2022’s Best Cities for Golfers

Every golfer has their favorite local venue. Whether they go there to play 18 holes, practice their short game, or watch the world’s best, these places can be like a second home to the avid golfer.

But some cities score better for golfers than others. 

That’s why LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Golfers, marking Oct. 4 as National Golf Lovers Day.

We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 22 key indicators of golfer-friendliness, such as weather, number of golf courses, and access to equipment.

Is your city up to par? Find out in our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

Contents

• City Rankings
• Highlights and Lowlights
• Methodology
• Final Thoughts

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Public Course Access Rank	Premium Course Access Rank	Training Access Rank	Course Quality Rank	Climate Rank
1	Scottsdale, AZ	59.74	1	1	3	15	46
2	Orlando, FL	45.09	5	12	1	8	96
3	Cincinnati, OH	42.77	2	3	12	139	200
4	Las Vegas, NV	37.84	15	15	58	10	40
5	San Francisco, CA	36.69	160	2	32	155	30
6	Winston-Salem, NC	35.81	68	7	140	23	102
7	Los Angeles, CA	34.64	176	4	171	90	29
8	Savannah, GA	34.56	3	25	28	57	135
9	Augusta, GA	34.02	67	6	136	67	164
10	Rochester, NY	32.71	36	5	139	133	180
11	San Antonio, TX	32.09	104	10	151	38	123
12	Toledo, OH	32.04	75	8	178	108	175
13	Atlanta, GA	31.35	71	11	59	113	100
14	Birmingham, AL	30.98	27	16	84	49	169
15	Tucson, AZ	30.67	14	18	74	117	54
16	Pasadena, CA	30.21	86	125	4	41	6
17	Houston, TX	29.53	167	9	149	68	192
18	Tulsa, OK	29.40	101	13	190	60	172
19	Durham, NC	29.36	100	53	29	3	126
20	Corona, CA	29.14	43	159	38	20	6
21	Phoenix, AZ	29.10	134	26	128	12	46
22	Henderson, NV	28.94	66	40	49	37	40
23	Charleston, SC	28.83	73	21	47	81	60
24	Dallas, TX	28.57	156	17	90	28	104
25	Escondido, CA	28.53	13	159	91	55	1
26	Lexington, KY	28.50	40	42	99	6	153
27	Chandler, AZ	28.47	17	41	34	114	46
28	Port St. Lucie, FL	28.38	20	33	63	72	79
29	Hollywood, FL	28.27	28	159	14	33	86
30	Charlotte, NC	28.25	128	19	83	40	80
31	Surprise, AZ	28.19	6	123	45	95	46
32	Austin, TX	28.12	135	14	120	87	129
33	Frisco, TX	28.11	117	32	10	59	104
34	Louisville, KY	28.07	64	24	60	50	162
35	Peoria, AZ	28.06	56	71	20	58	46
36	Irvine, CA	27.67	149	151	23	21	6
37	Alexandria, VA	27.64	52	100	2	100	98
38	Carrollton, TX	27.28	74	73	11	45	104
39	Knoxville, TN	27.25	12	62	42	83	142
40	Virginia Beach, VA	27.08	79	120	172	1	81
41	Fullerton, CA	26.97	131	63	22	78	6
42	Ontario, CA	26.90	170	159	82	7	6
43	Grand Rapids, MI	26.88	22	55	7	118	197
44	Roseville, CA	26.86	26	122	16	122	37
45	Spokane, WA	26.58	16	39	25	144	93
46	Lubbock, TX	26.56	90	35	166	36	61
47	Akron, OH	26.53	18	20	51	163	189
48	Tampa, FL	26.41	54	77	88	30	70
49	Fort Wayne, IN	26.39	8	80	104	70	137
50	Salt Lake City, UT	26.32	4	116	50	157	74
51	Thornton, CO	26.02	121	159	15	34	65
52	Pomona, CA	25.99	165	159	72	19	6
53	Chula Vista, CA	25.98	188	150	106	11	1
54	Springfield, MO	25.75	33	45	130	54	170
55	Kansas City, MO	25.72	45	37	127	56	129
