Construction is nearing completion on an Andrew Green golf course at Firefly, a new luxury golf and resident community in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
The private, gated community is being developed by Storied Development and Wheelock Street Capital on 700 acres of farmland around 30 miles south of Nashville.
Firefly is the first original golf course design of Green’s career – construction has been steady in 2025 with several golf holes complete. The course is on track to open in summer 2026 and will be joined by a golf shop as well as food and beverage options (Fieldhouse and Outpost), which are expected to be finished by the end of 2026.
“Having a raw piece of land is a tremendous privilege,” Green told Brendon Elliott of Athlon Sports. “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. The realisation that a new course has unlimited potential and an infinite number of ways to be put together can feel overwhelming at times. The reality is that once you start laying holes down on the ground, you begin to see how they can best fit together, and you discover unique circumstances and challenges in each element. I love the ability to create a golf experience that is entirely unique. Our challenge at Firefly was to create a golf course that embraced time-treasured philosophies on a beautiful, rolling piece of Tennessee countryside – and to make it fit together so that it became both a fun walk and a great journey.”
Several holes at Firefly are complete as the new club aims to open in summer 2026 (Photo: Firefly)
“I absolutely love the ground at Firefly,” continued Green. “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 first and tenth holes rest parallel to each other, yet they could not be more different due to a natural saddle in the topography. 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. 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. From there, it returns into the main portion of the property and delivers a remarkable variety of holes in the close. Along the fourteenth hole lies a tremendous rock formation that we get to play alongside, and a winding creek offers dramatic elevation changes while enhancing the natural setting of the course.”
Green has worked on a number of Golden Age restorations that combine with modern playability demands. “I love the Golden Age principles,” he said. “They are time-tested and adored by golfers, whether they recognise 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. Greens with interesting shapes and contours allow the course to play differently every day and make the hole location matter. Bunkers and hazards that make the player think – rather than simply flanking the line of play – pose questions that must be answered. Width, paired with rolling ground, puts a premium on thought and line of play while still allowing the higher handicap golfer more room to manoeuvre the ball. And lastly, a wide range of shot values and distances makes the golfer hit every club in the bag and remain so engaged that they are ready to play again the minute the round is over.”
Green has laid out the course on a rolling piece of Tennessee countryside (Photo: Firefly)
“I want each hole at Firefly to be unique and to stand on its own,” added Green. “Yet as we have built this special place, I see elements that those familiar with my work will recognise as subtle hints of what I’ve learned along the way. I also feel there are things I’ve seen and experienced that I want to improve upon compared to the places I’ve previously worked. And because I haven’t been constrained in any way here, I hope I’ve been able to do exactly that.
“I can’t wait for golfers to see what we have created at Firefly. I feel the routing, property, and elements fit together in such a flowing manner that it will feel as if this place has existed for decades. The opening stretch of holes two to five features two par threes and two par fives – a unique set of circumstances, but ones that are truly intriguing. The closing stretch of fourteen to eighteen will test every single aspect of your game. It offers places to score, but also places to struggle. Having your best in place for that journey home will be a fun challenge – and part of what will bring players back the next time.”
Firefly will also have a nine-hole short course, and various amenities including a fitness centre, family club, adult and family pools, a bowling alley, golf simulators, and a racquet club with tennis and indoor pickleball courts.
“We want people to love the game of golf at Firefly,” said Green. “We want those in the community, if they have any amount of free time, to come out and experience the Tennessee countryside while playing this game that means so much to me. We have incorporated countless practice opportunities – from the driving range to three short-game greens, and a massive putting green. If you only have 30 minutes, you can still get a good amount of ‘work’ done in a small space. For those learning the game, looking for a shorter experience, or wanting to share in a quick, fun round, the short course will offer all the character and insight of the full 18. With the short course, I wanted to give players an opportunity to challenge themselves with every scoring shot the game of golf offers. 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. And of course, on the full 18-hole course, we want players to experience everything the game of golf has to offer – and to enjoy the heck out of doing it!”