There comes a moment when drawings yield to dirt, ideas become landscapes, and a vision reveals itself one walk at a time. For Firefly, that moment has arrived.

South of Nashville, where Middle Tennessee’s hills roll gently toward the horizon, fairways now settle naturally into the land. Native grasses sway where construction stakes once stood. Members gather over breakfast before stepping onto a course few have seen, yet one that already feels as though it has always belonged here.

This September, Firefly will open Andrew Green’s first original championship golf course—a milestone not only for one of golf’s most respected architects, but for a community that has quietly taken shape with uncommon patience.

From the beginning, Firefly was never intended to be simply another golf development. Its promise was broader: to create a private club where championship golf, family life, genuine hospitality, and the rhythms of the Tennessee countryside exist together with equal importance. “From the beginning, our goal was never simply to build another golf community,” says Mark Yarborough, partner at Storied Development. “We wanted to create a place families would choose for generations, where remarkable golf is only one part of a richer way of living.”

The land itself made that vision possible. Just thirty minutes south of Nashville and a short drive from historic Franklin, Firefly occupies a landscape where hardwood forests, open meadows, and long ridgelines remain largely untouched. The city is close enough for dinner, music, or business, yet once inside the gates, another pace takes over. Mornings begin quietly, and evenings linger longer.

That sense of place has drawn families from across the country, choosing to become part of Firefly long before the course officially opened. They are investing in more than homesites; they are joining a community while its traditions are still being written. This spring and summer, those traditions began with golf.

During a series of Preview Play events, members experienced Andrew Green’s course for the first time. The rounds revealed a design that feels inseparable from its surroundings, with broad movement across the hills, thoughtful strategy, and a walk that rewards careful observation as much as careful play. “The land told us what it wanted to become,” Green says. “Our responsibility was to listen. The most memorable courses don’t overpower a landscape—they reveal it.”

For Green, whose celebrated restorations include Oak Hill, Congressional, Inverness, East Lake, and Interlachen, Firefly represents a different kind of accomplishment. “A great golf course should ask players to think while inviting them to enjoy the walk,” he says. “Every round should reveal something new. That’s what we’ve tried to create at Firefly.”

Yet some of the most memorable moments during the Preview Play happened after the scorecards were tucked away. Breakfast conversations stretched beyond tee times; lunch became an introduction to future neighbors; families wandered the property, imagining holidays, weekends, and traditions still to come. The club that had existed for years in imagination suddenly felt incredibly real.

This fall marks another turning point. As the championship course officially opens, Firefly’s first member amenities continue to rise alongside it. The Golf Shop will welcome each day’s first tee times. The Fieldhouse, overlooking the practice grounds, is designed to become the club’s everyday living room—a place for breakfast before a round, family dinners after sunset, lessons with instructors, and lingering conversations that have little to do with golf. Along the course, the Outpost will offer a welcoming pause for food, refreshments, and fellowship.

Each addition reflects the same philosophy that shaped the course itself: thoughtful, enduring, and built for generations rather than seasons. Someday Firefly will feel fully established. Fairways will mature. Homes will settle into the landscape. Children will grow up believing these hills have always held a golf course and a community.

Today offers something different. It offers the rare privilege of watching Firefly’s promise come into its own. The fairways are ready. The gathering places are taking shape. Friendships are already forming. And somewhere between the first walk across the land and the generations still to come, Firefly is becoming exactly what it was always meant to be.

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Most notably, we’ve officially broken ground on Outpost, Fieldhouse, and the Golf Shop, each thoughtfully designed to elevate both the everyday and the exceptional.

As Firefly begins it’s first full year of operation in 2027, the Fieldhouse – located on the east edge of the driving range – will serve as a central hub for connection and activity, offering casual dining, a state-of-the-art teaching facility, and comfortable gathering spaces designed for members to relax, connect, and enjoy time together. Whether refining your game or unwinding with family and friends, the Fieldhouse will be a cornerstone of the Firefly lifestyle.

Out on the course, the Outpost – located between holes 3, 4 and 12 – redefines what it means to relax and refuel during a round. This course-side comfort station blends convenience with elevated hospitality, offering a curated selection of fresh snacks and sandwiches, as well as more indulgent options such as hot breakfast favorites, gourmet burgers, and seasonal specialties. It’s a seamless extension of the golfing experience—thoughtful, inviting, and distinctly Firefly.

Complementing these initial amenities, the new Golf Shop will be a refined retail and service destination, thoughtfully appointed with premium apparel, equipment, and personalized service to meet the needs of every golfer. It will also feature a coffee shop for a boost of energy or a quick snack before or after your round.

All three amenities are slated for completion in Spring 2027. The Golf Shop and Fieldhouse are the first two pieces of Firefly Village, which will also include the Clubhouse, Locker Rooms, Fitness Center, and Cart Barn, marking a significant milestone in the continued evolution of the club and community.

In addition to these exciting amenity developments, Firefly is also proud to welcome two exceptional leaders to the team. Ashley Hylton joins as Head Golf Professional, and Aaron Levinson as Director of Golf—both bringing deep expertise and a shared commitment to delivering an unparalleled golf experience. Their leadership will be instrumental as we look ahead to the highly anticipated course opening later this year.

With each passing day, Firefly is becoming more than a vision; it’s becoming a destination defined by thoughtful design, world-class golf, and a lifestyle centered on connection, comfort, and discovery.

And this is just the beginning.

More About Ashley Hylton

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Between sprigging and contouring greens, we spoke with Green about his design philosophy, the magic of the Firefly landscape, and what makes this course destined to become a modern classic.

