Spirit Hollow Golf Course, Burlington, Iowa - A Tournament-Quality Golf Course and One of the Best in the State

Spirit Hollow is an 18-hole tournament-quality golf course located in Burlington, Iowa. The course, which was designed by Richard Jacobson and opened in 2000, features a design that has been described as both beautiful and one that makes golfers use every club in their bags.

The course is continually ranked as one of the best in the state by Golf Digest, and it plays host to a number of top-notch tournaments and qualifiers. In 2007, Spirit Hollow hosted the U.S. Amateur qualifier as well as the High School 3A State Championship.

The par-72 course plays to 7,021 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 74.8 and a slope rating of 134 on Bent grass. The course is situated in a small river valley, making for a picturesque setting that features rolling fairways and a number of elevation changes.

One of the more noteworthy holes comes right off the bat at No. 1. This par-4 holes plays to 426 yards from the Gold tees, and features a descent of 100 feet as it dives into the river valley and doglegs left. The tee shot will take most golfers to a downhill lie, where approach shots are aimed at a large green that's guarded by a bunker on the right and a slope that will carry wayward shots farther from their target.

Hole No. 3 is a beautiful and intimidating par-3 with a forced carry over a large water hazard. The hole plays to 183 yards at its longest, and golfers will not want to miss this green on the short side. Tee shots that come up short will either find the water or some nasty rough and a severe uphill lie.

Hole No. 9 is a par-4 with some interesting features. It plays to only 383 yards from the Gold tees, but the challenge comes in finding the island of a fairway. Off the tee, golfers must aim left to avoid the water hazard that runs the length of the landing area on the right. From there, an approach to the small, narrow green must cross a creek that runs around the green and feeds into another large water hazard beyond. Club selection may be tricky on this approach, as the hole is perhaps 80 feet downhill from the landing area.

Hole No. 15 is another picturesque and daunting par-3 for any golfer who's intimidated by carries over large bodies of water. Playing to only 165 from the back tees, however, this hole should be an opportunity for a good score, as the green is large. Golfers must be wary, however, as the break tends to pull putts toward the lake at the front.

Practice facilities at Spirit Hollow include a two-tiered driving range with Bent-grass tees and five target greens surrounded by bunkers. There's also a large putting green and a chipping area with two sand bunkers.

The course also features a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fully stocked pro shop and The Bar and Grill restaurant.