56	Lincoln, NE	25.53	7	60	24	160	149
57	McKinney, TX	25.52	87	23	92	107	104
58	Overland Park, KS	25.45	29	27	26	171	129
59	Rockford, IL	25.33	11	76	125	85	182
60	Oceanside, CA	25.28	72	107	35	130	1
61	Riverside, CA	25.24	93	70	94	93	6
62	Reno, NV	25.18	85	68	116	44	58
63	San Diego, CA	25.15	141	34	132	109	1
64	New York, NY	25.11	190	85	118	2	146
65	Indianapolis, IN	25.11	50	29	114	103	179
66	Hayward, CA	25.10	119	134	105	39	30
67	Olathe, KS	25.09	154	75	152	4	129
68	St. Louis, MO	25.09	24	43	21	146	158
69	Anaheim, CA	25.08	169	159	103	22	6
70	Mesa, AZ	25.01	21	67	73	140	46
71	Greensboro, NC	24.95	89	87	53	42	102
72	Irving, TX	24.94	182	22	36	111	104
73	Santa Rosa, CA	24.80	55	88	61	137	6
74	Yonkers, NY	24.75	143	159	18	31	160
75	Santa Ana, CA	24.66	172	153	44	65	6
76	Fontana, CA	24.57	184	159	163	13	6
77	Fort Worth, TX	24.54	133	46	129	27	104
78	Miami, FL	24.50	53	59	96	77	86
79	Pembroke Pines, FL	24.32	46	106	8	145	86
80	Huntington Beach, CA	24.31	179	141	43	79	6
81	Murfreesboro, TN	24.28	41	124	177	16	175
82	Sioux Falls, SD	24.26	10	38	158	150	159
83	Boise City, ID	24.20	61	84	37	120	63
84	Arlington, TX	24.18	140	74	68	35	104
85	Aurora, CO	24.14	19	72	77	134	65
86	Kansas City, KS	24.12	137	63	145	17	129
87	Montgomery, AL	24.10	37	113	76	62	185
88	Richmond, VA	24.05	136	50	41	75	118
89	Long Beach, CA	23.96	120	157	113	71	5
90	Tacoma, WA	23.92	38	144	48	104	76
90	Jacksonville, FL	23.92	139	31	124	80	101
92	Plano, TX	23.92	113	47	56	91	104
93	Albuquerque, NM	23.90	48	44	78	149	57
94	Aurora, IL	23.76	142	114	87	14	165
95	Oxnard, CA	23.75	144	159	167	46	6
96	Boston, MA	23.68	191	89	46	29	116
97	Oklahoma City, OK	23.67	110	111	134	24	97
98	Chesapeake, VA	23.66	166	146	161	9	81
99	Columbus, OH	23.59	173	30	141	47	195
100	Grand Prairie, TX	23.50	32	159	69	94	104
101	Springfield, MA	23.40	116	159	95	25	116
102	Colorado Springs, CO	23.35	80	36	169	121	62
103	Glendale, AZ	23.21	81	159	57	115	46
104	Mobile, AL	23.18	31	61	150	105	194
105	Mesquite, TX	23.14	157	159	85	18	104
106	Raleigh, NC	23.08	82	86	80	84	126
107	Killeen, TX	23.06	162	159	187	5	129
108	Madison, WI	23.06	39	52	93	112	184
109	Amarillo, TX	23.01	51	66	156	119	64
110	Jackson, MS	22.96	34	103	200	63	188
111	Macon, GA	22.93	125	78	191	26	141
112	Waco, TX	22.81	44	121	189	48	145
113	Tempe, AZ	22.78	88	159	19	152	46
114	Naperville, IL	22.75	122	51	9	154	165
114	Dayton, OH	22.75	105	58	65	96	163
116	San Bernardino, CA	22.70	153	159	164	69	6
117	Newark, NJ	22.47	185	159	55	32	154
118	Stockton, CA	22.42	127	99	165	76	55
119	Chattanooga, TN	22.41	69	92	180	51	187
120	Tallahassee, FL	22.32	83	65	81	106	174
121	Eugene, OR	22.29	77	135	138	66	120
122	Palmdale, CA	22.27	138	131	183	102	6
123	Pittsburgh, PA	22.22	99	57	33	127	196
124	Omaha, NE	22.22	23	69	52	170	138
125	Bakersfield, CA	22.17	126	98	193	97	44
126	Des Moines, IA	22.12	42	54	154	129	151
127	New Orleans, LA	22.07	107	79	155	52	173
128	Moreno Valley, CA	22.02	94	159	162	126	6
129	St. Paul, MN	22.00	62	130	98	99	147
130	Fort Collins, CO	21.96	60	104	97	131	65
