For Firefly, that story is especially meaningful.

After years spent restoring some of America’s most celebrated golf venues, Green is now helping shape the identity of an entirely new private club community in Spring Hill, Tennessee—one that is redefining luxury golf living just south of Nashville.

From Preserving History to Creating It

Green’s reputation has been built through the thoughtful restoration of some of the game’s most revered properties, including Oak Hill Country Club, East Lake Golf Club, Congressional Country Club, Inverness Club and Interlachen Country Club.

As Elliott notes in Athlon Sports, restoration requires a unique combination of research, restraint and respect for the original architect’s vision. Green has become widely respected for his ability to modernize championship venues while preserving their architectural character and strategic integrity.

But Firefly presents a different challenge.

Rather than uncovering someone else’s intent, Green is creating his own from the ground up.

Firefly’s Golf Experience at the Heart of the Community

Located on approximately 700 acres in Spring Hill, Firefly is being developed by Storied Development in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital. The private club community is designed around a comprehensive lifestyle vision that combines championship golf, wellness, recreation, dining and family-focused amenities.

At the center of that vision is Green’s golf architecture.

The community’s 18-hole championship course and 9-hole short course are scheduled to open in fall 2026, creating a golf experience that must serve multiple audiences while remaining true to the principles of great design.

The challenge is substantial.

The golf must appeal to accomplished players who appreciate strategic architecture while remaining accessible to families, juniors, newcomers and members seeking a more relaxed round. Whether it’s a competitive round on the championship course, a quick loop on the short course, an evening walk, or a family golf outing, the experience must feel cohesive and inviting.

Green’s background makes him uniquely qualified for the assignment.

His restoration work has consistently emphasized width, strategic options, natural landforms, walkability and thoughtful shot values—qualities that resonate with modern golfers while remaining rooted in timeless design principles.

At Firefly, those lessons can be applied without the constraints of an existing historical blueprint.

A Defining Moment for Modern Private Golf

One of the most compelling observations from Elliott’s Athlon Sports article is the contrast between Firefly and Kawonu.

While Kawonu represents the emerging trend of highly exclusive, golf-only destinations, Firefly reflects another powerful movement in private club development: the luxury lifestyle community anchored by exceptional golf.

The distinction matters.

Firefly is not simply building a golf course. It is creating a community where golf serves as the foundation for a broader lifestyle experience. Alongside Green’s courses, members will enjoy a clubhouse, wellness facilities, family-focused amenities, dining venues, racquet sports, indoor pickleball, pools, golf simulators, bowling and miles of outdoor recreation opportunities.

The golf course becomes more than an amenity—it becomes the community’s defining element.

What Golfers Should Watch

As Firefly moves toward its 2026 opening, golfers and architecture enthusiasts will have an opportunity to see how Green’s philosophy translates into original design.

The real story is not simply that these are among Green’s first major original projects.

It’s that they represent the culmination of decades spent studying some of golf’s greatest courses and learning firsthand what makes them endure.

Great golf architecture is rarely about spectacle alone. It is about creating memorable decisions, rewarding creativity, embracing the natural land and encouraging golfers to return again and again.

Those principles have guided Green’s restoration work for years.

Now, at Firefly, they have the opportunity to define something entirely new.

As Elliott observed, Firefly and Kawonu may ultimately help shape the next generation of private golf. For Firefly, that means demonstrating how a world-class golf experience can serve as the soul of a luxury community—bringing together architecture, recreation and family life in a way that feels both timeless and distinctly modern.

For Andrew Green, it marks a new chapter.

For Firefly, it marks the beginning of a remarkable one.

Source reference: Brendon Elliott, “Andrew Green’s Next Chapter Arrives With Two Very Different New Golf Courses,” Athlon Sports.

The post Firefly and Andrew Green: A New Chapter in Golf Architecture Takes Shape in Tennessee appeared first on Firefly.

Every great golf community reaches a point when the vision on paper begins to feel real.

For Firefly, that moment is now.

