Old Barnwell - Aiken, SC
What started with a chance encounter on Sullivan’s Island with the owner of Old Barnwell, I was able to host a group there for an unforgettable round of golf.
In mid 2024, I was out to eat for dinner at Mex 1 on Sullivan’s Island. I noticed a guy wearing a shirt with the new Old Barnwell logo, which happens to be an owl. I said to him, “Hey I like your shirt! I have heard lots of great things about Old Barnwell.” The gentlemen replied, “Thanks! I am a little biased but I think the course turned out great!”, to which I replied, “Oh do you work up there?” The guy gave a very polite chuckle and said, “Well kind of. I founded the golf club!” I asked what his name was and learned that I was speaking with Nick Schreiber, who served as the founder and owner of the course. I told him I admired the work he had done there and I would love the chance to play it some day. Nick gave me his contact and got me in touch with Kitty Nicastro who serves as the Head Golf Professional, who helped arrange a visit for myself and a group! I visited Old Barnwell in May of 2025 and I am very thankful for this chance encounter and the hospitality shown by Nick and the entire team at Old Barnwell. If you ever have the opportunity to play, don’t miss it!
Tucked into the sandy soils and rolling pine forests just outside Aiken, South Carolina, Old Barnwell is a modern course with a classic soul. Opened in 2023, it was designed by Brian Schneider and Blake Conant with a clear vision: to create a course that challenges golfers strategically while celebrating the natural terrain of the Carolina Sandhills. Wide fairways, rumpled ground, and bold green complexes set the stage for a round that feels both adventurous and deeply connected to the land.
The routing at Old Barnwell offers constant variety, moving through pine-lined corridors, open sandy expanses, and subtle elevation changes that make each hole feel distinct. Strategic decisions begin from the tee—multiple lines of play and angles into greens invite creativity, rewarding both daring and discipline. Greens are expansive and full of character, their contours asking players to think as much with their putter as with their irons. Old Barnwell is one of the best walks in golf, with the mix of landscapes and hole designs unfolding like a journey across the Sandhills.
Wind plays less of a role here than at seaside courses, but firm, fast-playing conditions keep the ground game alive. Recovery shots are particularly memorable—the sandy waste areas and rugged bunkering demand imagination, often offering more than one path back into play. It’s the kind of course where no two rounds ever quite feel the same, and where subtle design details reveal themselves over repeat visits.
Though still young, Old Barnwell has already built a reputation as a thoughtful, community-driven golf club. It is a place where golf is celebrated not just as a game, but as an experience of camaraderie, stewardship, and connection to the land. For those lucky enough to walk its fairways, Old Barnwell offers a glimpse into what the future of golf architecture can be—timeless in spirit, modern in execution, and endlessly rewarding to play.
Old Barnwell employs local youth caddies, who helped guide our group around the course. It was really exciting to hear about their aspirations for completing high school, choosing a college that fit their career desires, and how caddying has helped them take steps towards their goals in life and academics.
My group consisted of Andrew Sawyer, Kyle Haver, Tanner Fields, as well as my dad, John Campbell. Andrew and Kyle are two of my brother-in-laws and share a passion for the game of golf. Tanner is a friend a made through the golf space when we were both living in Birmingham, AL and he has helped on some of our media content creation. Tanner traveled from Raleigh North Carolina for the round, Kyle drove up from Charleston, SC with me, and Andrew and my Dad flew up from Enterprise, AL. Andrew recently received his private pilot license and my dad has had his for several decades now. Serving as co-pilot and a spectator for the round of the group, my dad was a great addition to the trip for a guys weekend spent exploring Aiken through food, drinks, and golf. Kyle and I drove up on a Friday morning and we played Aiken Golf Club prior to picking up Andrew and my dad at the Aiken airport. A smooth 2 hour flight over for them, the group capped off the evening in downtown Aiken with some smashburgers and local beers. Tanner drove down on Saturday morning for the round and he said he would do the 4 hour drive again in a heartbeat for the course.
In addition to the main course, Old Barnwell has made a clear commitment to growing the game through its thoughtfully designed kids’ course, a short layout that introduces younger players and beginners to the joy of golf in a fun, approachable way. With tye-dyed pin flags and robots mowing the grass, there are several fun elements that make the kids course stand out. It’s part of a broader vision for the club’s future, which includes the development of a second full 18-hole course on the property. This next course, envisioned as a complement to the existing layout, will further showcase the richness of the Sandhills landscape while expanding the opportunities for members and guests to experience golf in new and engaging ways.
