Dormie Network Elevates Golf Experience with Luxury Revamp

Transforming Golf Experiences: A Whole New World of Luxury at Dormie Network

West End, North Carolina—Back in 2016, if you’d visited the Dormie Club, you would have found yourself surrounded by a modest trailer and a rather rough parking lot littered with pine straw. But oh how things have changed! Fast forward to today, and the entrance looks like something out of a luxurious getaway rather than a simple golf club. The once-humble access has been completely transformed, featuring a grand gate and an inviting driveway that leads to an impressive clubhouse with sleek lines and expansive glass walls. This isn’t your daddy’s golf club!

As soon as you pull up, you’ll notice the attentive valets waiting to whisk you away on golf carts. They take your name, handle your bags, and even introduce you to your very own golf cart! Once you’re settled in, a short stroll past a large putting green takes you to the pro shop. But let’s be honest: the real attraction is undeniably the stunning golf course.

The Birth of a New Hospitality Model

The radical transformation of Dormie Club can largely be attributed to its acquisition in 2017 by Dormie Network, a fast-growing group that now owns seven exclusive golf establishments across the nation, from Nebraska all the way to New Jersey. Interestingly, the name “Dormie,” which typically refers to having a lead in golf, is just a coincidence. Zach Peed, the president of the Lincoln-based Dormie Network, saw a golden opportunity when he identified clubs that were just waiting to be revived with exceptional golf courses and comfortable lodging facilities.

His venture began with Arbor Links Golf Club back in late 2015, where he discovered a major gap in the market: golf-centric hospitality for traveling golfers who crave nothing but pure golfing experiences. Forget pools and pickleball courts! “I wanted to create a getaway just for those who live and breathe golf,” Peed explains, tying in his competitive college golf background with his family’s hospitality experience.

Incredible Accommodations

One of the standout elements of the Dormie Network experience is their innovative lodging options. In North Carolina, there are fifteen four-bedroom cottages just a short drive away from the main clubhouse. Each cottage features king-size beds with en suite bathrooms, a cozy common area complete with a flat-screen TV, and a fully stocked bar. This balance of sociability and privacy flows into the grand clubhouse, which offers a high-ceilinged bar area, perfect for kicking back after a day of golfing. Plus, they offer intimate dining rooms for quieter gatherings.

This attention to hospitality is already showing dividends with an increase in memberships and greater use of club facilities. Competing destinations like Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst Resort have set a high bar where dining and lodging options are just as important as the golf courses themselves. After all, when was the last time you appreciated luxurious sheets and gourmet menus on a golf trip?

The Surge of Golf Post-Pandemic

Since 2020, golf has experienced an explosion in popularity, with the National Golf Foundation reporting a staggering 531 million rounds played in 2023, outpacing the previous record. This boom is forcing some establishments to raise their prices; tee time fees have jumped from $38 to $49 in just five years!

Golf membership demand is at an all-time high. In southwest Florida, for example, virtually no memberships are available at any of the 158 golf communities. The challenge of finding a local club has led golfers to travel further afield, and Dormie Network is stepping in with two distinct membership options—both a national membership and a signature membership perfect for businesses needing a place to entertain clients.

A Look Ahead

What’s next for Dormie Network? Well, they just opened the gorgeous GrayBull course in Nebraska’s Sandhills region, designed by the acclaimed David McLay Kidd, famed for his work on the original Bandon Dunes course. Kidd describes the site as “neither too flat nor too steep and perfectly nestled in a bowl.” Sounds enchanting, right?

Peed underscores that the successes of prior acquisitions and options have influenced the development of GrayBull. “We learned what our members want and turned that into an experience like no other.” So whether you’re a passionate golfer or just itching for an extraordinary retreat, the revamped Dormie Network is setting a new standard for golf getaways!