The 700-acre private golf community in Spring Hill, Tennessee, is moving beyond renderings and development plans into its next phase of growth. With strong homesite sales, key leadership hires, construction of major amenities underway, and Andrew Green’s highly anticipated golf courses progressing toward a fall 2026 opening, Firefly is transitioning from concept to community.

For golf enthusiasts, the story began with Green’s first original golf course design. Today, the story is becoming much bigger.

Firefly Is Becoming More Tangible

Located approximately 30 minutes south of Nashville and 15 minutes from Franklin, Firefly occupies a prime position within one of the fastest-growing luxury residential markets in the Southeast.

Middle Tennessee has become a destination for families, executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and second-home buyers seeking a lifestyle that balances privacy, recreation, and proximity to a thriving metropolitan area. Firefly was designed to meet that demand through a private, gated community centered on golf, outdoor living, wellness, and family experiences.

The market’s response has been impressive.

Firefly sold more than 80 homesites during its initial 45-day release period. Momentum has continued, with 48 homesites sold in May alone, generating $47 million in sales. To date, the community has recorded 126 homesite sales totaling more than $112 million.

While sales figures alone do not define the success of a club community, they demonstrate a strong belief in Firefly’s vision.

The next challenge is execution.

The initial spotlight focused heavily on Andrew Green and his transition from acclaimed restoration architect to original-course designer. As construction advances, however, Firefly is becoming more than a golf architecture story. It is becoming a fully realized private club community preparing to welcome its first members.

Golf Still Drives the Entire Vision

Although Firefly’s amenity offerings are extensive, golf remains the foundation of the community.

The property will feature an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole short course, both designed by Green. Together, they create a golf experience that serves multiple generations and playing styles.

The championship course will be the architectural centerpiece, designed to challenge skilled players through strategy, thoughtful shot values, and long-term replayability. It is expected to reflect many of the design principles Green has championed throughout his restoration work—width, angles, natural movement, and strategic decision-making.

The short course brings a different dimension to the member experience.

Far more than a supplemental amenity, short courses have become some of the most popular gathering spaces in modern private clubs. They create opportunities for family play, junior golf, casual competitions, short-game practice, and relaxed evening rounds.

At Firefly, the combination of championship golf and a highly accessible short-course experience creates what may become one of the community’s defining strengths.

Rather than offering a single golf experience, Firefly is building a complete golf ecosystem.

The Amenity Village Begins to Take Shape

Beyond the golf courses, Firefly is preparing to begin construction on several of its central community facilities.

The Fieldhouse, Outpost, and Golf Shop—designed by the renowned architecture firm Swaback—will be the first visible elements of a broader amenity village planned for the community.

The concept reflects a growing trend among leading private club developments. Today’s members want more than a traditional clubhouse. They seek multiple gathering spaces that support different lifestyles and activities throughout the day.

Firefly’s planned amenities include:

• Clubhouse and dining venues
• Fitness and wellness center
• Family club
• Adult and family pools
• Bowling alley
• Golf simulators
• Racquet club with tennis and padel courts
• Indoor pickleball facilities
• Walking and recreation trails

Current homesites range from approximately $700,000 to more than $2 million, with home construction expected to begin in 2027. Once complete, Firefly is projected to include roughly 400 residences.

The golf course may establish the community’s identity, but the surrounding amenities will ultimately determine how members experience Firefly every day.

New Golf Leadership Signals Long-Term Intent

As opening day approaches, Firefly has also begun assembling the leadership team that will help define the club’s culture.

Aaron Levinson has joined Firefly as Director of Golf, bringing experience from Congressional Country Club, where he served as PGA Head Golf Professional. Ashley Hylton has been named Head Golf Professional after previously holding the same position at Spring Island Club in South Carolina.

These appointments represent more than operational staffing.

At a new private club, the founding golf professionals help establish traditions, member expectations, instructional programs, family engagement initiatives, and the overall personality of the golf operation.

Great architecture and beautiful facilities create the stage.

Leadership creates the experience.

By investing in accomplished golf professionals early, Firefly is demonstrating a commitment to building a strong club culture from day one.

