Kawonu Golf Club Reveals Clubhouse Designs by Architect Joel Newman

First renderings reveal timeless clubhouse architecture rooted in the land that has inspired Andrew Green’s championship course

(Greenville, S.C.) – Kawonu Golf Club, the private golf-only club under construction near Greenville, South Carolina, has unveiled the first renderings of its clubhouse complex. Designed by architect Joel Newman, the facilities represent another milestone in the development of the club and offer members and prospective members a glimpse into the gathering spaces planned for the property.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to create a club that feels authentic to the land and true to the traditions of the game,” said Scott Ferrell, founding partner of Kawonu Golf Club. “While the golf course will always be at the heart of Kawonu, these facilities are an important part of the overall experience. Joel has designed spaces that feel timeless, welcoming and perfectly suited to the character of the property.”

Designed around the club’s golf-only philosophy, the clubhouse complex will be anchored by a dedicated Golf House positioned behind the practice area. The approximately 5,000-square-foot facility will include a golf shop, indoor teaching bays, a halfway house, golf fitness space and an outdoor patio overlooking the practice facilities.

Connected by a breezeway, the 9,500-square-foot main clubhouse will overlook the 18th green and the surrounding landscape, and will include locker rooms, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a private dining room, and seven individual overnight rooms on the lower level. Together, the two structures are designed to offer a cohesive, purposeful arrival and fitting finish to a round of golf.

Among the additional amenities planned for the property is Tuck’s Cabin, a fishing cabin overlooking a 10-acre lake at the center of the front nine. The cabin is named in honor of Barton Tuck, who brings decades of real estate development experience to his role as Founding Partner at Kawonu Golf Club, and his son, Noel Tuck, who serves as the club’s Development Manager. The cabin will feature a fireplace, casual furnishings, an honor bar, and fishing gear, creating a relaxed retreat for members and guests.

To bring the clubhouse complex to life, Kawonu partnered with Newman, whose work is widely recognized for its thoughtful approach to club and hospitality design. Based in Beaufort, South Carolina, Newman is a partner at Thomas & Denzinger Architects and has designed facilities at Chechessee Creek Club, Spring Island Club, and Ohoopee Match Club, as well as projects at Kiawah Island and Palmetto Bluff. At Kawonu, he is leading the design of the clubhouse, lodging accommodations, training center, and golf course comfort stations.

“Every building on this property should feel like it belongs here – rooted in the land, not imposed upon it,” said Newman. “What makes Kawonu exceptional is that the land itself tells you what to do. The rolling topography, the varied tree species, and the way light falls across the Reedy River corridor – all of it informs how we approach each structure. Our goal is to create spaces that are purposeful and unhurried, where the architecture draws you deeper into the golf experience rather than pulling you away.”

Construction on Tuck’s Cabin is projected to begin this year. Construction on the Golf House is slated to begin in 2027, with the main clubhouse to follow.

Situated on more than 290 acres of rolling meadows, hardwood forests, and Reedy River frontage, Kawonu Golf Club is the first private golf-only club developed in the Upstate in more than 30 years. The club’s Andrew Green-designed championship golf course is under construction, with grassing underway, and is expected to open in spring 2027.

For more information about Kawonu Golf Club and the facilities, visit www.kawonugolfclub.com.

Sandia Golf Club Completes Phase One Of Clubhouse Renovation Project

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) – Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico recently completed the first phase of its clubhouse renovation, enhancing guest amenities and modernizing facilities. The project, which began in September 2025, was led by Enterprise Builders as the general contractor, with architectural design by Oklahoma City-based GSB and interior design by Tom Hoch Design.

The first-phase renovation includes a redesigned 1,000-square-foot golf shop featuring modern fixtures and lighting, effectively doubling the club's headwear offerings and increasing on-hand inventory. The updated layout improves shopping flow, providing a more efficient and enjoyable experience for guests. New product offerings include Sandia Golf Club-branded apparel lines (available only on property) such as Sun Day Red, Dunning, and Good Good.

