Harvest Voted Best Okanagan Course for 2011

The Harvest Golf Club was chosen as the best Central Okanagan Golf Course as voted by the reader’s of Okanagan Life Magazine for 2011. This is the 11th straight year The Harvest has received the “best of” distinction (2001 – 2011).

PKG Review

It’s not everyday you hear a man rave about the boxers or briefs that he is wearing to any other person, besides maybe his wife, and there are even less reviews online because there really aren’t too many ways to jazz up men’s underwear. They, for most men, are just part of a daily routine, a necessity that doesn’t get much of a thought, unless poised with the wonderful “boxers or briefs” question at the family dinner table. So when given a sample of PKG, aka MyPakage, from a sales rep. I didn’t think much… until I put them on.


PKG can best be described as men’s athletic underwear. Heard of SAXX? Same concept. Without going into detail of the male anatomy, PKG provides a comfortable fit and support for sporting and everyday activities. Their patented “Keyhole Comfort Technology” creates the best underwear experience for men.

Experience? really? That’s what I first thought. But to fully understand, you need to put a pair on. Only then will you appreciate the thought put into these underwear. PKG are simply the most comfortable underwear I have ever put on. They are perfect for golf, the gym, cycling, running or just normal everyday use.

PKG comes in two models; Weekday and Weekend. Both are similar but the differences are the Weekend’s has a more luxurious waistband, but can roll over. The Weekday’s have an anti-roll waistband and come in more colours than the Weekend’s. The Weekend’s are also $10 more expensive and in my opinion, aren’t worth it. Weekday’s are $25 and Weekend’s $35.

$25 is a little steep for a pair of underwear, compared to the pack of 3 Joe Boxer’s from Costco for $15. But give one a try and you’ll be hooked. For more information and all colours visitwww.mypakage.com. The Weekday’s are available at The Harvest Golf Shop.

Christmas Parties at The Harvest Golf Club

The Harvest Golf Club is a beautiful setting for your company Christmas party. Located in a spectacular orchard golf course setting, overlooking the city of Kelowna and beautiful Okanagan Lake, the Harvest Clubhouse is an ideal venue for your company event. Our Harvest Grille and Dining Room are festively decorated and ideal for parties. The Harvest Grille can accommodate functions up to 50 guests and the Harvest Dining Room can accommodate up to 160 guests.

Ping G20 Driver and Iron Review

G20 Driver

This past week Ping released their latest version of their successful G series with the G20 line of drivers, fairways, hybrids and irons. Harvest Head Professional Chad Scott gives his personal review on the G20 driver and irons.

The G20 Driver

What Ping Says: The G20 is for all ability levels, the external weighting of the large, forgiving G20 driver helps launch the ball high with low spin for maximum distance and accuracy. PING’s proprietary high-balance point shaft enables you to swing a club head at more mass with the same speed, generating fast ball speeds at a high MOI, for long straight drives. The G20 launches the ball .75 degrees higher and with 200 less rpm than the G15.

First Impression: The G20 feels lighter that the G15, but in fact the club head is 2 grams heavier than it’s predecessor. This is due to their high-balance point shaft; allowing more mass at the head, but keeping the overall swing-weight down. Gone is the black finish in favor of a metallic gray or graphite colour. The club sets up very well when grounded and I found it aesthetically pleasing, although I still prefer the matte finish of my R11 to the gloss of the G20.

First Swings: The G20 feels perfectly balanced. I knew were the club head was throughout the swing, but it never felt lagging or too heavy. The club seemed to cut through the air like a knife; a reference to the improved aerodynamics of the club. The performance was outstanding; I hit 5 consecutive drives like it was on a frozen rope and the distance was long. For me, I hit the standard TFC 169D shaft a little high for my liking and could probably benefit from the lower launch/spin TFC 169D Tour shaft.

Pros: Sets up well; looks great; easy to swing and $329 is not as harsh on the pocketbook.

Cons: Only 2 stock shaft options to choose from. Club is still a little plain and boring, but with the success of the G series why change?

Overall: The PING G20 driver is definitely an improvement over the G15 but is just an evolution rather than a revolution. Either way, a large variety of skill levels are going to improve their distance and accuracy with this driver.

