According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), Florida has the most U.S. golf courses in the United States, with 1,262, or 31 percent more than California, the second-highest number in the country. Outside the U.S., only three countries have a greater number of golf courses—Japan, the U.K. and Canada.

The NGF reports that there are 94 golf courses within a 20-mile radius of its headquarters in Jupiter, FL; one is the 18-hole Jupiter Dunes Par 3 course (aka “The Little Monster”).

When it comes to golf course activity, Florida leads the way in several categories:

  • Most rounds played
  • Most new courses opened in 2023
  • Most courses closed in 2023
  • Most courses under construction or in-planning

However, there are plenty of other compelling state stats outside of Florida.

While every U.S. state aside from Alaska has more than 40 golf courses, almost two-thirds have at least 175.

The state with the highest proportion of public golf courses is Minnesota—with 90 percent of the state’s 477 golf courses open to public play, higher than the 73 percent national average. Wisconsin is close behind with 88 percent of its 528 courses being public, whether daily fee, municipal or resort. 

The state with the lowest proportion of public golf is New Jersey, where 47 percent of courses are private, many concentrated near New York City. No state has more golfers per public course than New Jersey.

California has the largest number of golfers, almost 2.8 million in the state with the highest population. The next six most populous states are the only others with more than 1 million golfers each: Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. 

Wyoming has the fewest golfers and the smallest U.S. state by population, with approximately 50,000 golfers, fewer than Washington D.C. and less than two percent of California’s total.

NGF’s state reports detail supply and demand for all 50, plus the District of Columbia, from youth golfer participation totals to the number of Par 3 courses or a count of public facilities with a premium price point of $80 or greater. 

The NGF maintains a database of every course in the U.S. and worldwide. To learn more, go here.

Image courtesy University of Georgia, Chart courtesy the NGF