South Carolina’s Kawonu Golf Club, a private club near Simpsonville, has named David Barrett as its director of agronomy. A respected veteran of the industry with over 20 years of experience at top-ranked courses, most recently Congaree Golf Club, Barrett will oversee the day-to-day maintenance, operations and long-term agronomic strategy for Kawonu’s championship course.
In addition to leading all aspects of course performance, including turfgrass care, irrigation systems, environmental practices and agronomy team development, Barrett is charged with collaborating closely with architect Andrew Green throughout the course build. The club held a groundbreaking event in April.
“From the outset, we’ve said Kawonu will be nothing short of exceptional—and that starts with the team,” Kawonu founding partner Scott Ferrell said. “David is a proven leader with deep experience at the highest levels of the game. His ability to balance precision, innovation, and respect for the land makes him the ideal fit to help shape one of the finest golf experiences in the country.”
A native of Connecticut with a degree in turf management from NC State University, Barrett joins Kawonu after spending more than a decade at Congaree in Ridgeland, South Carolina. There, he oversaw course construction, daily agronomic operations and tournament preparation for events including the 2021 Palmetto Championship and 2022 CJ Cup. Before that, Barrett held key roles at Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey and Diamond Creek Golf Club in North Carolina.
“This is the kind of project you dream of as a superintendent,” Barrett said. “Kawonu has the land, the vision, and the people to build something truly special. I’m excited to help shape a world-class course that not only performs at the highest level but feels timeless and true to its surroundings.”
Barrett joins alongside green and clubhouse architect Joel Newman of Thomas and Denzinger Architects in shaping Kawonu Golf Club, which is expected to open in spring 2027. The invitation-only club will feature a par-72 championship course, an architecturally refined clubhouse, member lodging and golf training facilities.