The G20 Irons

Ping G20 Irons

What Ping Says: With the G20 irons, you’ll hit the ball long but with distance control. Perimeter weighting and a deep cavity design, the 17-4 stainless steel heads are highly forgiving. An elastomer cavity badge provides solid feel and sound while enhancing distance control.

First Impression: The club face has a darker finish than the G15 that helps reduce glare. The club head also had more of a satin finish and not as “rough” as previous versions. Additionally, PING has done a very good job of hiding the wide sole at address; providing a clean, thin look that resembles more of a Eye2 iron than G15.

First Swings: The sound is soft and pleasant, but very solid. You could hit this anywhere on the face and it would feel good. The new CFS steel shaft provided good feel and reaction. The ball flight is high; too high for myself, but that’s what the G20 is good at.

Pros: Great looks, CFS shaft, sound, custom fit options and at $749 in steel shafts for a set, many golfers will be adding these to their bag.

Cons: Not a lot of feedback on shots. Might be too high of a ball flight for some golfers. If that is the case, wait for the new i20 irons next spring.

Overall: Another solid product from a company that invented the cavity back iron.

The Harvest Golf Club has the entire G20 product line in stock, with demos in right and left handed and available for custom fitting. If you are interested in being fit or just want to try, contact the Golf Shop today.

iPing Putter App & Cradle Review

With the explosion of handheld devices such as ipods, iphones, blackberry and numerous other “smart” devices has come the addition of applications for these devices, also known as Apps. This multi-billion dollar market includes Apps that do about anything and everything, including bar code scanners, radio, banking, travel, games and many useless apps. But besides apps that record your golf swing, no one has really developed an application that actually improves your game. Until now.


PING golf has just released their iPING Putter App and cradle for the Apple iOS platform that can be used with certain model ipods and iphones. The app is a FREE download from the iTunes app store and works in conjunction with their exclusive putter cradle for the 4th generation iPod touch and iPhone 4.

Screenshot

To get started is very easy, purchase the cradle from an authorize PING dealer (Cradles are in stock at The Harvest GC for $29.95) and download the iPING app. Then slide either your ipod or iphone into the cradle and snap the cradle to the shaft of the putter. The app itself is very slick, just tap start and hit five consecutive putts from 10 feet. Using all the sensors built into the device, the app produces results for stroke type, impact angle, tempo and consistency.

In a matter of a couple minutes you can determine your swing path and face angle at impact; the two major factors in determining if you make or miss a putt. The app is simple to use that even a non-techie can figure it out. You also have the ability to compare your stats to previous sessions, other users or over a dozen PGA Tour players including Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood.

One thing the iPING doesn’t do however is tell you how to correct your putting stroke flaws. Although some may be logical and easy to fix, others will require the attention of your local PGA Pro to determine the best course of action. Overall, the iPING app and cradle is an extremely useful tool to help golfers sink more putts and improve their game. The iPING cradle can be purchased at The Harvest Golf Club for $29.95.

Guterson and Hoodikoff Top Spots in MJT Okanagan Event

For Immediate Release – Kelowna, BC. – (July 16, 2011) – The superb Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, BC, was the sunny setting for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s first Okanagan stop of the season, where players from BC and Alberta competed in four divisions over 36 holes of individual stroke play as well as the inaugural playing of the MJT Interclub competition. This new feature on the MJT has junior golfers representing their home golf clubs in a team net format.

Pro Tip: Pre-Shot Routine

Did you ever notice when you watch a Professional Golfer on TV they do the exact same thing prior to every shot? A good pre-shot routine is an effective method of improving your focus on the shot at hand. Although the pre-shot routine is very individual, a few things you may want to include are alignment, target, shot visualization and number of practice swings prior to hitting the ball. Take some time at the range and practice your routine on every shot. Practicing with a purpose will allow you ingrain your routine and transfer it to the golf course. Once you have established a comfortable pre-shot routine you will begin to notice improvement in your consistency and scores.

- Brent Barr

Associate Professional

The Harvest Golf Club Offers FREE Golf to Kids

Kelowna, BC – The perfect start to your summer! The Harvest Golf Club will offer FREE golf to kids under the age of sixteen who are accompanied by a paying adult during the Take A Kid To The Courseprogram taking place July 4-10, 2011.

