Young country club members expect more from their fees than access to a golf course. Scott Ferrell is an industry veteran who is helping lead the creation of Kawonu Golf Club outside Greenville, South Carolina. While they will feature golf only, Ferrell says the pressure to provide top-notch facilities away from the course is real and imminent. Aside from golf simulators that can be used as teaching bays — a must-have in the market these days — the amenity Ferrell is focused on is food and beverage, as, he says, "historically private clubs have had mediocre dining outlets.” Because Kawonu will have a mix of local and national members traveling from afar, Ferrell says they will make dining a primary focus of the experience.

Kawonu Golf Club is taking shape in southern Greenville County. Course architect Andrew Green gave a tour of the progress. Originally published by Greenville Journal

Work continues at Kawonu Golf Club, the new private course designed by Andrew Green. Originally published by Post & Courier.

Architect Andrew Green tours Kawonu Golf Club in Greenville, saying “we’re starting to uncover the magic” as the course takes shape. Via Greenville News.

Something extraordinary is taking shape in Upstate South Carolina, just minutes from the charm of downtown Greenville Kawonu Golf Club, a private golf sanctuary , is poised to offer membership focused purely on golf —rooted in history, heritage, and a deep love for the game. Set to open in early 2027, Kawonu is the first private, golf-only cours e to be built in the Upstate in more than three decades. With national memberships capped at just 150 and local options available, the club offers a focused, distraction-free setting designed for people who simply love the game . At the heart of it all is an original design by celebrated architect Andrew Green —one of his first from-scratch layouts after a string of acclaimed renovations at Inverness, East Lake, Oak Hill, and Congressional. “The property is amazing,” says Green. “Long vistas, water features, upland terrain. The ground speaks for itself. We’re creating a new golf experience that feels old, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

ite work has begun at Kawonu Golf Club in southern Greenville County, a new private club development. Press Mention via the Upstate Business Journal...

Kawonu Golf Club begins construction on its championship 18-hole layout in the Upstate, designed by Andrew Green. Via Palmetto Golfer.

Athlon Sports covers Kawonu Golf Club’s groundbreaking as Greenville’s first new private golf course in decades. Designed by Andrew Green.

Construction has started on the Andrew Green-designed course at Kawonu Golf Club, a new invitation-only private club in Simpsonville, South Carolina. The development is led by founding partners Scott Ferrell and Barton Tuck. Ferrell has worked for the PGA Tour, TPC and Gary Player Group, while Tuck, with his GolfSouth company, has helped to build and manage more than 60 golf courses in the southeast of America. “Today is about more than a construction milestone – it’s a tangible beginning of a vision to create one of America’s truly great golf clubs,” said Ferrell at the groundbreaking ceremony attended by the 150 members and founders. “We’ve assembled an incredible team, selected an extraordinary piece of land, and embraced a philosophy that honors both tradition and simplicity. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to provide a world-class experience rooted in authenticity, camaraderie, and a profound love for the game.” The site features rolling meadows, hardwood forests and lakefront vistas. “This property offers something truly special – a natural canvas with character, movement and soul,” said Green. “We are creating something timeless. A course that’s at once familiar yet entirely new. The goal is to create a layout that surprises, challenges and inspires players every time they step onto the first tee while remaining true to the land’s natural character and unique sense of place.” Kawonu will have a clubhouse, overnight accommodation, a Founder’s Village located between the ninth and thirteenth holes, a Founder’s Fish House restaurant as well as indoor and outdoor spaces. Architect Joel Newman of Thomas and Denzinger, who has portfolio including Ohoopee Match Club, will design the clubhouse, lodging, training center and comfort stations. “Kawonu is about more than the game,” said Ferrell. “We’re creating a place where golf serves as both an escape and a return to what matters most. Kawonu will be a retreat where the quality of the course shapes the experience, the beauty of the land, and the people who want to be part of something enduring.” Kawonu is expected to open in spring 2027.

Club & Resort Business spotlights Kawonu Golf Club as a new benchmark for private golf in South Carolina — blending design excellence, exclusivity, and regional...

Greenville Online / Greenville News explores Kawonu Golf Club's 290-acre, members-only course and what makes it unique in the region...