The Iowa State men’s and women’s golf teams will reap the benefits of a new, world-class golf course in central Iowa.

The new state-of-the-art course, called the Harvester, is located in the Iowa town of the same name. It’s about a half-hour drive from Ames.

It will replace Veenker Memorial Golf Course as the home of Cyclone golf, and it will allow the Cyclones to play home meets.

The Harvester has already been named the host of the Big 12 women’s golf championship for next year.

The course is a total of 7,240 yards from the professional tees, but it will also have shorter tee-off points that will make it enjoyable for the average golfer.

Along with allowing the teams to host tournaments, the course will also bring recognition to Cyclone golf programs.

Men’s coach Jay Horton said the course will do “nothing but elevate the program” by allowing top-quality teams to come and play.

The competition and quality of the course will also attract young golfers to the ISU program.

Horton said the course “is the best one, if not in Iowa, around the Midwest, that I’ve seen.”

One of the most attractive things about the course is its location, Horton said.

“It fits into the land. It looks like it has been there for years, not just the last 13 months,” said Director of Marketing Michael Despard.

The course sits on more than 2,000 acres of blue lakes and rolling hills. It is in a rural area, but also close to Ames, Marshalltown and Des Moines.

There are many existing trees that are already mature and create instant hazards for golfers, Horton said.

“It covers a lot of territory,” Horton said.

“You notice something different every time you are on the course,” Despard said.

There are also extreme elevation changes, Despard said. He explained that people who think of a golf course in Iowa as being flat will be in for a surprise at the Harvester.

“There are elevation changes of 110 feet, from lowest [point] to highest,” he said.

Despard said he is anxious for the course to open.

He thinks it will benefit the state of Iowa, as course operators have talked about trying to draw a PGA event, which could lead to millions of dollars being spent in the community.

Despard said the course is designed to meet USGA’s standards, and they do plan to pursue pro golf events.

Horton said the Harvester has a good outlook for the future, but it will have to “prove itself” as a great course first.

He said long-term goals could include hosting a NCAA regional tournament or possibly the NCAA national championship.

The course is more fit for high- caliber golf than Veenker, Horton said.

“Veenker doesn’t come close to ranking with [this type of course],” he said.

“This is much more demanding, championship style of play. It is similar to the courses when you play competitively.”

Horton thinks his golfers will be able to do well at the course, but he said it will “test your ability to hit every club in your bag.”

Despard credits architect Keith Foster for creating a great course and getting it up to playing condition in such a short time.

“The course is not yet 100 percent today; it will probably be another year,” Despard said.

From what he has heard, Despard said the par five hole six is the most difficult on the course.

It is called “holy cow” because it used to be a cow pasture. The green sits on the other side of a water hazard and tests a golfer’s ability to be accurate.

Horton, on the other hand, thought the par 3 holes appeared to be more demanding, and said hole six should “be a definite birdie hole” for his golfers, however, he has yet to play the course.

While the new course will be great for the golfers, Horton said that Veenker would still be where Cyclones will practice, because the Harvester is 30 minutes away.

Veenker officials also support the move to the new course.

Tess Balsley, the clubhouse manager, said, “I personally think it’s a wonderful opportunity” for the Cyclones to host their own tournaments.

“I don’t remember the last time [Iowa State] hosted a home meet,” she said.

She also explained it wouldn’t affect business at the course either.

The Harvester has been open to the public since July 1, even though only the front nine holes will be playable, as the back nine are still being improved upon.

It is located on Highway 330, about 25 miles northeast of Des Moines.