Introducing “Nine Over Easy”

The Harvest Golf Club is proud to introduce a new 9 hole special for those early morning golfers. “Nine Over Easy” includes 9 holes of spectacular golf with power cart, breakfast and coffee at The Harvest Grille for a wonderful price of $49.00 + tax. All breakfast items are included (with the exception of steak and eggs).

Burner 2.0 Iron Review

Burner 2.0 Irons

Just like its predecessor from 2009, the new Burner 2.0 iron is not only Taylormade ‘s number one game improvement iron, but is also the number one selling iron worldwide. Due to the design and different technologies of these irons, they aredesigned to help lower the scores of both the low and high handicappers. Each iron is designed differently to generate an equal yardage gap between each club, to help promote greater consistency within the set. One new innovation that separates the Burner 2.0 irons from its competitors is the different face thickness that is found in each club. By having a progressively thinner face into the longer irons it generates greater ball speed, which as a result, increases distance. Also, the weight distribution of each iron becomes lower and wider from the short to the long irons for maximum forgiveness, playability, and launch conditions.

While most other game improvement irons on the market have a tendency to have a “bulky” look due to their wide sole and thick top line, the Burner 2.0 is able to produce the same forgiveness, while having a thinner, cleaner appearance at address. Similar to the varying face thickness, the top line thickness is different for each club as it gradually decreases from the long irons into the short irons. The innovation of the MFSD (Multi Functional Sole Design) has three separate technologies that create an optimal balance between sole geometry and performance. The first is the design of a recessed toe and heel, as it reduces drag and friction when contacting the ground, promoting greater consistency. Secondly, a bevelled sole generates a low, deep center of gravity which makes it easier to produce optimal launch angles. Last but not least, a penetrating, raised sole increases the level of the overall playability of the iron, which benefits the different skill levels of all golfers.

Wining, dining and golfing in Kelowna

“Keep your eye on the ball and swing easy.”

Those were my husband’s parting words as I headed to Kelowna in early April to squeeze in a couple more days of skiing, followed by a day of golfing.

The skiing part was easy; Big White is just an hour and 15 minutes from the airport and I didn’t need any help getting down the mountain. But golfing? That was a different story.

Read the entire story at:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Wining+dining+golfing+Kelowna/4804347/story.html

Golf Mecca in Canadian Wine Country

by James McAfee – TheAPosition

While sometimes overlooked, the Okanagan Valley, located in a fertile valley between the Cascades Mountains and the Monishee Mountains in Western Canada, offers some quality golf, especially for those who also like wine.

Fore Day Flight

Planning a golf trip to the Okanagan? Read this great article of a recent 4-day golf and wine tasting adventure in the Okanagan!

Fore Day Flight

by Jason Kerkmans – TheAPosition

Aside from those living in the Pac NW, flying into the town of Kelowna, in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, may take the better part of a day after a likely layover in Seattle or Portland. However, once you arrive at the far north end of the Sonoran Desert and the home of icewine and Canadian golf, it’s a quick transition into a four-day itinerary that will leave you awash in a sea of reds, whites …

Read more

Taylormade R11 & Burner 2.0 Driver Review

Burner 2.0 Driver

By now everyone has seen the TV commercials, magazine ads, YouTube videos and tour coverage of Taylormade’s new WHITE drivers. Is it just all hype and marketing from the big golf machine we call Taylormade? Or do they really preform in real world conditions? Read the only review on the web that covers both the Taylormade R11 and Taylormade Burner Superfast 2.0 Drivers.

White Out?

When I first heard about Taylormade’s new “WHITE OUT” drivers for 2011, I was skeptical about how the consumer would react. Nothing can be further from the black painted drivers we have become accustomed to over the last decade. But when I first put one in my hands I was surprised on how minimally invasive the white colour was. The non-reflective, matte white paint is very pleasing to the eye. In fact, I hardly even noticed it was white. Both the R11 and Burner 2.0 are incredibly easy to look at and align. And that is the purpose; white crown combined with a black face make both these drivers easy to align towards the target.

Both drivers have subtle, computerize silver and red graphics around the edge of the crown, but it didn’t interfere with the looks of the club and probably assists in the alignment of the drivers.

Is it Just Paint?

Quick answer: NO. Besides what the competition says, these are not repainted versions of the R9 and Burner 1.0. Both have been reengineered from the ground up, creating the best drivers Taylormade has ever produced. The white makes them just that much better. But now that we have addressed the paint, lets look at each driver on an individual level.

