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

More About Aaron Levinson

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“Firefly will be defined by its culture and elevated member environment, and with his experience at top leading clubs, Aaron will bring hands‑on leadership, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence that members will see every day,” said Todd Huizinga, General Manager, Firefly

Meet Head Golf Professional

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 In her role, Ashley will work closely with Director of Golf Aaron Levinson to oversee all daily golf operations, including team leadership, strategic planning, event programming, and ensuring an exceptional member experience. 

A graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Ashley served as an Assistant Professional at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville, North Carolina, a Senior Assistant at Berkely Hall in Bluffton, South Carolina and most recently, the Head Golf Professional at Spring Island Club in Okatie, South Carolina. 

“I am a firm believer that we are not just in the “Golf Business,” but rather in the business of making memories. Golf is simply the vessel we use to provide an unbelievable escape to members and their guests. I deliver this through inspiring an energetic team devoted to loving exceeding expectations, member programming that continuously evolves and adapts, and getting the little details right every time.” Ashley Hylton 

Meet Director of Golf

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At the heart of this charm is Franklin’s beloved downtown. Strolling Main Street reveals locally owned boutiques, live music, and iconic gathering spots that locals treasure. Gray’s on Main, set in what was a pharmacy dating back to 1876, features Southern fare, craft cocktails and live music, feels like a step back in time and a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Just down the street, Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant pairs Southern cuisine with live music, capturing Franklin’s deep ties to both hospitality and the arts. And no visit is complete without Merridee’s Breadbasket, where the aroma of freshly baked bread, cookies, pastries welcome diners to linger a little longer.

Franklin’s appeal has not gone unnoticed. The town frequently earns national accolades as one of the Best Small Towns in America and Top Places to Live, celebrated for its high quality of life, excellent schools, and strong local economy. Its commitment to preservation, evident in landmarks like the Franklin Theatre and numerous historic Civil War sites, has also brought widespread praise.

What truly sets Franklin apart, however, is its sense of community. Farmers markets, seasonal festivals, and holiday parades bring people together, creating a place that values connection as much as progress.

Franklin is a town with heart, history, and an unmistakable sense of home.

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Fresh sod laid on holes 12, 13, 14.

“Instead of duplicating what has worked in the past, we set out to reimagine what a neighborhood could be,” Yarborough explains. “Firefly will be a place where families grow closer and stay connected across generations.” That philosophy is reflected not only in the layout and programming, but in the very name: Firefly. Evoking summer evenings, barefoot childhoods, and the timeless joy of catching flickering lights in a jar, the name captures a sense of wonder and nostalgia that threads through the entire community.

Storied Development partners Mark Enderle and Mark Yarborough.

At its core, Firefly honors the land it inhabits. Rather than forcing the land to fit a mold, Firefly celebrates the natural contours, expansive vistas, and rural charm of the Tennessee countryside. The homes reflect a contemporary farmhouse style, timeless, personal, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. “Firefly’s respect for the natural beauty of the area is expressed through design flexibility and a land plan that meets the real needs of families,” says Enderle. This attention to detail also extends to the wide range of amenities offered, each striking a balance between elegance and simplicity while seamlessly blending into the landscape. Firefly is a place where authenticity, beauty, and simplicity come to life. 

True to Firefly’s immersive spirit, even the golf experience defies convention. Andrew Green, one of the nation’s most acclaimed course architects, has seamlessly woven an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole short course into the landscape, honoring the natural terrain in every design choice. By taking cues from the land itself, the courses blend harmoniously with their surroundings, resulting in both a challenging and inspirational golfing experience. “There’s a real connection between the Tennessee countryside, the community being built here, and this golf course,” Green says. “They’re not separate ideas, they’re one story told in different ways.”  This approach transforms golf from a solitary luxury into a shared narrative that runs throughout Firefly.

Course architect Andrew Green gives sneak peek.

The neighborhood flows with a sense of rhythm and openness. Walkability, human-scale architecture, and gathering spaces foster daily moments of interaction. Firefly is centered around a village concept; instead of oversized clubhouses or grand statements, the thoughtfully scaled and positioned amenities create connection, approachability, and relationship-driven experiences. “The Village model keeps amenities on a personal scale,” says Enderle. “It encourages residents to come together naturally, to connect with ease.”  This commitment to connection runs deeper than any blueprint. From the start, Firefly has prioritized people over polish. Events, programming, and shared spaces aren’t afterthoughts; they are foundational elements. “People make the party,” Enderle adds. “That idea has guided every decision. Our goal is to help neighbors become friends and families build memories that last.”

That people-first mindset is also evident in how the team addressed early infrastructure challenges. When local water systems proved insufficient for long-term goals, the developers took action by working closely with Maury County Water to deliver a future-proof distribution system. “It wasn’t just about solving our problem,” Enderle explains. “It was about creating something that serves this area for decades.” Combined with a forward-thinking Planned Unit Development strategy, this investment below the surface enables Firefly to grow with both integrity and flexibility.