131	Midland, TX	21.94	78	48	192	141	59
132	North Las Vegas, NV	21.72	132	28	168	173	40
133	Jersey City, NJ	21.67	187	149	17	98	160
134	Shreveport, LA	21.62	76	94	70	123	183
135	Salinas, CA	21.48	98	133	79	159	30
136	Norfolk, VA	21.48	97	159	174	64	81
137	Joliet, IL	21.45	109	159	142	43	165
138	Newport News, VA	21.40	96	139	182	74	81
139	Glendale, CA	21.29	178	114	62	153	6
140	Fayetteville, NC	21.09	129	118	117	88	126
141	Hialeah, FL	20.97	150	159	115	73	86
142	Wichita, KS	20.89	103	82	195	89	140
143	Little Rock, AR	20.89	49	49	179	151	121
144	Memphis, TN	20.88	123	101	194	61	156
145	St. Petersburg, FL	20.68	130	108	108	116	70
146	Garland, TX	20.46	47	159	54	165	104
147	Minneapolis, MN	20.46	124	156	112	92	147
148	Philadelphia, PA	20.39	186	158	126	53	139
149	Portland, OR	20.24	112	119	133	124	72
150	Syracuse, NY	20.21	9	95	157	176	199
151	Corpus Christi, TX	20.20	147	102	197	101	94
152	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	20.18	192	138	119	135	6
153	Clarksville, TN	20.14	57	132	131	138	175
154	El Paso, TX	20.02	118	155	175	143	43
155	McAllen, TX	19.99	158	126	188	86	123
156	Cape Coral, FL	19.90	35	159	147	142	136
157	Sacramento, CA	19.85	70	147	146	172	37
158	Bellevue, WA	19.74	108	97	13	181	76
159	Baton Rouge, LA	19.70	65	81	109	158	191
160	Chicago, IL	19.56	183	83	101	110	165
161	Salem, OR	19.36	106	105	185	136	95
162	Denver, CO	19.32	102	127	100	161	65
163	San Jose, CA	19.24	161	136	143	164	30
164	Oakland, CA	19.21	164	143	153	162	30
165	Detroit, MI	19.19	189	154	160	82	143
166	Brownsville, TX	19.02	58	159	196	156	92
167	Fresno, CA	19.00	151	117	186	147	45
168	Nashville, TN	18.95	91	145	159	132	175
169	Worcester, MA	18.85	173	110	88	128	171
170	Providence, RI	18.71	148	89	27	174	157
171	Sunnyvale, CA	18.58	115	159	107	179	30
172	Washington, DC	18.53	155	159	30	169	98
173	Lakewood, CO	18.42	25	159	71	187	65
174	Seattle, WA	18.36	146	129	86	167	76
175	Laredo, TX	18.31	152	148	198	125	123
176	Torrance, CA	17.87	159	128	6	192	6
177	Vancouver, WA	17.72	114	109	123	175	72
178	Elk Grove, CA	17.65	168	137	110	177	37
179	Baltimore, MD	17.56	163	142	111	148	152
180	Columbus, GA	17.35	111	112	199	168	119
181	Huntsville, AL	17.02	180	56	176	166	181
182	Fort Lauderdale, FL	17.02	171	93	31	184	86
183	Milwaukee, WI	16.63	84	152	137	178	155
184	Hampton, VA	16.60	30	159	170	185	81
185	Modesto, CA	16.41	92	96	184	186	55
186	Denton, TX	16.38	59	159	66	188	104
187	Buffalo, NY	14.84	95	159	121	183	190
188	Anchorage, AK	14.73	145	89	173	182	198
189	Cleveland, OH	13.98	175	140	148	180	186
190	Lancaster, CA	13.29	177	159	181	189	6
191	West Valley City, UT	12.97	63	159	144	191	74
192	Fremont, CA	12.68	181	159	135	190	30
193	Garden Grove, CA	11.20	192	159	39	193	6
194	Orange, CA	11.19	192	159	40	193	6
195	Paterson, NJ	11.02	192	159	5	193	150
196	Santa Clarita, CA	9.34	192	159	122	193	6
197	Miramar, FL	7.72	192	159	67	193	86
198	Warren, MI	7.20	192	159	64	193	143
199	Bridgeport, CT	7.15	192	159	75	193	122
200	Pasadena, TX	5.73	192	159	102	193	192

