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.
They 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?
See the 10 birdies and 10 bogeys of golf cities below, followed by some highlights and lowlights from our report. (See where your city ranks.)
| Best Cities for Golfers | |
| Rank | City |
| 1 | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 2 | Orlando, FL |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA |
| 6 | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA |
| 8 | Savannah, GA |
| 9 | Augusta, GA |
| 10 | Rochester, NY |
| Worst Cities for Golfers | |
| Rank | City |
| 1 | Pasadena, TX |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT |
| 3 | Warren, MI |
| 4 | Miramar, FL |
| 5 | Santa Clarita, CA |
| 6 | Paterson, NJ |
| 7 | Orange, CA |
| 8 | Garden Grove, CA |
| 9 | Fremont, CA |
| 10 | West Valley City, UT |
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. From private clubs to resort courses to your local muni, more courses mean more options and a greater capacity for golf. Of the top 20 cities on our list, only five falls 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 the top 15 for premium course access. Scottsdale is the top-ranked city in both categories.
- Drive for Show, Putt for Dough: Practice makes perfect. 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. Alexandria, Virginia, stands out in 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?” is 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 their list put quality golf at a premium. Nine of their top 20 cities rank 49th or better in Course Quality, with three of the top five ranked 15th or better.