Artist rendering of the Outpost comfort station and grill.

While Firefly offers striking architecture and enviable lifestyle elements, its ambition goes beyond mere aesthetics. This isn’t a place designed to impress; it’s a place built to endure. Success here won’t be measured in homesite sales or Instagrammable moments but in the quiet accumulation of stories, milestones, and everyday joys. “Anyone can build amenities and beautiful homes,” Enderle says. “But what matters is whether people truly enjoy them, whether they feel at home, and whether their children and grandchildren remember this place with love.”

Artist rendering of Base Camp family club.

In a region racing toward the future, Firefly stands out by moving with intention. It invites you to slow down, settle in, and become part of something lasting.

The post Building Firefly: Inside the Vision, Craft, and Community Spirit Powering Middle Tennessee’s Most Thoughtful Community appeared first on Firefly.

“Firefly is unlike anything else Middle Tennessee has seen, and what we are offering in terms of lifestyle and amenities in addition to Green’s vision for golf has contributed to the unprecedented sales success in our initial homesite launch,” said Mark Enderle, Storied Development Partner. “The golf, clubhouse, and community amenities are embedded in the fabric of Firefly creating a harmonious experience for family and friends. The synergy between living and experiencing go hand-in-hand, which is the biggest differentiator between Firefly and other traditional golf clubs in the area.”

Best known for his masterful restorations of East Lake, Oak Hill, Scioto, and Interlachen, Firefly represents the first original golf course design of Andrew Green’s award-winning career. Construction progress has been steady in 2025, with several golf holes already complete and more underway. Looking ahead, members can anticipate walking the fairways for the first time when the course officially opens in Summer 2026. Supporting facilities, including the Golf Shop, as well as food and beverage options at the Fieldhouse and Outpost, are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with additional amenities phased in over time.

“As an architect, having a raw piece of land to shape into a golf course is both a tremendous privilege and an incredible challenge,” said Andrew Green. “At Firefly, the land gave us the opportunity to craft a course that feels as though it’s always been here, while still pushing forward the game’s traditions, an experience that golfers of all levels will want to come back to again and again.”

Beyond the 18-hole golf course, Firefly will also have a nine-hole short course, and it will offer a wealth of luxury amenities including a clubhouse, fitness center, family club, adult and family pools, a bowling alley, golf simulators, and a racquet club with tennis and indoor pickleball courts. These facilities aim to provide a comprehensive lifestyle experience within the serene Tennessee countryside.

“Firefly is such a unique offering to Middle Tennessee, combining a private member’s club and a luxury home community so buyers and their families can experience this new lifestyle all-year round,” said Jeff Laliberte, Partner, Wheelock Street Capital. “Together with Storied Development we have created a strategic roadmap for Firefly that will ensure its ongoing success.”

Current homesites range from $575,000 to over $1,675,000. Construction of homes at Firefly should start in 2027, and the community will have around 400 homes once complete. For more information and to learn more about the community’s offerings, please visit www.fireflyliving.com.

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Every move of August Rocco’s career positioned him for the opportunity to lead the first golf maintenance team at coming Tennessee attraction Firefly.

August Rocco describes Firefly, a new private residential golf development 35 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee, as “incredibly intentional.” His route to becoming the director of golf course maintenance of an anticipated course can be described the same way.

Firefly’s first 18 holes open later this year. The project represents the first new course designed by architect Andrew Green, whose portfolio includes restorations of Inverness Club, Oak Hill East, Scioto, Interlachen and numerous other revered courses.

Firefly melds Golden Age golf design principles with modern high-end residential concepts. The course is being constructed before any houses are completed.

“The golf course is Phase Zero for this entire thing,” Rocco says.

Firefly will eventually support more than 400 homes on its 700 acres. Homesites will occupy peripheral golf course plots. Firefly’s master plan also includes a 9-hole, Green-designed short course.

A greater Nashville native, Rocco’s career path demonstrates the movement and purpose required to land one of the industry’s most desirable jobs.

Rocco started his career as a golf maintenance troubadour. His pre-Firefly stops included influential Northeast private clubs Quaker Ridge, Bayonne and Sebonack, and metro Atlanta pillars Peachtree and Dunwoody. He met his wife in Atlanta and learned warm-season turfgrass maintenance under respected mentors Spencer Oliver and William Shirley.

Before turning 30, Rocco landed his first head superintendent job at Country Club of Columbus, a Donald Ross design near the Georgia-Alabama border.

Realizing his résumé lacked a large-scale construction and grow-in effort, he left after three years to become East Course superintendent at Fall Line, a new limited-membership club between Columbus and Augusta.

“It was a big leap of faith,” Rocco says.