Highlights and Lowlights

If You Build It, They Will Come

Regardless of where you live, the first and most essential requirement for golf is having a place to play. You can’t swing the sticks without a course.

From private clubs to resort courses to your local muni, more courses means more options and a greater capacity for golf. Of the top 20 cities on our list, only five fall outside the top 100 for the number of public golf courses. The top three cities on our list (Scottsdale, Orlando, and Cincinnati) all rank in the top five for public course access and top 15 for premium course access. Scottsdale is the top-ranked city in both categories.

For context, Scottsdale has 56 courses within the city’s limits, about 10 courses per 100,000 residents. Another 45 are within a 20-mile radius.

Drive for Show, Putt for Dough

Practice makes perfect. And the ability to practice your golf swing makes a difference on our list, too. Indoor and outdoor driving ranges are a haven for golf-hungry loopers. They’ve even become a fun place for non-golfers, especially with the rise of venues like TopGolf.

Alexandria, Virginia, stands out in both driving ranges per square mile (No. 5) and virtual golf venues per square mile (No. 1).

And while the range is the perfect place to take some practice cuts, there’s no substitute for a good coach to diagnose and cure any golf game ailments. That shows up in our Training Access category, as the top three cities — Scottsdale, Orlando, and Cincinnati — rank third, first, and ninth, respectively, in PGA coaches per 100,000 residents.

Tight Lies and True Greens

“How was the course?”

It’s probably the most frequently asked question among golfers. That’s because course conditions matter. Well-maintained fairways and greens make for a more enjoyable golf experience and a truer test of skill.

The best cities on our list put quality golf at a premium. Nine of our top 20 cities rank 49th or better in Course Quality, with three of the top five ranked 15th or better. 

Sunny With a Chance of Birdies

Climate is another major factor in determining a city’s golfability. If the place is too hot, too cold, or too wet too often, playing the game becomes untenable.

Cities in states like Arizona, Nevada, and California all bring sun and warmth to the top 10 of our list. Four of our top 10 cities for golf rank 46th or better for Climate, and just three fell outside the top 150.

Climate isn’t everything, though. Cincinnati is ranked third overall but scored a bogey on Climate, ranking 200th. That’s the only city in the top 10 that finished last in a category.

Methodology

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. 

We then grouped those factors into five categories: Public Course Access, Private Course Access, Training Access, Course Quality, and Climate.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category. 

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories.

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 200). (Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties among cities.)

Sources: Golf Digest, Golf Tournament Association of America, GOLF.com, GolfLink, Golfweek, Lessons.com, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nextgengolf, PGA of America, and Yelp

Final Thoughts

Why is LawnStarter ranking the Best Cities for Golfers?

For starters, a golf course literally cannot exist without grass (i.e. lawn). As the online leader in  outdoor services, we know a thing or two about maintaining immaculate turf.

We can do more than just tell you where to find the best greens in town. Our lawn care experts can help you trade pushing the lawn mower for swinging the club faster than you can say FORE!

So, on National Golf Lovers Day this Oct. 4, park the riding lawn mower, hire a local LawnStarter pro, and go hit the links.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock