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.

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.

As all eyes turn to Augusta National for Masters Week, I turned my focus to Kawonu Golf Club, Greenville County’s first invitation-only, private golf club in about 30 years. The ~294 acre property near Simpsonville is bordered by the Reedy River, Highway 418, and Fork Shoals Road and promises to be one of our region’s most exclusive new destinations for golfers when it opens in 2027. It’s designed by Andrew Green, one of the most sought-after golf course architects in the world. The golf-only club will blend championship-caliber play as it honors the land’s history and Cherokee roots. I also saw where the footprint of the clubhouse has been dug — with the dirt utilized in other areas of the course’s construction. There will also be on-site cottages and a Golf House offering state-of-the-art indoor practice and teaching facilities.

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.

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.