scgolfclub.com • April 11, 2024

Press Mention: New private golf club announced for Greenville

Future location of Kawonu Golf Club's clubhouse

It had been over 30 years since a new private golf club was opened in Greenville. The new Kawonu Golf Club is moving from planning to construction in the next year. The new golf club is located near Fork Shoals Road and Highway 418. (Ferrell Photo)

Over the last few months the rumor in clubhouses and golf courses around the Upstate has been about a new course being developed in Greenville.


Rumors had the new course being more demanding than the Ocean Course and more exclusive than Augusta National.


The rumors did not set a date for the new course to host a US Open, but if Scott Ferrell had not publicly announced the plans for Kawonu Golf Club in March, plans for a major in the Upstate certainly would have been added to the rumor mill.

Scott Ferrell, Founding Partner, and Andrew Green, Golf Course Designer, at Kawonu Golf Club

It had been over 30 years since a new private golf club was opened in Greenville. The new Kawonu Golf Club is moving from planning to construction in the next year. The new golf club is located near Fork Shoals Road and Highway 418. (Ferrell Photo)

“Hopefully our announcement will settle down the rumors,” offered Ferrell.

A long time executive with the Gary Player Golf Group Ferrell moved to the Upstate with the company around 16 years ago.


With Player he managed the development of golf properties for the company all over the world, but a few years back decided Greenville would be home.

“We love Greenville and with my background I wanted to see if we could bring a new course here,” he said.


After a great deal of planning and with some help from noted Greenville golf developer Barton Tuck as an advisor the idea of an exclusive club on the order of Congaree in Ridgeland and Sage Valley in Aiken took hold.


Kawonu Golf Club will be the first new course in the Upstate since The Cliffs at Mountain Park opened,


It will be the first new private club to open in Greenville since Thornblade Club over 30 years ago.

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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.