R11 Review

R11 Driver

The R11 driver looks similar to the R9 in terms of the head shape, moveable weight and flight control technology but the engineers have taken it a step further with a Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP). With these 3 exclusive technologies, the golfer can now adjust flight path (MWT), loft (FCT) and face angle (ASP) on an individual basis. What does this mean? Well, you can now fine tune each aspect more precisely to get the most accuracy and distance out of your drives.

Real World Testing

I took my R11 9 degree the stock Fujijura Blur stiff flex shaft out to the range and put it through the paces. First impression; wow this feels good. Besides the good looks of the white paint the R11 has a distinctively better sound than the R9. Not has hollow as it’s predecessor, the R11 has a more solid feel but doesn’t go as far as being a “dead” or “clunky” sound. After a few hits I dialled up the loft a degree to help promote a more right to left ball flight but then opened the face to produce a more square look at address.

After shaking some winter rust off the swing I truly had the R11 dialled in and was hitting it just as, if not better, than my R9 TP.

Burner Superfast 2.0 Review

After hitting the R11 for a bit I didn’t want to put it down, but I wanted to try the new Burner 2.0 just to get an idea. First impression when I picked up this latest version was immediate gratification. Gone is the spaceship looking duel crown the Burner 1.0 sported, and although I never liked it, it still preformed very well. But now the Burner 2.0 has a more traditional looking crown and combined with the white paint makes it a very sexy looking driver. It is the lightest Taylormade driver ever at 279 grams, a few grams light than the first version, which has allowed Taylormade to lengthen the club by an inch to produce more club head speed and more distance. This is Taylormade’s longest driver EVER!

Real World Testing

It took me a few swings to get use to the extra inch, but after that I was bombing this driver. Even though it has no adjustability, I was hitting the Burner 2.0 so well I am now considering switching from the R11, it was that good. The sound was a little more hollow that the R11, but a lot of people are going to like this driver. Not only does it look better with the removal of the dual crown design and the white paint, it just preforms hands down.

For the better player, the Burner 2.0 TP looks even better with a slightly open face at address and a more bulged toe creating a nice compact look.

Both drivers are available at The Harvest Golf Shop. The R11 has a price tag of $449 and the Burner 2.0 comes in at an attractive $339! I recommend that you take advantage of our NO CHARGE club fitting service with our certified CPGA Club Fitters to find the right Taylormade Driver for yourself.

Contributed by

Chad Scott

Head Professional

The Masters: In the Zone

The Masters: In the Zone

by Terry Moore – TheAPosition

A few years ago when I arrived at the Masters, the first place I visited was the new patron sitting area on the hillside overlooking the par-three 16th hole. For some reason, I’m always curious to discover and assess the many tournament and course improvements made over the past year. Many of them are never announced or commented upon by the club. After some storm-damaged trees were removed (at least that was the official Augusta …

Opening Date – Friday, March 25

The Harvest Golf Club will open for the 2011 season, weather permitting, on Friday, March 25th. The club will be fully operational, including Golf Course, Practice Facility, Golf Shop and Harvest Grille. Tee times will begin at 9:00 am each day and will gradually get earlier as the daylight lengthens.Golf Shop will be open one hour prior to the first tee time and will close at dusk. Range balls will be available to purchase until 5:00pm each day with the exception of clean pick nights. The Harvest Grille will also be open one hour before the first tee time for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Book your tee time today, from the convenience of your computer by clicking the Book Tee Time link at the upper right of this page.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Harvest for the 2011 season!

Driving Range Update

Due to the recent inconsistent weather, The Harvest Golf Club has rescheduled the opening date of our Driving Range for Friday, March 18th. The date is still weather dependent and could change if conditions are not favourable. The Driving Range will be open from 10 am – 5 pm, Monday thru Sunday until the course opening date of Friday, March 25th.

For course and facility updates, visit our website, Facebook page or give us a call at (250) 862-3103.

The Harvest Voted Best Okanagan Golf Course

The Harvest Golf Club was chosen as the best Central Okanagan Golf Course as voted by the reader’s of Okanagan Life Magazine for 2010. This is the 10th straight year The Harvest has received the “best of” distinction (2001 – 2010).