Harvester Golf Club - Iowa

[okular]

That being said, I don't really think it is about money. The owner has said that isn't the point of the course. He wants his own golf mecca in Iowa and that is what he is doing.

 

exactly! its very exciting, i am looking forward to being a part of it. the club im a national member at in minnesota is the same way, the owner has been turning it into a golf paradise without charging members a dime for it

 

i didn't know it was that rarely played even as public, pretty sure you're right, if it were in a different location, itd be top 25 ( even though i think it was top 20 or so when it first opened ).

 

i look forward to it being an escape for me a few weeks per season!

[Phreddy]

I will probably look to play it this summer. It will be a one time thing on a sort of farewell tour of Iowa. I hope to spend about a week golfing my way across old family ground from one end of the state to the other.

 

Phred

[callawayjay]

And see? That’s just it. Living in Texas we have zero courses that are maintained to the 9’s like harvester is. We don’t have bent grass tee to green. We don’t have perfect green grass. We have torched Bermuda and thin hard lies. Grainy greens that if kept quick result in hard greens that won’t accept short shots. If I’m traveling to Iowa to play golf I can play any course in iowa in the summer and most will be in great condition. But I want to play the best one because I don’t play golf in Iowa but once a year. The harvester holds a place in my heart. It’s that good.

 

 

[okular]

callawayjay said:

And see? That’s just it. Living in Texas we have zero courses that are maintained to the 9’s like harvester is. We don’t have bent grass tee to green. We don’t have perfect green grass. We have torched Bermuda and thin hard lies. Grainy greens that if kept quick result in hard greens that won’t accept short shots. If I’m traveling to Iowa to play golf I can play any course in iowa in the summer and most will be in great condition. But I want to play the best one because I don’t play golf in Iowa but once a year. The harvester holds a place in my heart. It’s that good.

 

 

 

yup, thats how it is for me too.  i was fortunate enough in my early 20's to play a stunning country club regularly, it was actually that experience that got me to focus on my goals and work hard to get where i wanted to be, so now i want to play the best courses as much as i possibly can.  golf is much more to me than just a game, playing in settings like the harvester and my other home course are more therapeutic for me than any treatment could possibly give.  i have had countless priceless experiences and friendships made as a result, its a wonderful thing.  maybe we can catch a round there sometime.

[pmccallum86]

okular said:

exactly! its very exciting, i am looking forward to being a part of it. the club im a national member at in minnesota is the same way, the owner has been turning it into a golf paradise without charging members a dime for it

 

Olympic Hills? 

[okular]

pmccallum86 said:

okular said:

exactly! its very exciting, i am looking forward to being a part of it. the club im a national member at in minnesota is the same way, the owner has been turning it into a golf paradise without charging members a dime for it

 

Olympic Hills? 

windsong

[jshel]

I live in Minneapolis and played Harvester a handful of times over the years. I think it is a really good course and I'm looking forward to seeing the new version.

I gave brief consideration to joining, but probably won't. It will be interesting to see how they do. The owner has very deep pockets and I don't think he cares how many members he gets.

[callawayjay]

I will be staying on property August 6-11 and Playing there if any of you Midwesterners want to join me.

[endy]

> @callawayjay said:

> I will be staying on property August 6-11 and Playing there if any of you Midwesterners want to join me.

 

Just seeing this now I’d definitely take you up on that if I am able to!

[Parrotheadgolfer]

Really bummed reading this thread. In 2010, we planned to play it on our annual guys Trip/Tournament, that year we headed to Omaha being a group of baseball fanatics as well, we wanted to see the final CWS at Rosenblatt. The only real day that was gonna work was the Sunday, which ironically at Harvester, Sunday was slightly cheaper which I dont think I have seen at any other course. We were gonna make a day of it, as it would be a haul. But Quarry Oaks, which was also ranked in the top 100 at that time had an "outing" on Monday, so it was either play Harvester or Quarry Oaks, one was like 35 and one was 55 on top 100 but obviously one was a lot closer to where we were. Quarry Oaks was great, although it fell out of Top 100 that next year, just regret we were not able to make Harvester work. I want to say the rates back in 2010 on Sunday were about $85.

[tgard227]

> @Parrotheadgolfer said:

> Really bummed reading this thread. In 2010, we planned to play it on our annual guys Trip/Tournament, that year we headed to Omaha being a group of baseball fanatics as well, we wanted to see the final CWS at Rosenblatt. The only real day that was gonna work was the Sunday, which ironically at Harvester, Sunday was slightly cheaper which I dont think I have seen at any other course. We were gonna make a day of it, as it would be a haul. But Quarry Oaks, which was also ranked in the top 100 at that time had an "outing" on Monday, so it was either play Harvester or Quarry Oaks, one was like 35 and one was 55 on top 100 but obviously one was a lot closer to where we were. Quarry Oaks was great, although it fell out of Top 100 that next year, just regret we were not able to make Harvester work. I want to say the rates back in 2010 on Sunday were about $85.

