The hardest golf course I've ever played. The extreme difficulty, though, didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the place... mostly...

I understand it was built to challenge better players, but some of the holes (especially with how close the lost-ball natural areas and water are to the playing corridors and landing zones) are so very exacting and extremely punitive for normal human golfers. There should be consequences for poorly executed shots, but the consequences at Victoria National typically cost $4-$5 per mistake.

That all being said, the course's best was better and more subtle and authentic than I was expecting, and up there with some of the better Fazio work I've seen. It certainly has a cohesive aesthetic that works with the unique and often dramatic old mining property. And a number of holes bring in those features in balanced and interesting ways without bludgeoning you over the head like other ones. The 1st (playing through some dramatic mounding), 3rd (par-5 above and alongside the river-like finger of one of the mine ravines/gorges with a very fun and blind tumbling right turn in front of and down to the green, 14th (tough and pretty narrow especially for its length, but excellent land movement in a half-pipe like corridor up to a green that is interestingly perched and bunkerless with runoff to the right front), and 17th (shortish par-4 with water right, significant hills/mounds blocking out sightlines if the player bails left, and a green sitting a bit up surrounded by some more hills/mounds, deep bunkering, and vista behind it) were highlights.

Harder than Pikewood National. Harder than Muirfield Village. Play the correct, or even move up a set of, tees; bring a lot of golf balls; and don't forget to check for ticks when you inevitably end up in the deep and prevalent natural areas.