A consultant connected Rocco to Firefly, a new residential course in Spring Hill, Tennessee. When Firefly officials were ready to hire a director of golf course maintenance, Rocco brought private club experience across multiple eras, warm-season turf expertise, industry connections and new construction experience.

“It was a dream come true to come back to this area,” Rocco says.

Rocco started at Firefly on January 27, 2025. At the time, initial clearing was complete, center lines were being marked, irrigation lake blasting had begun and grassing was months away.

He quickly learned that building in Tennessee differs from Georgia. Firefly sits on rocky, heavy clay soils, unlike the sandy terrain at Fall Line. Weather added challenges, including heavy rains and historic freezes.

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Acclaimed Architect Breaks New Ground with Debut Original Course Outside Music City.

After decades of masterfully restoring some of America’s most storied golf courses, Andrew Green is finally getting his chance to create something entirely from scratch. The renowned golf course architect, whose restoration work has earned him Golf Digest’s 2024 Best U.S. Remodel Award and transformed venues like East Lake Golf Club for the Tour Championship, is putting the finishing touches on Firefly — a luxury golf and residential community just 30 miles south of Nashville that will open for play in summer 2026.

For Green, whose resume reads like a who’s who of championship venues — Oak Hill Country Club, Congressional Country Club, Inverness Club and Interlachen Country Club — Firefly represents both a career milestone and a creative liberation that has been years in the making.

From Restoration Master to Original Visionary

“Having a raw piece of land is a tremendous privilege,” Green reflects on his first original design. “Early in my career, there were very limited opportunities to create a golf course from scratch. I had to hone my skills by renovating and protecting golf courses that were already well established. While there were times it was frustrating, it prepared me for moments like this.”

That preparation has been extensive and impressive. Green’s restoration of East Lake Golf Club, unveiled at the 2024 Tour Championship, has been widely praised for restoring the course’s historic Donald Ross character while enhancing playability for the world’s best golfers. His work at Interlachen Country Club earned him Golf Digest’s coveted Best U.S. Remodel Award, while his transformations of Oak Hill for the 2023 PGA Championship and Inverness for the 2021 Solheim Cup have set new standards for championship venue preparation.

But Firefly is different. Here, Green isn’t working within the constraints of historical preservation or the footprint of a golden-age master. Instead, he’s working with more than 700 acres of rolling Tennessee countryside that he describes with the enthusiasm of an artist who’s finally found the perfect canvas.

The Land That Golf Was Meant For

“I absolutely love the ground at Firefly,” Green says, his excitement palpable when discussing the property’s natural features. “It almost feels as if it was destined to be here. The clubhouse is well set on a sprawling high point that allows for access and play in multiple directions.”

The topography reads like a golf architect’s dream: rolling hills that provide natural elevation changes, a winding creek that offers dramatic visual and strategic elements, and a tremendous rock formation along the 14th hole that the course plays alongside rather than around. It’s the kind of varied terrain that allows for what Green calls “one-of-a-kind golf shots” — the hallmark of memorable golf course design.

“The front nine loops out onto a flatter portion of the property, then turns and returns through a soft valley that truly sets itself apart from the rest of the layout,” Green explains. “The back nine borders part of the front before climbing onto a wonderful high point that is both stunning and the setting for a series of amazing holes.”

This natural variety has allowed Green to create what he believes will be a course that feels like it has “existed for decades” despite being built from scratch — the ultimate compliment for any golf course architect.

Golden Age Principles Meet Modern Innovation

Green’s design philosophy has always centered on what he calls “Golden Age principles” — the time-tested concepts pioneered by architects like Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie and A.W. Tillinghast in the early 20th century. These principles emphasize strategic options over penal design, natural ground movement over artificial features, and variety in shot values that keep golfers engaged from first tee to final putt.

“I love the Golden Age principles,” Green explains. “They are time-tested and adored by golfers, whether they recognize them inherently or not. The ability to play over a piece of ground with only minor manipulation by the bulldozer creates one-of-a-kind golf shots.”

At Firefly, these principles manifest in several key ways. The course will feature greens with interesting shapes and contours that allow the course to play differently every day, making hole location selection crucial.

Bunkers and hazards are positioned to make players think strategically rather than simply flanking the line of play. Width paired with rolling ground puts a premium on course management while still giving higher handicap golfers room to maneuver.

Perhaps most importantly, Green has designed Firefly to offer “a wide range of shot values and distances” that will make golfers “hit every club in the bag and remain so engaged that they are ready to play again the minute the round is over.”

A Course for Every Golfer

One of the most impressive aspects of Firefly’s design is its scalability. With tees ranging from more than 7,300 yards down to 4,860 yards, the course can challenge scratch golfers while remaining enjoyable for beginners. This flexibility reflects Green’s adherence to a favorite Donald Ross quote: “The ideal course is one that presents a test of golf for the everyday golfer and first-class player.”

