Nestled in the southwest corner of Indiana, a stone’s throw from the foothills of Kentucky, Victoria National stands as a testament to the rugged history of the region itself.

The golf club has been reinvented time and time again, emerging from its previous iteration better than before.

The contours of the land’s history reveal its character, offering an unrivaled challenge for golfers of all stripes and skill. Today, Victoria National, a Dormie Network golf club, is regarded as one of America’s Top 100 Golf Destinations and the premier private golf club in Indiana.

The Roots of Victoria National

The story of Victoria National in Newburgh, Indiana, is intimately tied to the story of the land itself. From the 1950s through the 1970s, this area produced coal for the Peabody Coal Company, powering the regional economy and spurring American innovation before ultimately being abandoned.

Twenty years after the mine’s closure, Indiana native Terrance Friedman would ultimately chart a new course for the area. Employing a thorough, deliberate process, he searched throughout the Midwest for the ideal site location to build a world-class golf course that could, one day, host a major championship like the U.S. Open. He found it in the site’s vacant coal mines.

Friedman tapped world-renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio to reimagine the hollowed-out mines as a world-class golf venue. Opening in 1998, Friedman’s vision and Fazio’s brilliant layout revitalized the site into one of the most influential modern designs in golf, boasting a stunning links-style setup, rolling hills, and unique tee configurations.

Spanning more than 400 acres, it also has been proven by the game’s best. Victoria National has hosted tournaments for the Legends of the LPGA Tour, the U.S. Senior Amateur, the collegiate Big Ten Championship, the Korn Ferry Tour’s United Leasing Championship and the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

In 2010, The Suddath Companies, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based firm, acquired the club and emphasized expanding lodging and entertainment options on the property. They shared Friedman’s core belief of “if you build it, they will come” as they sought to grow membership through enhanced amenities, services and offerings, including a more upscale culinary experience.

Victoria National was acquired by Dormie Network in 2018 as the company sought to expand its Network, becoming the fifth club to join the Network and add to its growing collection of marquee properties including ArborLinks, Ballyhack, Briggs Ranch, and Dormie Club.

A One-of-a-Kind Golf Experience

There’s no mistaking the breathtaking beauty of Victoria National.

Fazio’s design set out to blend together the starkness of the abandoned mines with the possibilities of the natural land.

“I see a hundred great golf holes; the challenge will be to pick 18,” noted Fazio as he mapped out the course.

Where the strip mines once carved up the earth, the natural elegance of the course softens and rounds out those jagged edges. Native grasses sweep across the landscape, echoing the feel of the Midwestern prairies that come to mind for the region. The harshness of the ravines and hollows melt away into the layout, becoming breathtakingly gorgeous features across the property. The course is dotted with lagoons and lakes, a remnant of what it once was and replaced with the beauty of what it is.

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Measuring up to 7,209 yards with bentgrass from tee to green, Victoria National has established itself as one of America’s 100 Greatest Courses and is regarded as one of the most influential courses of the modern design era. Fazio put nature at the forefront of the design process with a blend of natural grasses and rolling hills to highlight the natural contours of the land.

Water comes into play on every hole but one, elevating the challenge and bringing calculations of risk versus reward to nearly every shot.

“This final five-hole stretch of the golf course might be the most demanding stretch of holes that I've played anywhere in the country,” said Victoria National General Manager Brad Wilson, referring to the final batch of holes known simply as “The Gauntlet.” This closing stretch is as visually stunning as it is challenging, offering one of the greatest tests in golf.

Consider that the 17th hole is flanked by water along its right side, while the uphill approach to a dramatically sloped green demands accuracy. Then the signature 18th hole uses its beauty to mask its challenge.

“Standing on an elevated tee, you look out to your landing zone, and all you see is water down the entire right side starting from the beginning of the fairway all the way past the green and then three fairway bunkers on the left side of the fairway,” continued Wilson.

That visual creates a memorable and dramatic ending to your round at Victoria National.

Accommodations That Invite a Stay to Play

During Friedman’s tenure, an original lodge was built on the property to give members a tranquil retreat. Over time, The Suddath Company made expanding accommodations a priority when it took ownership in 2010 as it grew to a total of 32 bedrooms under its guidance. This created more places for members and their guests to enjoy an immersive experience on property, opening a new chapter in the life of Victoria National. After the acquisition by Dormie Network, the number of cottages again expanded, this time with 12 new cottages coming online, bringing the total to 15 onsite with 60 bedrooms and 68 beds available.