Rooted in Place, Inspired by History

When asked about his inspiration for the Firefly course, Green’s response was immediate and heartfelt. “Our big message and goal were to give Firefly a really strong sense of place,” Green explained. “To let it speak to the Tennessee countryside, its graceful topography and the moments where the land gets bold. We’ve used those moments to create drama and intrigue in the routing of each hole.”

His guiding light throughout the process? The timeless principles of the game’s golden age, an era when design was as much about strategy and soul as it was about aesthetics.

The Marriage of Beauty and Playability

The land and topography are undeniably beautiful. But Green is quick to warn against mistaking beauty for substance. “I talk often about the difference between sizzle and steak,” he said with a smile. “Sizzle’s great, but without the steak, it’s pointless.”

For Green, playability is the foundation. The course was intentionally designed to accommodate players of all skill levels, with wide corridors in key landing zones, options to run the ball onto greens, and varied tee boxes to tailor the experience. But make no mistake, Firefly is as thoughtful in its design as it is enjoyable to play. “We want you to see the shot in your mind, then try to execute it,” said Green. “That mental engagement is a key part of the design.”

What Makes a Course Great? Firefly Checks Every Box

When asked what every great golf course must have, Green listed four elements, and believes Firefly embodies them all:

• Interesting Greens – “Each green at Firefly is its own puzzle,” said Green. “You’ll face different challenges from every angle and pin location.”
• Strategic Routing Across Natural Land – Firefly’s terrain is both graceful and bold, and Green has carefully routed the course to bring out the best in it.
• Shot Variety – “You’ll use every club in the bag,” Green noted. With varied distances and changing angles, Firefly demands a full spectrum of golf shots.
• Strategy at the Core – Hazards, angles of attack, and risk-reward choices ensure that every round played at Firefly is a mental challenge, each decision should make you think.

“Strategy is the soul of the game,” Green emphasized. “Firefly will reward precision and planning with better lines of play and better access to hole locations.”

Surprises in the Soil

Even for seasoned golfers, Firefly holds a few surprises. “I think the way the ball will come to rest will be unexpected,” Green shared. With slopes and contours both subtle and dramatic, players will encounter sidehill, uphill, downhill, and uneven lies throughout their round. “That adds immense value to the playing experience. The course will keep you on your toes.”

The closing stretch, Green promises, will leave players both fulfilled and hungry for more. “You’re going to want to turn right around and play again.”

More Than Golf

Ultimately, Firefly is more than a fantastic golf course. Firefly is an experience, a lifestyle, a destination infused with authenticity and rooted in its surroundings. “There’s a real connection between the Tennessee countryside, the community that’s being built here, and the golf course itself,” said Green. “They’re not separate ideas, they’re all purposefully designed to work together.”

As the course nears completion, Green is filled with pride in what has emerged from the soil. “There’s a level of soul born from the ground underneath,” he said. “It’s a magical spot. You’ll walk away feeling like you’ve been part of something special, and you’ll want to come back again and again.”

Final Thoughts

At Firefly, Andrew Green is sculpting a journey. A journey that embraces history, honors the land, and dares golfers to be their best selves. Whether you’re walking it for the first time or the fiftieth, Firefly promises an experience rich in challenge, beauty, and heart.

Firefly is set to welcome members and guests Fall 2026.

About Andrew Green: Andrew has restored several legacy golf courses, earning him a reputation as one of the world’s most acclaimed golf course architects. His restoration work includes such venerable courses as Inverness in Ohio, Oak Hill East in New York, Congressional Blue in Maryland, East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Interlachen in Minneapolis, and Vaquero in Texas.

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Why the Lake Matters

Golf course irrigation is part art, part science. With a sustainable and efficient water source, Firefly will:

• Maintain optimal turf conditions across both the 18-hole course and the 9-hole short course
• Minimize our environmental footprint through smarter and more efficient water use
• Support long-term sustainability goals, including native planting and wildlife integration

This isn’t just a lake—it’s the lifeblood of the entire course.

What’s Next

With the lake nearing completion, attention now turns toward the next phases of construction:

• Irrigation System Installation: Crews will begin laying the mainline irrigation infrastructure, followed by the installation of sprinkler heads and control systems for each hole.
• Shaping and Final Grading: Hole shaping is progressing hole-by-hole, and now that a reliable water source is in place, the team will be fine-tuning elevations and contours for ideal playability and drainage.
• Turf Preparation and Seeding: As irrigation zones are finalized, prep for seeding and sodding fairways, tees, and greens will begin.

Each step brings us closer to opening day—and anticipation is building.

 
Stay Tuned

We will continue to share behind-the-scenes looks and updates as progress continues. From drone footage of the course layout to interviews with our superintendent and architects, there’s plenty more to come. Thank you to everyone following the journey—and to our construction teams for making this incredible milestone possible.

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Following the official groundbreaking of Firefly in December 2024, construction is now well underway on the community’s centerpiece: an 18-hole championship golf course and a 9-hole short course, both designed by acclaimed golf course architect Andrew Green, the first original design of his award-winning career. Firefly, a 700+ acre luxury golf and residential community taking shape in Spring Hill, Tennessee, 30 miles south of Nashville, is overseen by Storied Development in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital.

Green is renowned for his masterful restorations of historic courses, including Scioto, Congressional, Inverness, Oak Hill, East Lake, and notably, Interlachen Country Club. His restoration of Interlachen reclaimed the original Donald Ross design and recently earned “Best Renovation” honors from a national publication.

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