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 taking shape in South Carolina

By Markets of Tomorrow • May 11, 2026
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.

Course grassing underway as Kawonu Golf Club moves toward 2027 opening

By The Golf Wire • April 28, 2026
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.