TOWN Magazine • February 28, 2025

Kawonu Golf Club Blends Championship Golf with Captivating Views

Andrew Green says the first time he stepped foot on the land that will one day be the members-only Kawonu Golf Club, he knew.

“For me, the magic of golf is when the ground is graceful enough to keep your ball from flying all over the place but is challenging enough to require you to take a few risks,” Green says. “Kawonu Golf Club will offer golfers that experience.”


But it’s more than a golfer’s eye that Green brings to the table. He’s also the renowned golf course architect behind the 7,300-yard championship course that will soon break ground ahead of an expected 2027 completion date.


“This is a very, very special piece of ground,” Green says. “The first time we visited, the first thing I noticed is that you access it on the higher edge of the entire property, which will allow for commanding views of the entire course for the golfers.”


The ground he’s referring to is about 300 acres of pristine landscape bordered by the Reedy River and Fork Shoals Road in Simpsonville. Within those 300 acres are five small lakes that in recent generations have been popular with duck hunters and will soon be the centerpiece of the Kawonu golfing experience. “Kawonu is the Cherokee word for ‘duck,’” he says.


Beyond the lakes, the course will offer golfers a challenging yet enjoyable experience.

Challenging, Enjoyable Kawonu Golf Club Experience

“This course will present an epic journey through the landscape, and create shots that are unique to the ground,” says the course’s architect. “Each green will shape the strategy of the hole itself, because a great golfing experience tends to work backward from the putting surface to the fairway, to the tee. It will be very fun and engaging.”


The back tees will play more than 7,300 yards on the 18-hole course, but golfers will have four other sets to choose from. “The shortest version of the course plays about 5,000 yards,” he says. “So, there will be a variety of experiences to choose from.”


Another winsome aspect of the course will be a natural sense of community as golfers navigate the layout. “We’re keeping the distances between tee boxes and greens closer together, because it fosters an ability to walk the course and still enjoy it,” Green explains. “Players will not only be able to see where they’ve just played, but where they’re about to play, which is valuable. And it will give groups plenty of opportunity to interact.”

View Andrew Green's Bio

As for memberships, founding partner Scott Ferrell says a buzz is building. Several notable PGA tour golfers have already joined, with more coming all the time, since they began actively inviting members—primarily through referrals—in May 2024.


“It’s been 30 years since a private club was developed in Greenville,” Ferrell says. “So we’re focusing on a local membership that is overlaid by a regional and national membership base, too. We have members from 18 cities and growing.”


Such a diverse membership will offer players a richer experience on the links, as someone from Greenville might enjoy a round with a member from Chicago, for example. “We’re looking at a membership that is about two-thirds local, one one-third regional and national,” Ferrell says.


The club is a pure golf club and will offer lodging for members and their guests, along with a training center affiliated with the club’s practice facility.


“We want to have golfing at its highest level, and that’s the focus,” Green says. “We want people who love the game of golf to love being at Kawonu.”

This article was originally published by Town Magazine on Feb 28, 2025 — shared here with full credit to the original source.

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.