 

All is not lost. Apparently they have an unaccompanied guest rate that costs quite a bit but it crosses the course off your list. It's not a course I will miss but I know some people really love it. Get up there when they reopen and get it off your to do list.

[callawayjay]

My $2 opinion again is that it was always overlooked to locals because of the conditions of all golf courses no matter the price point. I think that $80 was the issue for most. If I remember TCofIowa was up in the range in the beginning and they had to back the dd because of lack of play and conditioning. Down here in Texas you get what you pay for. The line of demarcation is about 55-80$$ and anything less than that is horrible and even on the high end with the Texas heat it’s a gamble. But the more expensive ones always have better fairways and bunkers even if the greens are shoddy.

 

But in Iowa with everything bent grass and the climate to grow it even toad valley and waveland are in great shape.

[BigRedRV]

Just drove by the course. Looks great while driving 65 mph. $275 is too expensive for me. Like others said it was rarely busy. I golfed there on Father's Day years ago. Payed $125 or so for 36 holes. I'll just go to TCI twilight 7 times. If anyone goes I hope it's a blast. Look for my Nitro's in the pond.

[BirdieRoll]

Just curious - how's the Harvester doing these days? Course as good as advertised? Membership pricing the same as previously mentioned?

[marks21]

@callawayjay & @okular , can either of you provide an update? I have a week off work in October and I am looking at a daytrip some where. I have contemplated heading to Sand Valley or Kohler but Harvester is intriguing. For me, it's roughly the same distance and the guest fee would be on par with either of those resorts.

[callawayjay]

It’s worth the trip. Yes. It’s still fantastic.

[dubbledxu]

bumping this one.  Did anyone get to play it in 2020?  Any updates on updated membership info or rates? 

[Phreddy]

I played it this summer and picked up the membership info.  It was immaculate with a very nice variety of holes.  That said, it also left me wanting more from it.  The fairways seemed to lack even a ripple of undulation so every lie was a driving range lie.  Some greens had meaningful breaks but in general they weren't difficult.  I also played The Prairie Club in Nebraska on the same trip.  It offers a similar out-of-state membership package with lodging amenities.  If I were to pull the trigger on something of that ilk, The Prairie Club would be my choice as something entirely different than what I can find at home.  Sand Valley would be the only other place I play that is even in the same realm.

 

Phred 

[dubbledxu]

Has anyone been out to Harvester lately?  Any changes to the membership options, length of season, etc?

[dubbledxu]

I just returned from a 3 day stay and play, WOW.  The Club is simply fantastic and first class all the way.  The greens are more difficult (pace firmness) than I prefer as a 14 handicap, but they are receptive to well hit shots.  The staff was out of this world amazing, bravo to the ownership/management team they put in place.  

 

18 is still my least favorite hole, but it was before the renovation too.  Just too gimmicky for a final hole, IMO.

[mci711]

5 hours ago, dubbledxu said:

I just returned from a 3 day stay and play, WOW.  The Club is simply fantastic and first class all the way.  The greens are more difficult (pace firmness) than I prefer as a 14 handicap, but they are receptive to well hit shots.  The staff was out of this world amazing, bravo to the ownership/management team they put in place.  

 

18 is still my least favorite hole, but it was before the renovation too.  Just too gimmicky for a final hole, IMO.

 

Any details on how that went down as a guest? 

[dubbledxu]

On 6/20/2021 at 11:50 AM, mci711 said:

 

Any details on how that went down as a guest? 

This was an accompanied visit, our member used 3 of his days while we were there.  We stayed at the new villas just in front of the clubhouse too, they were great too.  

[callawayjay]

Cost as a non member?

[sleuth]

On 6/22/2021 at 11:26 AM, callawayjay said:

Cost as a non member?

Accompanied guests, last year, $125.

Unaccompanied guests $275.

[dubbledxu]

I'm heading back out there in 3 weeks.  My buddy wants to use the rest of his days before the end of the year.  I hope the greens are a bit slower, but i doubt they will be.  The staff inside they were in the 13-14 range last time we were there in June.  

[jshel]

I was there last weekend and thought it was great. Course is much better than it was as a public course. Lots of cool improvements with bunker, etc. 

 

It is definitely a challenging course and the greens were some of the fastest ones I have played in some time. 

 

If you can get there, take advantage of the opportunity.