Celebrated architect Andrew Green will design the invitation-only club on 290 acres along the Reedy River, marking the Upstate's first new private golf establishment since the early 1990s.
Kawonu Golf Club Breaks Ground on Greenville's First New Private Course in Three Decades originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Earlier this year, on April 14th, ceremonial shovels hit South Carolina soil with the weight of three decades of anticipation behind them. On a perfect spring afternoon at 3801 Fork Shoals Road, just outside Simpsonville, more than 150 founding members of Kawonu Golf Club gathered to witness something increasingly rare in modern golf: the groundbreaking of a new private club.
The 290-acre property along the Reedy River represents Greenville's first new private golf establishment since the early 1990s, a milestone that founding partners Scott Ferrell and Barton Tuck didn't take lightly as they outlined their vision for a club dedicated purely to the game of golf.
"We're building something that honors the traditions of the game," Ferrell said. The hardwood forests and rolling land that will soon frame 18 championship holes also honor the Cherokee.
The name Kawonu, derived from the Cherokee word for duck, pays homage to the property's history as a hunting preserve. But the site's rolling terrain, mature trees, and stunning river vistas suggest it was always destined for golf.
What makes Kawonu particularly compelling is its deliberate philosophy. While country clubs across the Southeast race to add amenities — from water parks to pickleball courts — Kawonu is moving in the opposite direction, focusing exclusively on delivering an exceptional golf experience with little other frills.
Andrew Green, whose star has risen dramatically in the golf architecture world over the past decade, will oversee this project. Green spent 14 years with McDonald and Sons as a senior designer, learning his craft on renovations at legendary venues like Merion, Shinnecock Hills, and Pine Valley. Now working on his own, he's become one of the most in-demand architects in the business.
"This property offers something truly special — a natural canvas with character, movement, and soul," Green said during the ceremony. "We're creating something timeless here. A course that's at once familiar yet entirely new."
Green's portfolio reads like a greatest hits collection of American golf. His restoration of Toledo's Inverness Club earned Golfweek's Restoration of the Year honors in 2018. His makeover of Congressional Country Club's Blue Course earned Golf Digest's Best Transformation award in 2021.
Then came Oak Hill's East Course, which Green restored just in time for the 2023 PGA Championship. Players and commentators couldn't stop talking about how good the course looked and played during that major championship week.
The Kawonu project represents something different for Green — one of his first designs built from scratch rather than a restoration or renovation. With his impressive track record in renovating historic venues, golf design enthusiasts will be watching closely to see how his original vision translates on this fresh property.
The timing couldn't be better for the Upstate region, which has quietly developed into a hotbed of professional golf talent. The area has produced an impressive roster of PGA Tour players, many of whom have expressed enthusiasm about Kawonu's development.
"We've got a good golf town and good golf courses, not to mention the climate's obviously a big factor," said Charles Warren, a three-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour who was inducted into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ben Martin, the Clemson graduate and PGA Tour winner who grew up in nearby Greenwood, echoed that sentiment. "Maybe we don't have the concentration of pros like Jupiter, Florida, or Sea Island in Georgia," Martin said. "But typically, guys out on the tour all know and love Greenville from coming here."
That connection to professional golf runs deep at Kawonu. Current and former Tour players reportedly joining the club include Martin, Warren, Bill Haas, Kyle Thompson, Carson Young, Jacob Bridgeman, and Mark Wilson. Their involvement speaks to both the region's golf pedigree and the project's credibility within professional circles.
The course itself will anchor a thoughtfully planned facility that extends Green's design philosophy beyond the fairways. Architect Joel Newman of Thomas and Denzinger has been commissioned to design the clubhouse, lodging facilities, training center, and on-course comfort stations.
Newman's portfolio includes celebrated projects like Spring Island, Ohoopee Match Club, and Chechessee Creek — all renowned for their understated elegance and harmony with natural surroundings. His approach aligns perfectly with Kawonu's vision of creating something that feels both sophisticated and authentic.
Ferrell brings considerable expertise to that vision. His career includes leadership positions with the Gary Player Group and various PGA Tour properties, giving him deep insight into what separates exceptional golf experiences from merely good ones.
The Cherokee name "Kawonu," as mentioned previously, carries additional significance beyond its historical connection to the land. In Cherokee culture, the duck symbolizes emotional comfort and protection—qualities the founders hope will define the member experience at Kawonu.
The development timeline reflects a commitment to getting details right rather than rushing to market. With construction now underway, Kawonu is targeting a Spring 2027 opening — allowing proper time for the course to mature and for every element to be refined.
The location itself offers strategic advantages. Situated less than 25 minutes from downtown Greenville, Kawonu provides easy access while maintaining the sense of escape that defines great golf destinations. The Upstate's continued growth has brought increased attention to the region's recreational amenities, positioning Kawonu to attract members from throughout the Southeast and beyond.
The Cherokee understood this land's special qualities centuries ago. The hunters who followed recognized its abundance. Now, a new generation of stewards is preparing to write the next chapter in its story.
In today's world increasingly dominated by digital distractions and artificial experiences, Kawonu Golf Club represents a bet on something more fundamental — the enduring appeal of a game played across beautiful land, among good company, with respect for tradition and an eye toward the future.
If the enthusiasm of its founding members and the caliber of talent involved in its creation are any indication, that bet seems destined to pay dividends for decades to come. The shovels have been put away, but the real work is just beginning.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