"Every touchpoint of this expansion - from the initial welcome and efficient bag handling to the refined retail experience - has been thoughtfully designed with comfort and convenience in mind," said Sandia Pueblo Governor Stuart Paisano. "This is just the first step in a continued investment to ensure Sandia Golf Club remains the premier golf and event destination unlike anything else in New Mexico and the Southwest."

Additional enhancements encompass a new, ADA-compliant dressing room and a redesigned check-in counter aimed at offering a more personalized shopping and check-in experience. A newly designed bag drop, positioned further into the circular drive, adds to the arrival experience while allowing staff to more efficiently assist with unloading and staging golf bags. Upon entry, guests are welcomed into an elegant new lobby. New elevator access to the lower level, leads directly to the golf car staging area, setting the tone of excellence for the beginning of their visit.

“We would like to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to our guests for their continued support and loyalty,” said Sandia Golf Club General Manager Nick Knee. “As we unveil our new amenities and move to phase two of the transformation, guests will begin to experience a premier golf and event destination where every detail has been intentionally elevated. With more than 20 years of operational insight, this redesign has been carefully shaped with guest comfort, convenience, and overall experience at the forefront. Opening the golf shop and new lobby represent an exciting beginning, and we look forward to welcoming each and every guest to what will ultimately become a truly best-in-class clubhouse, one that sets a new standard and stands unmatched.”

The clubhouse improvements, the first since Sandia Golf Club opened in 2005, complement recent upgrades across the Sandia Resort and Casino campus, reflecting a commitment to providing best-in-class amenities. The completion of phase one marks a significant step in elevating the guest experience at Sandia Golf Club, with phase two anticipated to begin this month and be completed by early 2027. Phase two enhancements will focus on renovations to the Sandia Grille, including expanding and updating the kitchen; elevating staff space; enhancing indoor and outdoor dining and bar areas; upgrading restroom spaces; and a newly designed event space perfect for social and post-tournament event functions. Guests are encouraged to follow Sandia Golf Club’s social media channels for updates throughout construction. While certain amenities will be temporarily unavailable, the club remains committed to delivering exceptional golf experiences and maintaining service standards throughout the project.

Sandia Golf Club is managed by Troon Golf. For more information on Sandia Golf Club, visit www.sandiagolf.com.

America’s Worst Golf Course? The Real Story Behind a Decades-Long Struggle

By any measure, naming the single worst golf course in the United States is a dangerous exercise. Golfers are opinionated. Course rankings are subjective. One player's hidden gem is another player's nightmare.

Yet every few years, one facility rises to the top of golf's least-desirable lists. Recently, that distinction has belonged to the public-owned Leo J. Martin Golf Course in Weston, Massachusetts, which has been ranked by multiple golf-review outlets as the worst golf course in America due to deteriorating conditions, damaged turf, weed-infested greens, and widespread maintenance issues.

But the more interesting question isn't why golfers dislike the course today.

It's why it has remained in such rough shape for so long.

A Course Caught in a Cycle

Golfers who have played Leo J. Martin often describe fairways that resemble hard-packed dirt more than grass, greens that struggle to roll consistently, and playing surfaces that can vary dramatically from hole to hole. Recent rankings cited dead turf, weeds, bare patches, and unpredictable putting conditions as primary reasons for its bottom-of-the-list status.

The problems, however, didn't appear overnight.

Like many aging municipal golf courses across America, Leo J. Martin has been trapped in a cycle that is difficult to escape. Years of heavy play, limited budgets, aging infrastructure, and deferred maintenance gradually compound until the course falls behind. Once turf conditions deteriorate, recovery becomes increasingly expensive. When recovery requires major capital investment—such as irrigation upgrades, drainage work, or large-scale turf replacement—public agencies often struggle to find the necessary funding.

The result is a course that continues to attract golfers because of its affordability while simultaneously lacking the resources needed to dramatically improve conditions.

The Municipal Golf Dilemma

What makes Leo J. Martin's story particularly fascinating is that many golfers continue to play there despite its reputation.

The reason is simple: price.

At a time when green fees at many public facilities have climbed dramatically, Leo J. Martin remains one of the more affordable options in the Boston area. Golfers looking for a budget-friendly round often choose value over pristine conditions.

That creates a paradox.

The course generates traffic because it is inexpensive, but heavy usage further stresses already fragile turf. Maintenance crews are then asked to restore worn-out surfaces while managing limited resources and thousands of annual rounds.

It's a problem familiar to municipal operators nationwide.

Private clubs can levy assessments. Resort courses can raise rates. Municipal facilities often answer to taxpayers, public budgets, and political realities.

When Infrastructure Becomes the Real Enemy

Golfers frequently blame poor conditions on maintenance crews. In reality, the deeper issue is often infrastructure.

A modern golf course relies on sophisticated irrigation systems, drainage networks, turf-management programs, and specialized equipment. When any of those systems age beyond their useful life, even the most talented superintendent can struggle to maintain quality playing conditions.

Reports surrounding Leo J. Martin have pointed toward long-term efforts to address maintenance deficiencies, including management changes and infrastructure improvements. Officials have acknowledged the need for upgrades and have discussed irrigation improvements as part of future recovery efforts.

That highlights a broader truth in golf architecture: a course rarely becomes America's worst because of one bad season.

It gets there through years of accumulated neglect, underinvestment, and deferred repairs.

Is It Really the Worst?

Perhaps not.

The phrase "worst golf course in America" makes for a catchy headline, but it also oversimplifies a complicated situation.

Many golfers who have visited Leo J. Martin note that the routing itself isn't terrible. Some online commenters have argued that the layout has potential and that the biggest issue is simply the condition of the turf.

That's an important distinction.

Bad design and bad maintenance are not the same thing.

A poorly designed golf course can be difficult to save. A neglected golf course, however, can often be restored with investment, patience, and time.

The Bigger Lesson

Leo J. Martin's reputation serves as a cautionary tale for public golf throughout America.

Municipal courses occupy a vital place in the game's ecosystem. They introduce beginners to golf, provide affordable access, and preserve green space in densely populated regions. But they are also vulnerable. When maintenance budgets shrink and infrastructure ages, the decline can be gradual enough that few notice until the course has become a national punchline.

The real story isn't that one course was labeled the worst in America.

It's that a facility built to make golf accessible was allowed to fall so far behind that golfers now use it as a benchmark for poor conditions.

Whether Leo J. Martin eventually sheds that reputation will depend less on rankings and more on whether long-promised investments can finally break the cycle that put it there in the first place. For now, its standing as America's most criticized golf course is less a story about bad golf and more a story about what happens when public facilities go too long without the resources needed to thrive.

Reliable Background Screening Named Preferred Partner of Troon

Leading Membership-Focused Background Screening Firm, with Longstanding Track Record of Success in Country Club Operations, to Provide Troon Portfolio of Private Club Partners with Membership and Employee Background Screening Services

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Troon Partners Network, a division of Troon®, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, today announced Reliable Background Screening, a leading private club-focused background screening firm with a track record of success in country club operations, as the company’s newest Preferred Partner.

Through a multi-year partnership, Reliable Background Screening will provide Troon’s portfolio of private club partners with membership and employee background screening services. As a Preferred Partner, Reliable’s programs and services will be promoted directly to club operators and management nationwide through integrated marketing campaigns, digital engagement, and exclusive promotional opportunities.

For more than 35 years, Reliable Background Screening has partnered with organizations of all sizes to deliver accurate, compliant, and responsive background screening solutions. As hiring risks continue to evolve—from identity fraud to increased regulatory enforcement—Reliable Background Screening remains committed to providing ease of use, accuracy, innovative technology, expert guidance, and hands-on client support that empowers employers to hire with confidence in an increasingly complex risk environment.

Specific to the private country club community, Reliable Background Screening provides unmatched expertise in membership background checks - helping maintain the integrity of a club, ensuring that both members and staff uphold the values and expectations that define the legacy of the brand. For decades, Reliable Background Screening has helped clubs nationwide safeguard the club’s reputation, create a safer environment, minimize liability, avoid costly public relations issues and ensure financial responsibility.

