Lakes and rolling landscape will define the links at Kawonu Golf Club in Simpsonville
Andrew Green says the first time he stepped foot on the land that will one day be the members-only Kawonu Golf Club, he knew.
“For me, the magic of golf is when the ground is graceful enough to keep your ball from flying all over the place but is challenging enough to require you to take a few risks,” Green says. “Kawonu Golf Club will offer golfers that experience.”
But it’s more than a golfer’s eye that Green brings to the table. He’s also the renowned golf course architect behind the 7,300-yard championship course that will soon break ground ahead of an expected 2027 completion date.
“This is a very, very special piece of ground,” Green says. “The first time we visited, the first thing I noticed is that you access it on the higher edge of the entire property, which will allow for commanding views of the entire course for the golfers.”
The ground he’s referring to is about 300 acres of pristine landscape bordered by the Reedy River and Fork Shoals Road in Simpsonville. Within those 300 acres are five small lakes that in recent generations have been popular with duck hunters and will soon be the centerpiece of the Kawonu golfing experience. “Kawonu is the Cherokee word for ‘duck,’” he says.
Beyond the lakes, the course will offer golfers a challenging yet enjoyable experience.
Challenging, Enjoyable Kawonu Golf Club Experience
“This course will present an epic journey through the landscape, and create shots that are unique to the ground,” says the course’s architect. “Each green will shape the strategy of the hole itself, because a great golfing experience tends to work backward from the putting surface to the fairway, to the tee. It will be very fun and engaging.”
The back tees will play more than 7,300 yards on the 18-hole course, but golfers will have four other sets to choose from. “The shortest version of the course plays about 5,000 yards,” he says. “So, there will be a variety of experiences to choose from.”
Another winsome aspect of the course will be a natural sense of community as golfers navigate the layout. “We’re keeping the distances between tee boxes and greens closer together, because it fosters an ability to walk the course and still enjoy it,” Green explains. “Players will not only be able to see where they’ve just played, but where they’re about to play, which is valuable. And it will give groups plenty of opportunity to interact.”
As for memberships, founding partner Scott Ferrell says a buzz is building. Several notable PGA tour golfers have already joined, with more coming all the time, since they began actively inviting members—primarily through referrals—in May 2024.
“It’s been 30 years since a private club was developed in Greenville,” Ferrell says. “So we’re focusing on a local membership that is overlaid by a regional and national membership base, too. We have members from 18 cities and growing.”
Such a diverse membership will offer players a richer experience on the links, as someone from Greenville might enjoy a round with a member from Chicago, for example. “We’re looking at a membership that is about two-thirds local, one one-third regional and national,” Ferrell says.
The club is a pure golf club and will offer lodging for members and their guests, along with a training center affiliated with the club’s practice facility.
“We want to have golfing at its highest level, and that’s the focus,” Green says. “We want people who love the game of golf to love being at Kawonu.”
