Updated on May 8, 2023
The United States is home to nearly 17,000 golf courses. This is fantastic news because no matter what state you’re in, a new golf course is waiting for you!
Curious about how many golf courses are in your home state? We’ve created this brief guide that gives you all the relevant stats and trends you need.
Estimated Number of Golf Courses by State
To create our list, we took the number of golf courses per square mile (found here) and multiplied that number by the size of the state in square miles (found with a quick Google search).
For example, Florida is 65,755 square miles x 0.016 courses per mile (which comes out to 1,052 golf courses).
Florida: 1,052
The Sunshine State is often referred to as the “Golf Capital of the World,” and with good reason. With a booming tourism industry, plenty of retirees, and lots of warm weather, Florida is by far the best place to live or visit for golf enthusiasts.
California: 982
Cali is home to some of the most iconic golf courses in the world. Many golfers travel long distances to make pilgrimages to Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach, and Torrey Pines. The Golden State has 163,695 square miles and 0.006 courses per mile.
Michigan: 873
The winters can be daunting in the Great Lakes State, but that doesn’t stop golf lovers from hitting the links. At 97,000 square miles, Michigan is much bigger in size than most folks realize. It has 0.009 golf courses per square mile.
New York: 818
New York may not have an ideal climate for year-round golf, but folks from the Empire State love the game. It also doesn’t hurt that lots of high-income earners are from the area. The state is 54,556 square miles, with 0.015 golf courses per mile.
Texas: 805
With 268,597 square miles, everything is indeed bigger in Texas. With warm weather and 0.003 courses per mile, folks from the Lone Star State shouldn’t have any trouble finding a place to tee it up.
Ohio: 762
Golf is popular in the Buckeye State, mainly because it’s the home of the great Jack Nicklaus. At 0.017 golf courses per square mile, Ohio ranks 6th in that category. Whether you’re in Cleveland, Cincinnati, or anywhere in between, there’s a nice course to be found!
Illinois: 695
The Prairie State checks in at #7 on our list, which may surprise some folks. Illinois is 57,914 square miles and has 0.012 courses per square mile. Golfers from this area have to have thick skin to play in the fall and winter months!
Pennsylvania: 690
Pennsylvania is another northern state where golf is incredibly popular. At nearly 700 courses spread over 46,055 square miles (0.015 courses per mile), there’s a course for everyone in the Keystone State.
North Carolina: 538
The Tar Heel State is home to some of the most picturesque golf courses in the world. Visitors can choose whether they want to see the mountains or the beach. They also have well over 500 golf courses to choose from (53,819 square miles x 0.010 courses per mile).
Wisconsin: 524
Folks from Wisconsin are passionate about the Packers, beer, cheese… and golf! The state spreads 65,498 square miles and has 0.008 courses per square mile. Some serious golfers hail from the Midwest!
Minnesota: 522
With all of the snow that Minnesota gets, it’s hard to believe that there are so many golf courses in the state. Nevertheless, The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a great vacation spot for golfers who are looking to beat the summer heat.
Indiana: 437
Indiana may be more well known for college basketball and the Indy 500, but this state is a hidden gem for passionate golfers. Whether your’re in South Bend, Evansville, Fort Wayne, or Indianapolis, you’ll find a course that’s to your liking!
Georgia: 416
It’s not too surprising to see the Peach State pretty high on this list. Georgia provides golfers with some of the most remarkable courses in the world. The state is littered with challenging courses and beautiful country clubs.
Iowa: 394
The Hawkeye State is home to some of the most underrated golf courses in the country. Lots of tourists that visit Des Moines are shocked at how many golf courses are within a 50 mile radius. The state may look small on a map, but it stretches almost 57,000 square miles and offers 0.007 courses per square mile.
Massachusetts: 380
Here’s a state you probably didn’t expect to see so high on this list! The Bay State may only stretch 10,555 square miles, but it’s pretty packed with golf courses! With 0.036 golf courses per square mile, folks in Massachusetts don’t have to go far to tee it up.
South Carolina: 352
Missouri: 349
Virginia: 342
Arizona: 342
Tennessee: 295
New Jersey: 250
Washington: 285
Kentucky: 283
Alabama: 262
Kansas: 247
Nebraska: 232
Arkansas: 213
Oklahoma: 210
Colorado: 208
Oregon: 197
Maryland: 186
Connecticut: 177
Louisiana: 156
South Dakota: 154
Montana: 147
Mississippi: 145
Maine: 142
North Dakota: 141
New Mexico: 122
West Virginia: 121
New Hampshire: 112
Nevada: 111
Wyoming: 98
Utah: 85
Idaho: 84
Vermont: 67
Delaware: 46
Rhode Island: 44
Hawaii: 28
Alaska: 23
Mike Noblin
Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.