“We are thrilled to introduce Reliable Background Screening to the Troon Partners Network, as they offer the expert services needed by our private club partners to ensure best-in-class member and employee background screening,” said Ryan Pensy, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Troon Partners Network. “Through direct marketing to our portfolio of properties, Reliable’s programs and services will be introduced to club leaders and management in an effort to help them maintain safeguards and overall club integrity in the on-boarding process for both members and employees.”

“Reliable Background Screening is proud to join the Troon Partners Network and connect our services with private club operators nationwide," said Rudy Troisi, Founder & CEO, Reliable Background Screening. “Backed by our longstanding track record of expertise, accuracy and service, clients trust us to provide quality background checks that serve as protection for themselves and their brands.

Reliable Background Screening is the latest company to join the Troon Partners Network. From golf, sports and leisure brands to the airline, automotive, food and beverage, and financial services sectors, Troon partners can secure exclusive status that provides direct marketing to millions of consumers every day. Through Troon Partners Network, companies/brands enjoy a range of partnership levels, from preferred to official status, and receive custom programming designed to fit the marketing needs of each respective product or service being offered.”

Adds Pensy, “Troon Partners Network has grown significantly during the past several years with a stable of both endemic and non-endemic companies/brands joining our platform to connect with our serious, avid athletes. Whether large or small, we cater to each company/brand individually and design high-impact marketing programs and activations to elevate their image and awareness through our various golf, racquet sports, leisure and hospitality audiences.”

For more information on marketing programs available through Troon Partners Network, contact Sabrina Hale at sabrina.hale@troon.com.

Sweetens Cove Golf Club Announces Groundbreaking of New Short Course and Expansion Plans

The cult-favorite, 9-hole golf destination outside of Chattanooga is adding a new short course, putting green, simulator bays, lodging, dining, and more guest offerings

(South Pittsburg, Tenn.) – Sweetens Cove Golf Club, the highly acclaimed nine-hole, cult-favorite golf destination just west of Chattanooga in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, has announced a property-wide expansion, including the groundbreaking of a new King Collins Dormer-designed 13-hole short course set to open in summer 2027. This new offering will connect and overlap with the existing King Collins-designed course, encouraging creative “cross-country” play.

The Sweetens Cove expansion plans are in partnership with Reef Capital Partners, and the Sweetens Cove ownership group, including Rob Collins, Peyton Manning, Andy Roddick, Tom Nolan, Skip Bronson, Drew Holcomb, and current General Manager, Matthew Adamski. In addition to the course, plans call for the property’s first hospitality experience, including one-bedroom cabins with single or double occupancy opening in phases starting late 2027 with slated completion in 2028, followed by a winding putting green debuting in spring 2027, 3 golf simulator bays, club fitting and retail, and more.

“From the day Ari Techner and I signed the lease for Sweetens Cove Golf Club in May 2014, there has always been a larger vision for the property.  It took the partnership, wherewithal, and imagination of Jared Lucero and Reef to bring it to life. It has been a great deal of fun for me to work with him and his talented team over the last year and a half as we have refined the plans for the future of Sweetens Cove,” said Course Architect, Rob Collins. “I know in my bones that we are on the ideal path, and I am so incredibly excited for people to see what we have in store for the property.  Our team broke ground on the short course a few weeks ago, and they have already made great progress in setting up the concepts.  We’re going to work really hard on tying the two courses together so that Sweetens feels more free flowing and explorative than it already is!  When you combine the lit short course, multi-acre putting green, restaurant, cabins, and other amenities, Sweetens will be the ultimate 24-hour golf playground.”

