The Unveiling of Old Sawmill Golf Club: Everything You Need to Know About Charleston's Newest Exclusive Course (2025/2026)

The Unveiling Of Old Sawmill Golf Club: Everything You Need To Know About Charleston's Newest Exclusive Course (2025/2026)

The Unveiling of Old Sawmill Golf Club: Everything You Need to Know About Charleston's Newest Exclusive Course (2025/2026)

The golf world is buzzing with anticipation for the official debut of the Old Sawmill Golf Club, a high-end, exclusive private facility currently under construction in the heart of South Carolina. As of December 17, 2025, this highly-anticipated project—spearheaded by Philadelphia-based architect Tyler Rae—is moving rapidly toward completion, promising a dynamic and bold new addition to the Lowcountry golf scene. The project’s unique design, coupled with its historical connection to the land, is setting it up to be one of the most talked-about new courses in the United States.

Set approximately 30 miles northwest of the historic city of Charleston, the Old Sawmill Golf Club is not a renovation of an old facility, but a brand-new, purpose-built destination. The course is designed to offer a world-class, members-only experience, capitalizing on its rural Berkeley County location to deliver a secluded and challenging round of golf. With a phased opening scheduled for late 2025 and 2026, the details emerging about the course layout, unique features, and agronomy are fueling excitement among avid golfers.

The Exclusive Profile: Old Sawmill Golf Club at a Glance

The Old Sawmill Golf Club represents a significant new venture in American golf architecture, bringing a fresh perspective to the South Carolina landscape. This section provides a detailed breakdown of the club’s key features and personnel.

  • Club Status: Brand New, High-End Private Club (Exclusive Members-Only Venue).
  • Location: Approximately 30 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina. Situated in the rural Lebanon community of Berkeley County, SC.
  • Address: 1337 Cypress Campground Road, Ridgeville, SC 29472.
  • Total Acreage: The design utilizes a vast 465 acres of land.
  • Golf Architect: Tyler Rae, of Tyler Rae Design. Known for his work on both renovations and new builds, Rae's design here is described as dynamic and bold.
  • Course Components: An 18-hole Championship Course and a 9-hole Par 3 Short Course.
  • Short Course Name: "The Lumber Yard".
  • Opening Timeline: The 9-hole short course, "The Lumber Yard," is slated to open in the second half of 2025. The 18-hole Championship Course is expected to debut in late Fall 2025 or 2026.
  • Agronomy: The courses will feature TifEagle greens and TifTuf grass.
  • Design Assistants: Jim Ryan and Tim Lewis are assisting Tyler Rae on the project.

Unpacking the Tyler Rae Design Philosophy and Course Features

The selection of Tyler Rae to design the Old Sawmill Golf Club speaks volumes about the ownership group's intent to create a truly unique and memorable golf experience. Rae, whose design philosophy often blends classic architectural principles with modern playability, has been given a massive canvas—465 acres—to work with.

The 18-Hole Championship Course

The centerpiece of the facility is the 18-hole championship course. While specific hole details are still emerging, the course is expected to be a dynamic and bold layout, utilizing the natural contours and features of the Berkeley County landscape. The decision to use TifEagle greens is a strategic one, ensuring a fast, firm, and consistent putting surface that can withstand the South Carolina climate.

Golf enthusiasts are anticipating a course that offers strategic depth, requiring thoughtful shot placement rather than just brute strength. The input from design assistants Jim Ryan and Tim Lewis is also contributing to the refinement of the course's routing and features, ensuring a cohesive and challenging round for members.

"The Lumber Yard": A Unique 9-Hole Par 3 Experience

Perhaps the most charming and talked-about feature of the Old Sawmill Golf Club is its 9-hole short course, affectionately named "The Lumber Yard." This name is a direct homage to the industrial history of the property, which once housed a working sawmill.

Short courses have become increasingly popular at high-end clubs, offering a quicker, more relaxed, and fun alternative to the 18-hole round. "The Lumber Yard" is expected to be a highly creative Par 3 course, providing a perfect setting for settling bets, warming up, or introducing new players to the game. Its anticipated opening in the second half of 2025 means members will get a taste of the club's quality well before the main course debuts.

Topical Authority: The Significance of TifEagle and TifTuf Grass

The choice of turfgrass is a critical decision for any modern golf course, especially in the challenging environment of the Lowcountry, South Carolina. The Old Sawmill Golf Club has opted for top-tier agronomy to ensure year-round playability and pristine conditions.

  • TifEagle Greens: This ultra-dwarf bermudagrass is renowned for its ability to be maintained at extremely low mowing heights, resulting in fast, smooth, and consistent putting surfaces. Its density and color retention are ideal for the hot, humid climate near Charleston.
  • TifTuf Fairways and Tees: TifTuf is a relatively new, high-performance bermudagrass known for its exceptional drought tolerance and rapid recovery from injury. This choice suggests the club is prioritizing sustainability and outstanding playability across the entire 18-hole and 9-hole layouts. The use of this specific turfgrass variety underscores the club's commitment to delivering a consistently high-quality experience for its members.

The Impact on the Charleston and South Carolina Golf Scene

The addition of the Old Sawmill Golf Club is a significant development for the already rich South Carolina golf landscape. While the state is home to world-famous public courses and historic private clubs, the Old Sawmill offers something distinct: a brand-new, modern interpretation of classic golf architecture in an exclusive, secluded setting.

The club's location in Berkeley County, slightly removed from the immediate hustle of downtown Charleston, positions it as a true retreat. This geographical choice allows the Tyler Rae design team to craft a course that maximizes the natural beauty and topography of the site, unconstrained by dense development. The club's focus on being an exclusive members-only venue ensures that the pace of play and course conditions will remain impeccable, a major draw for discerning golfers.

As the construction progresses toward the 2025 and 2026 opening dates, the Old Sawmill Golf Club is quickly becoming a beacon for the future of private golf in the region. Its commitment to quality design, superior agronomy (TifEagle and TifTuf), and a nod to local history ("The Lumber Yard") ensures its place among the elite golf destinations in the Southeast. Memberships are expected to be highly sought after, reflecting the prestige and quality of this upcoming world-class facility.

The Unveiling of Old Sawmill Golf Club: Everything You Need to Know About Charleston's Newest Exclusive Course (2025/2026)
The Unveiling of Old Sawmill Golf Club: Everything You Need to Know About Charleston's Newest Exclusive Course (2025/2026)

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