“While we loved hosting the Korn Ferry Tour Championship for many years, things changed once all of our cottages were completed,” said Wilson. “Being a stay and play, private destination club, we wanted to make sure our membership had the opportunity to enjoy the new cottages during peak golf season in Southern Indiana.”

Victoria National puts an emphasis on a personalized approach to hospitality, offering a customized touch for everyone who sets foot on property.

“Dormie Network prides itself on hospitality. It has been said before that we are a hospitality company that happens to have some really nice golf courses,” said Wilson. "We pride ourselves on creating a memorable experience for every member and their guest, and one thing we embrace is the customization of any trip.”

Like the design of the course, the design of the lodging throughout Victoria National is inspired by the heritage of Southern Indiana. Wood and steel blend the past with the present, giving a modern feel to the cottages that dot the property and are simply steps from the clubhouse and practice areas.

Members and guests can choose between 10 Dormie Cottages or five Premier Cottages for their visits. Each cottage has luxury amenities, such as a wet bar, fireplace, common area, and private master suites.

Culinary Delights Inspired by the Region

*Victoria National Executive Chef Trey Trice*

The tastes of Victoria National are also drawn from the rich food heritage of the area, guided by a new chef-driven culinary program that is being put in place across the entire Dormie Network portfolio. Menus reflect the character of each club, and Victoria National is no different.

Headed by Executive Chef Stanley “Trey” Trice III, the food served up for members and guests is anchored by his belief that Victoria National’s food should be smoky, savory, and communal. From slow-smoked pork to the fellowship of gathering around a table to share a delicious meal, the club’s culinary experience is both bold yet familiar.

An Indiana native, Trice draws from his upbringing to craft dishes and flavors that remain true to the cultural history of the land. He points to a smoked fried bologna sandwich with a spicy mustard or a fried pork tenderloin as examples of elevating the traditional food of the region into one-of-a-kind dishes that members will remember forever.

Victoria National leans into Trice’s vision of communal meals, offering options to have a meal in the dining room or a more intimate, personalized experience in your cottage. There are more than 200 bottles of bourbon to choose from, offering a direct connection to the famed Bourbon Trail, which lies just a few miles away and whose presence can be found throughout the culinary experience.

“Being so close to Bourbon Country inspires us, and we love incorporating bourbon into sauces, glazes and braises, while staying true to the region’s traditions,” said Trice. “Rather than forcing Southern or Midwestern cuisine together, we let the ingredients and techniques naturally complement one another. The result is food that feels familiar while still offering something unique.”

In a hurry? During a round of golf, members and guests can swing by the Comfort Station, also known as the Turtle Shack, to grab a snack while they play. Café Vic, located just off the golf shop, offers a quick, grab-and-go option for snacks and drinks throughout the day

An Ongoing Reinvention

Much like the land itself, which has evolved, Victoria National too is constantly reinventing itself.

Up next for the iconic club is a renovated, revitalized clubhouse.

“With all the experiences Dormie Network offers, we needed something our members could be proud of when hosting groups,” said Wilson.

Replacing the existing original footprint, a new two-level clubhouse will feature a wide array of spaces thoughtfully designed to engage members and guests in meaningful ways. With a footprint of roughly 28,000 square feet, the new design will connect to the area's natural landscape with features such as a continuous limestone wall that subtly leads the way through the clubhouse and out to the course.

On one side of the new building, a dining room with a glassed-in wine cave and full-service bar will offer a place to gather in advance of a round and enjoy fellowship after it. On the opposite end, a reimagined golf shop and locker rooms will ensure guests have what they need as they prepare for their round or refresh before a flight home.

On the lower lever of the clubhouse, a new Owner’s Lounge will boast a state-of-the-art golf simulator, pool table, beer taps, and more, while a remodeled Café Vic will offer made-to-order smoothies, slushies, grab-and-go food, and a massive candy wall.

The planned renovations are the latest commitments to unparalleled service and unrivaled hospitality that define the Dormie Network experience.

“It might sound like a cliché, but the team we have assembled at Victoria National is really what makes everything work,” Wilson said. “Everyone has bought into what Dormie Network is and how we go about creating memorable experiences for every person that seps foot on property.”