Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top public and private courses in Iowa

The top public-access layout in Iowa promises a casual round on excellent terrain.

The top-ranked public-access golf course in Iowa, Spirit Hollow in Burlington, promises a casual experience on bold terrain with plenty of elevation changes that have proved to be a hit with Golfweek’s Best raters.

Designed by Rick Jacobson and opened in 2000, Spirit Hollow is No. 1 in the state on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for top public-access layouts around the U.S.

Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with the list of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for Iowa is likewise included below.

(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960
Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses.
* New to or returning to list