After more than 30 years without a new private golf club in the Greenville, S.C., area, a transformative project is taking shape just 17 miles south of downtown. Kawonu Golf Club—an invitation-only, golf-only destination—is poised to deliver an immersive playing experience unlike anything currently offered in the region.
Located in Simpsonville, the 18-hole club is the vision of longtime Greenville businessman Barton Tuck and veteran golf course designer Scott Ferrell. The duo is aiming to create a course and community that prioritizes golf and camaraderie above all else, distinguishing it from other area clubs that offer a wide range of recreational amenities like tennis, swimming, and pickleball.
Kawonu’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the land itself—a 290-acre site steeped in history as former Cherokee hunting grounds and a Revolutionary War battlefield. The layout, designed by nationally acclaimed architect Andrew Green, will thoughtfully incorporate the site’s five existing lakes and 60 acres of protected Reedy River floodplain. Minimal earth-moving and a commitment to environmental stewardship are central to the club’s sustainable approach.
Green, known for celebrated restorations of historic venues like Inverness Club and Congressional Country Club, will be taking on one of his rare ground-up design projects with Kawonu. His work is expected to emphasize strategy, natural aesthetics, and playability across a course that will serve as the centerpiece of this exclusive destination.
Construction officially begins this week with a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by approximately 150 founding members. The club is targeting a spring or early summer 2027 opening.
Rendering
Supporting the course will be a refined clubhouse and a series of overnight accommodations designed by Joel Newman of Thomas and Dezinger Architects, whose past projects include Chechessee Creek Club, Ohoopee Match Club, and Spring Island Club. Kawonu’s clubhouse will offer both indoor and outdoor spaces, along with a signature dining venue—Founder’s Fish House—and a collection of four-bedroom cottages and boutique guest suites called Founder’s Village, located between the ninth and 13th holes.
Designed as a pure golf retreat, Kawonu aims to attract passionate players from the Upstate and beyond. With the nearest comparable clubs located more than an hour away in Aiken and Beaufort, Kawonu fills a long-standing gap in the region’s golf landscape. Early interest and founding member commitments have already validated the developers’ vision.
Perhaps most striking is the land use decision. The property, which could have supported up to 800 residential units, is instead being preserved as open green space—a move that has resonated positively with local residents amid growing concerns about overdevelopment.
As Kawonu moves into its next phase, it brings with it a promise to blend heritage, sustainability, and world-class golf—marking the start of a new era for the Greenville golf scene.
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