From Architectural Promise to Member Experience

When Firefly first entered the national golf conversation, Andrew Green’s first original design was the headline.

That remains a significant part of the story.

But today, the project is entering a new phase.

The challenge is no longer simply designing and constructing golf courses. The challenge is translating vision into daily life. Firefly must transform architectural ambition into memorable member experiences, convert strong sales momentum into a thriving community, and create a place that feels authentic as soon as families begin living, gathering, and playing there.

That is a much larger test.

As the fall 2026 opening approaches, the conversation will naturally evolve.

Golfers will ask whether the championship course delivers strategic depth and replayability. Families will discover whether the short course becomes a true social hub. Members will evaluate how seamlessly the amenities complement the golf experience and whether the community achieves the balance between luxury and authenticity.

Those answers are getting closer.

A Significant Addition to Middle Tennessee Golf

Middle Tennessee already offers an impressive collection of golf experiences.

Firefly enters the market with a different proposition.

The combination of Andrew Green’s first original design, a 700-acre master-planned community, strong early sales performance, substantial development backing, and a family-centered lifestyle vision places Firefly among the most closely watched private club openings in the Southeast and positions it for the potential to become one of the region’s defining private club communities.

For Andrew Green, it represents a milestone in an already distinguished career.

For the Nashville-area golf market, it introduces an ambitious new destination.

And for future members, it offers something much simpler: a place built around golf, family, community, and time well spent.

The vision has generated attention.

The next chapter is about bringing that vision to life.

The post Firefly Enters Next Phase as Andrew Green’s First Original Course Nears Opening appeared first on Firefly.

Sales for the second phase of the community are set to launch in early May, according to a news release, with around 60 buyers in line to purchase a phase two homesite.

Storied Development in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital announced plans for Firefly in October 2024, and demand for the luxury community has taken off. Within the first 45 days of its phase one homesite launch, Firefly sold over 80 homesites, with 20 remaining in phase one today. Total sales volume for phase one sits around $65 million, according to a spokesperson.

“As the golf courses near completion and gear up for a fall opening, we are eager to continue this forward progress leading into the second phase of homesite sales,” said Mark Enderle, Storied Development partner, in the release. “Buyers’ confidence is growing as they see tangible progress on the ground, and that’s reflected in the strong conversion our sales team is seeing from their property tours to actual homesite purchases.” 

The community, located 30 miles south of Nashville, plans to bring 407 single-family homes, an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole short course, designed by golf course architect Andrew Green, to Spring Hill. The courses are set to open this fall.

The second phase of sales will include homesites with golf-course frontage, creek-side settings and homesites surrounded by green space and trail networks, according to the release.

Homesites will range from $700,000 to more than $2 million, with homes anticipated to start around $2.5 million. Construction on homes is set to start in 2027.

The development will offer a full-service clubhouse, fitness center, family club, adult and family pools, a bowling alley, golf simulators and a racquet club with tennis, padel and indoor pickleball courts.

Construction on its three primary golf club buildings, the Fieldhouse, Outpost and Golf Shop, is scheduled to start within the next month, according to the release, with additional amenities phased in over time. 

Firefly marks Storied Development’s second local private golf community. The Georgia-based residential developer is the firm behind The Grove, a 1,100-acre master-planned golf community in College Grove, and is involved in other private golf communities, such as Talisker Club in Park City, Utah, and Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Read more about Firefly’s exciting progress. Firefly’s Next Chapter.

View Progress Photo Gallery.

The post In The News appeared first on Firefly.

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

View Latest Progress Gallery

The post Firefly Takes Shape: A New Chapter Unfolds appeared first on Firefly.

“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

The post Director of Golf appeared first on Firefly.

 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

The post Head Golf Professional appeared first on Firefly.

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.

The post The Enduring Charm and Accolades of Franklin, Tennessee appeared first on Firefly.

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.

The post Initial Sales Launch Success with more than 80 Homesites Selling in 45 Days appeared first on Firefly.

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.

The post From the Publisher’s Pen: ‘Incredibly intentional’ appeared first on Firefly.