As part of the expansion, there will also be a collection of gathering places, each one casual, familiar and rooted in the land designed by Pfeffer Torode Architecture, including a courtyard, full-service private 5,100 square foot restaurant and bar reserved for players with golf packages, along with a bottle shop and micro-distillery, which will open in Fall 2027. The 1,775 square foot distillery will be open to the public as a tasting room with bottles available for purchase, creating a dedicated destination to experience Sweetens Cove Spirits, an American whiskey brand rooted in the culture and traditions of Sweetens Cove. Additional forthcoming experiences will include a fishing dock, skeet shooting range, and an Octagon Barn event space featuring storage for 60 whiskey barrels.

“We have always prided ourselves on offering a golf experience unlike any other, one where every golfer has access to incredible architecture at an affordable price. These new additions will only enhance what our guests experience on property and further cement Sweetens as the ultimate golf destination,” said Adamski. “Our new model allows guests to take full advantage of everything this place has to offer, and that is what makes time stand still and friendships grow stronger. At the end of the day, everyone needs a little more Sweetens in their life. We cannot wait to welcome new friends, old friends back to Sweetens as we unveil our new golf additions in 2027, and Stay and Play experience in 2028.”

Designed and built as an inland links course, Sweetens Cove offers a truly unique golfing experience in the Southeastern United States. Drawing architectural inspiration from some of the game’s most celebrated layouts, King Collins crafted the current 9-hole short course that reflects the spirit of Scottish linksland and the classic era of course architecture in the United States. By combining artistically shaped features, dramatic contours, and an abundance of tightly mown turf, the course delivers a round that is both strategic and entertaining. It is a place designed to inspire players and leave them eager to return.

Sweetens Cove is most known for its unique operating model, as the club sells all day passes and does not utilize tee times on the weekends. Instead, guests gather at the shed around 8:30 a.m. to receive detailed information about course conditions and how the day will operate. This structure will remain the same with additional guest passes added to accommodate the new short course.

For more information on Sweetens Cove, visit sweetenscove.com.

Mountain Capital Partners to Acquire The Arizona Hideaway Collection

Courtesy: The Arizona Hideaway Collection

Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Sedona Golf Resort, and Rancho Mañana Golf Club expand MCP's Arizona portfolio with three of the state’s most recognized hospitality and golf destinations

(PHOENIX, AZ) — Mountain Capital Partners (MCP), alongside affiliated fund Texas Capital Partners, today announced the forthcoming acquisition of The Arizona Hideaway Collection from the Allred Family - a portfolio of three landmark Arizona resort and golf destinations: Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Sedona Golf Resort, and Rancho Mañana Golf Club. The acquisition broadens MCP's year-round outdoor recreation footprint across the Southwest, bringing its Arizona golf portfolio to five courses.

The Allred Family has shaped Arizona's hospitality landscape for decades - and their legacy in outdoor recreation runs deeper still. Before founding The Arizona Hideaway Collection, the Allreds helped transform Telluride, Colorado into a world-class ski destination in the late 1970s through the late 1990s, making this a transaction between two families rooted in mountain and resort hospitality.

Together, the three properties represent some of the most recognized resort and golf destinations in Arizona, each with its own distinct character. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa has welcomed guests since 1959. Sedona Golf Resort, set among the state's iconic red rock formations, is consistently ranked among Arizona's finest public courses. Rancho Mañana Golf Club, built on a historic 1940s dude ranch in Cave Creek, has been recognized by Golf Digest as a Top 50 Course for Women and a Top 10 Arizona course.

"My father and I spent decades building places that we believe in - places with history, character, and a sense of belonging," said Mike Allred, President and CFO of The Arizona Hideaway Collection. "Passing the Collection to Mountain Capital Partners feels right because of the passion they have for these assets and what they represent. They understand what it means to be the keeper of something people love. We're proud of what these properties are, and we're confident in what they will become."

The Hermosa Inn, also owned by the Allred family, is not included in this transaction and will continue under the family’s ownership.

The third-largest ski resort company in the United States by number of resorts, MCP owns and manages Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, and has operated in Arizona for more than three decades.

Since acquiring its Show Low golf properties in 2023, MCP has invested significantly in capital improvements, refined operations, and grown the golf business to over twice its original size at purchase in under three years.

