breaking ground in April 2025, Kawonu has completed much of the heavy construction across the property. With shaping and irrigation now largely complete, crews have begun sodding and grassing the championship layout, moving methodically from greens and tees to fairways. The transformation may seem cosmetic to the casual observer, but in reality it marks one of the most significant milestones in the life of any new golf course. Andrew Green, whose reputation has skyrocketed through acclaimed restoration work at some of America’s most revered clubs, has said grassing is the stage where golfers finally begin to understand the rhythm of the routing. Instead of isolated construction zones, the individual holes begin connecting into a cohesive journey across the property. That’s particularly exciting at Kawonu, where Green has routed the course through rolling meadows, mature hardwood forests and the Reedy River corridor rather than forcing the landscape to conform to a preconceived design. Everything we’ve learned about the project suggests the land remains the star of the show. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.