By Richard Humphreys |
Grassing 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 has helped to build and manage more than 60 golf courses in the southeast of America with his company GolfSouth.
Since breaking ground in April 2025, work has progressed across the property, including earthworks, shaping and the installation of an irrigation system. The most recent work has covered sodding around greens, tees and bunkers.
"This is a pivotal moment for the project,” said Ferrell. “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.”
Grassing in progressing at Kawonu, a new 18-hole golf course by Andrew Green (Photo: Kawonu Golf Club)
Green’s routing has holes located across the site’s rolling terrain, open meadows and mature hardwood forest.
“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."
Director of agronomy David Barrett will lead grow-in. “The groundwork has been done at a very high level,” he said. “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 is expected to open in 2027.