The acquisition is led by MCP partner Kuzi Mutsiwegota, who oversees the company's golf operations. Raised in Zimbabwe inside his father's world of luxury safari hospitality, and with his mother - a historian from Abilene, Texas with a deep love of the Southwest - Mutsiwegota brings a rare lens to resort stewardship. Together with his wife, Silvia, Mutsiwegota has called Arizona home for many years, making this acquisition as personal as it is professional.

"My partners and I are excited to continue on our journey of striving to share the feeling of presence, clarity, freedom, and pure happiness that comes from experiencing majestic landscapes and being treated in a way where you feel absolutely seen," Mutsiwegota said. "We're so grateful to Mike Allred for entrusting us to be the stewards in the next chapter of these assets' already wonderful journey."

James Coleman, founder and managing partner of Mountain Capital Partners, sees The Arizona Hideaway Collection as a natural extension of MCP's vision.

"We are fueled by freedom, happiness and purpose, and those aren't limited to ski areas," Coleman said. "When we're not skiing, we're mountain biking, exploring trails, rafting rivers - and of course, golfing. We are anchored in skiing and snowboarding, and that will never change - but we are also more. The Arizona Hideaway Collection is proof of that."

Current management and operating teams at all three properties will be retained. All existing reservations, memberships, wedding and group events will be honored without disruption. Mutsiwegota said MCP will share more about its plans for the properties, including Power Pass integration, in the coming months.

Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Sedona Golf Resort, and Rancho Mañana Golf Club remain open and welcoming guests. For tee times and resort information, visit tubacgolfresort.com, sedonagolfresort.com, and ranchomanana.com.   

True Blue: Big, Bold and Pure Mike Strantz

(PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C.) — Some golf courses ask players to think their way through a round. Others ask them to survive.

True Blue Golf Club simply asks golfers to have fun.

Since opening in 1998, True Blue has stood apart from virtually every course on the Grand Strand, providing a distinctive experience.

Big, bold and unmistakably Mike Strantz, True Blue has become one of South Carolina's most celebrated layouts, earning a place among Golfweek's Top 100 Resort Courses in America while consistently ranking among the Palmetto State's top public golf experiences.

The first thing players notice is the scale.

Everything at True Blue is big. Fairways stretch wide across the landscape. Greens are large and undulating. Bunkers are expansive. The course occupies a former indigo plantation, and Strantz used the property's natural scale to create a layout that feels both sprawling and surprisingly intimate.

The course opened the same year as Tobacco Road, another Strantz design that became one of the most talked-about courses in America. By that point, True Blue was the architect's fifth design, and it showcased many of the characteristics that would come to define his legacy: imagination, strategic options and a willingness to challenge conventional golf architecture wisdom.

While Strantz earned his iconoclastic reputation, True Blue is far more playable than many first-time visitors expect.

The generous fairways provide plenty of room off the tee, rewarding aggressive swings without demanding perfection. The massive greens offer a variety of pin positions and strategic angles, but they also make it easier for high handicappers to find the putting surface. The result is a course that can challenge accomplished players while remaining enjoyable for everyday golfers.

That balance is part of True Blue’s enduring appeal.

The routing is unique, featuring five par 3s and five par 5s. That variety keeps players engaged throughout the round, particularly during the memorable turn where back-to-back par 5s at Nos. 9 and 10 create consecutive scoring opportunities. Birdies are always within reach at True Blue, but so is the possibility of a costly mistake.

As the round progresses, the challenge subtly shifts. While sprawling waste bunkers are the primary hazard for much of the day, water is the course’s primary defense over the final three holes, providing a dramatic finish to a top 100 round of golf.

True Blue's significance to the Myrtle Beach golf scene extends beyond its rankings. Alongside its sister course, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, it helped establish Pawleys Island - aka the Hammock Coast - as a destination within the game’s most popular travel market.

More than a quarter century after its debut, True Blue remains exactly what Strantz intended it to be: a golf course where everything is big - the fairways, the greens, the bunkers and, most importantly, the fun.