According to the National Golf Foundation, 106 million Americans over the age of 6 – almost a third of the population – had some kind of interaction with golf last year. We played it on- or off-course, watched it on TV, read about it, and listened to golf-themed podcasts. Of the 106 million mentioned, about 25.1 million Americans actually got out on a golf course, and another 12.4 million tried their swing at driving ranges, golf simulators, or golf entertainment venues like Topgolf or Drive Shack.
Every state – even Alaska – has golf courses, both public and private. Of course, some parts of the country, and specifically some cities, have more such facilities than others – but which are the best U.S. cities for golfers in 2022?
To find the answer, 24/7 Tempo consulted a ranking of best cities for golfers released by LawnStarter, a lawn care company that frequently rates facilities of various kinds in cities around the country. (Of course, this particular rating is especially well-suited to the company considering that one of the most defining characteristics of golf courses is grass.)
Drawing on information from Golf Digest, Golf Tournament Association of America, GOLF.com, GolfLink, Golfweek, Lessons.com, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nextgengolf, PGA of America, and Yelp, LawnStarter based its rankings on 21 different metrics in five categories: public and premium course access, training access (including number of golf coaches, equipment stores, and driving ranges), overall course quality (as rated by golfers), and climate. (Around America, these are the cities with the best weather.)
Despite the fact that the game was invented in the often gray and rainy Scotland, it turns out that golf in this country thrives mostly in the Sun Belt, especially in Florida, Arizona, and California, which between them account for 14 cities on this list. (Recreational opportunities and outdoor living facilities are among the reasons these are the best cities to live in the West.)
Click here to see the best cities for golfers in America
It should be noted, though, that only the 200 largest cities in the country were considered, which is why such notable golf meccas as Naples and Myrtle Beach, Florida; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Traverse City, Michigan, aren’t included.
35. Peoria, Arizona
> Overall score: 28.06
> Public course access rank: 56/200
> Premium course access rank: 56/200
> Climate rank 46/200
34. Louisville, Kentucky
> Overall score: 28.07
> Public course access rank: 64/200
> Premium course access rank: 64/200
> Climate rank 162/200
33. Frisco, Texas
> Overall score: 28.11
> Public course access rank: 117/200
> Premium course access rank: 117/200
> Climate rank 104/200
32. Austin, Texas
> Overall score: 28.12
> Public course access rank: 135/200
> Premium course access rank: 135/200
> Climate rank 129/200
31. Surprise, Arizona
> Overall score: 28.19
> Public course access rank: 6/200
> Premium course access rank: 6/200
> Climate rank 46/200
30. Charlotte, North Carolina
> Overall score: 28.25
> Public course access rank: 128/200
> Premium course access rank: 128/200
> Climate rank 80/200
29. Hollywood, Florida
> Overall score: 28.27
> Public course access rank: 28/200
> Premium course access rank: 28/200
> Climate rank 86/200
28. Port St. Lucie, Florida
> Overall score: 28.38
> Public course access rank: 20/200
> Premium course access rank: 20/200
> Climate rank 79/200
27. Chandler, Arizona
> Overall score: 28.47
> Public course access rank: 17/200
> Premium course access rank: 17/200
> Climate rank 46/200
26. Lexington, Kentucky
> Overall score: 28.5
> Public course access rank: 40/200
> Premium course access rank: 40/200
> Climate rank 153/200
25. Escondido, California
> Overall score: 28.53
> Public course access rank: 13/200
> Premium course access rank: 13/200
> Climate rank 1/200
24. Dallas, Texas
> Overall score: 28.57
> Public course access rank: 156/200
> Premium course access rank: 156/200
> Climate rank 104/200
23. Charleston, South Carolina
> Overall score: 28.83
> Public course access rank: 73/200
> Premium course access rank: 73/200
> Climate rank 60/200
22. Henderson, Nevada
> Overall score: 28.94
> Public course access rank: 66/200
> Premium course access rank: 66/200
> Climate rank 40/200
21. Phoenix, Arizona
> Overall score: 29.1
> Public course access rank: 134/200
> Premium course access rank: 134/200
> Climate rank 46/200
20. Corona, California
> Overall score: 29.14
> Public course access rank: 43/200
> Premium course access rank: 43/200
> Climate rank 6/200
19. Durham, North Carolina
> Overall score: 29.36
> Public course access rank: 100/200
> Premium course access rank: 100/200
> Climate rank 126/200
18. Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Overall score: 29.4
> Public course access rank: 101/200
> Premium course access rank: 101/200
> Climate rank 172/200
17. Houston, Texas
> Overall score: 29.53
> Public course access rank: 167/200
> Premium course access rank: 167/200
> Climate rank 192/200
16. Pasadena, California
> Overall score: 30.21
> Public course access rank: 86/200
> Premium course access rank: 86/200
> Climate rank 6/200
15. Tucson, Arizona
> Overall score: 30.67
> Public course access rank: 14/200
> Premium course access rank: 14/200
> Climate rank 54/200
14. Birmingham, Alabama
> Overall score: 30.98
> Public course access rank: 27/200
> Premium course access rank: 27/200
> Climate rank 169/200
13. Atlanta, Georgia
> Overall score: 31.35
> Public course access rank: 71/200
> Premium course access rank: 71/200
> Climate rank 100/200
12. Toledo, Ohio
> Overall score: 32.04
> Public course access rank: 75/200
> Premium course access rank: 75/200
> Climate rank 175/200
11. San Antonio, Texas
> Overall score: 32.09
> Public course access rank: 104/200
> Premium course access rank: 104/200
> Climate rank 123/200
10. Rochester, New York
> Overall score: 32.71
> Public course access rank: 36/200
> Premium course access rank: 36/200
> Climate rank 180/200
9. Augusta, Georgia
> Overall score: 34.02
> Public course access rank: 67/200
> Premium course access rank: 67/200
> Climate rank 164/200
8. Savannah, Georgia
> Overall score: 34.56
> Public course access rank: 3/200
> Premium course access rank: 3/200
> Climate rank 135/200
7. Los Angeles, California
> Overall score: 34.64
> Public course access rank: 176/200
> Premium course access rank: 176/200
> Climate rank 29/200
6. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
> Overall score: 35.81
> Public course access rank: 68/200
> Premium course access rank: 68/200
> Climate rank 102/200
5. San Francisco, California
> Overall score: 36.69
> Public course access rank: 160/200
> Premium course access rank: 160/200
> Climate rank 30/200
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
> Overall score: 37.84
> Public course access rank: 15/200
> Premium course access rank: 15/200
> Climate rank 40/200
3. Cincinnati, Ohio
> Overall score: 42.77
> Public course access rank: 2/200
> Premium course access rank: 2/200
> Climate rank 200/200
2. Orlando, Florida
> Overall score: 45.09
> Public course access rank: 5/200
> Premium course access rank: 5/200
> Climate rank 96/200
1. Scottsdale, Arizona
> Overall score: 59.74
> Public course access rank: 1/200
> Premium course access rank: 1/200
> Climate rank 46/200