“We want the best golfers to be tested — so we can push the tees back, and we have greens that allow for exciting hole locations,” Green notes. “If the club wants to host an event, we have that covered. At the same time, we also have the ability to set up the course in a more modest manner — where we still achieve great variety, but make it more enjoyable for the higher handicap golfer.”

This philosophy extends beyond just tee placement. The course routing itself tells a story, with what Green describes as a unique opening stretch featuring holes 2-5 that includes “two par-3s and two par-5s — a unique set of circumstances, but ones that are truly intriguing.” The closing stretch of holes 14-18 promises to “test every single aspect of your game” with opportunities to score balanced against places where even good golfers might struggle.

More Than Just 18 Holes

Firefly’s golf offering extends well beyond the championship 18-hole course. Green has also designed a nine-hole short course that he envisions as much more than a beginner’s layout or quick-play option.

“With the short course, I wanted to give players an opportunity to challenge themselves with every scoring shot the game of golf offers,” Green explains. “This means the tees allow most players to hit every iron in their bag, while the green surrounds provide unlimited chances to recover, practice and push yourself.”

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Todd Huizinga is transforming luxury golf communities by prioritizing genuine relationships over flashy amenities, creating environments where members and staff thrive together. When Huizinga, a Quarter Century PGA Member and the PGA of America General Manager at Firefly in Spring Hill, Tennessee, surveys the rolling hills where Firefly Club is taking shape under the masterful design of acclaimed architect Andrew Green, he sees more than just fairways and greens emerging from the landscape. He envisions something far more valuable: a community built on authentic human connections that will endure long after the novelty of new amenities fades.

Huizinga’s journey to this philosophy began more than 30 years ago when he graduated from Boise State University in 1993 and turned pro as an assistant golf professional at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. Since then, he has shepherded some of the most prestigious golf communities across the country, from the Jack Nicklaus-designed Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Arizona to The Vaquero Club in Texas, Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in California and The Grove Club in Tennessee.

Throughout his career, Huizinga has developed what he calls his “One Great Idea,” the notion that sustainable success in luxury golf communities comes not from chasing the latest trends, but from the timeless practice of genuinely caring for people. “I know everyone is looking for a brilliant idea that changes the industry,” Huizinga said, “but my north star has always been taking care of people—connecting with members and staff, providing the best possible experience and representing the clubs that I have served in the most impactful way.”

This philosophy has been tested through diverse experiences managing everything from startup communities to distressed properties. Each experience reinforced his core belief that authentic relationships are the foundation of exceptional club communities.

Now, as general manager at Firefly, Huizinga is applying these principles to what promises to be one of the most ambitious luxury golf communities in the Nashville area. The 700-acre development, a partnership between Storied Development and Wheelock Street Capital, represents Andrew Green’s first original design after his celebrated restorations of historic courses including Scioto, Congressional and the award-winning Interlachen Country Club.

Green’s vision for Firefly includes an 18-hole championship golf course and a nine-hole short course that will take advantage of Middle Tennessee’s rolling hills and sweeping vistas. The courses are scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, with member play set to begin in spring 2026. Beyond golf, the community will feature luxury amenities including a full-service clubhouse, fitness center, family club, pools, bowling alley, golf simulators and a racquet club with tennis and indoor pickleball courts.

Yet for Huizinga, these facilities serve primarily as the backdrop for something more important: creating an environment where genuine relationships can flourish. His approach begins with understanding that luxury isn’t defined by the grandest amenities, but by the quality of human interactions within the community.

This philosophy extends to every aspect of Huizinga’s management style. Rather than viewing staff as service providers, he sees them as integral partners in creating the community experience. He invests time in understanding each team member’s strengths and aspirations, creating a culture where staff delivers exceptional service because they genuinely care about the community’s success.

The same principle applies to member relations. Huizinga recognizes that today’s affluent members have countless options for their leisure time. What keeps them engaged isn’t just premium facilities, but the feeling that they belong to something special—a community where they’re known, valued and connected to others who share their interests.

During Firefly’s development phase, Huizinga has focused on building relationships with the 60 Founder Members who have already committed to the community. Rather than simply processing memberships, he’s created opportunities for these early supporters to connect and feel invested in the community’s development. The launch of Encore Memberships in early 2025 represents another opportunity to apply these relationship-building principles.

This emphasis on authentic connections also influences how Huizinga approaches business metrics. While he understands the importance of financial performance, he frames these within the larger context of community building. Success isn’t just about revenue targets — it’s about meaningful connections facilitated, quality experiences delivered and relationships built.

This perspective has served Huizinga well during challenging periods of his career. When faced with a distressed property, he recognized that sustainable recovery required rebuilding trust among both staff and members. By prioritizing relationships and authentic communication, he transformed the community’s culture and positioned it for successful transition.

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