The Harvester Golf Club in Rhodes, IA the Epitome of Hawkeye Pride

Number One for a Reason

By Glen Turk

When nature's beauty combines so perfectly with human imagination the outcome is indescribable by mere words. On the other hand, a well crafted and timed picture makes memorializing the otherwise indefinable possible. Such is the case at Iowa's number one golf course, The Harvester Golf Club, in Rhodes, IA.

The 7,340 yard Keith Foster design opened to rave reviews on July 1st, 2000 and has been setting the bar for Iowa golf ever since. "Compared to some of the most famous courses in the world, we recognize that The Harvester is young," stated Harvester's owner Dickson Jensen. "But the course design, the surroundings, and the commitment to tradition all lends to a maturity and a degree of excellence beyond our years."

After a recent trip to The Harvester Golf Club, which is just minutes northeast of Des Moines, I found myself at a loss for words, (a rarity for sure) but not on how to tell Harvester's bold story. Therefore I have enlisted the help of golf photographer Joel Randall and Harvester's Head Golf Professional John Haberman. Between these two highly skilled golf aficionados, it is my hope you'll understand what makes The Harvester Golf Club so distinctive and a course that must be added to anyone's Bucket List.

Quote From Dickson Jensen

During the construction process we had the goal of being the best we could be. We wanted to construct a facility that was as good as we could offer and in doing so, it has been great to receive some very important awards. The awards are great to get but we are just concerned with being the best that we can be, whether that be the best in Iowa, the best in the Midwest, or top 100 in the country. I am very proud of the course that we have to offer and believe that it is a great place for people that enjoy the game of golf. Dickson Jensen, owner Harvester Golf Club.

Below you will be treated to four panoramic images of the finest collection of par-3's I've experienced in a long time followed by a description by their 4th year head pro on what makes them so memorable.

#3, 165 yards - "Humble Crossing"
The golfer is presented with a slightly downhill tee shot over one of Harvester's beautiful water features. A new sod-wall bunker on the left will collect any "long left" shot that bails away from the water in front of and right of the green. Accuracy is a must on this tee shot due to the ridge that runs directly through the middle of the green.
#8, 185 yards - "Serendipity"

With Lake Harvester as the backdrop, this shot requires a precisely placed iron depending on the location of the pin. The hole features a front-left bunker and a green that slopes from left to right, making it difficult to get to a front left pin. That slope can also create some excitement for a back-right pin as balls will funnel towards to the hole. A true delight for those who like to shape their shots!

#14, 180 yards - "The Ridge"
The Harvester offers variety on this par-3 due to two separate teeing areas. This downhill par-3 requires distance control from both tees due to a split-level green. This severely sloped green will get your attention as you approach the putting surface and demands every ounce of touch. Par here is a great score.

#17, 165 yards - "The Thresher"
The par-3 17th at The Harvester might be the most daunting of our three finishing holes. A new limestone walls lines the green from Lake Harvester. A collection area and greenside bunker on the left collect those who "bail out" from the water. A three level green requires perfect distance control depending on the hole location that day. Our back-right "Sunday Pin" might be the hardest shot on our course. To get it close, you would have to hit you 170 yard tee shot within a 15 foot circle.

In conclusion, there is something magical about traveling seven hours from home to play a property so highly thought of by the golf media that has been rated Iowa's best golf course basically since the minute it opened. And after enjoying four hours of solitude and splendor, I can say only one thing - every golf writer that played Harvester GC in Rhodes, IA before me was dead solid perfect.

For more information on The Harvester Golf Club, visit their website at www.harvestergolf.com or call (641) 227-4653.

Article Tags: The Harvester Golf Club

Revised: 12/11/2010 - Article Viewed 38,748 Times

About: Glen Turk

Glen Turk is a Wisconsin native and is the Senior Writer/Editor of Midwest Golfing Magazine. Midwest Golfing Magazine was formerly known as Pub-Links Golfer's Magazine and is a free publication distributed four times per year throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio.

His duties at MGM include writing course features, facilitating product testing, and overseeing the overall content and look of the magazine. But clearly his most important task is playing as much golf as his wife allows. Fortunately for him, she plays also and loves out-driving him even with a 60 yard head start.

Glen plays to a 6 handicap but once set a record by having his ball retriever regripped 15 times in one calendar year. It was a December trip to Guam that ultimately did him in. Finally, if you haven't caught on by now, the two most worthy weapons in Glen's writing arsenal are self-deprecating humor and pithy one-liners.

My signature line, "Be A Force on The Course" and now more recently, "Hit 'Em Where They Mow!" can be reused at no charge.