What are the best cities to perfect your swing and nail that birdie? Luckily for residents of the Grand Canyon state, Arizona has three of the 10 best cities for golfers in the United States.
For those thankful next week for 18 holes (if not a hole-in-one), LawnStarter ranked 2025’s Best Cities for Golfers.
MORE NEWS: Ranking Arizona: Top 10 golf courses for 2024
We compared the 500 largest U.S. cities based on 6 categories. We considered the number of public and private golf courses, PGA courses with public access, driving ranges, amateur competitions, and average course consumer rating, among 27 total metrics. Here’s how Arizona cities ranked:
- Scottsdale – 1st
- Phoenix – 2nd
- Mesa – 8th
- Peoria – 12th
- Glendale – 14th
- Tempe – 15th
- Gilbert – 16th
- Chandler – 18th
Tee off with our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.
City Rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
Key Insights
Arizona tees up three spots in the top 10, with Scottsdale (No. 1), Phoenix (No. 2), and Mesa (No. 8) claiming prime positions — even triple-digit temps don’t keep golfers off the greens in the Grand Canyon State. These cities shine with plentiful public courses, driving ranges, golf resorts, and a strong lineup of amateur competitions.
New York (No. 5) makes a surprising swing into the top 5, proving you don’t need endless greens to be a golf hotspot. While you might have to venture beyond Manhattan for a full round, the city scores high with many driving ranges, indoor virtual golf setups, and abundant lessons. Plus, New Yorkers prove their love for the game is anything but miniature, dominating Google search interest.
Florida’s golf scene balances luxury and accessibility, with West Palm Beach (No. 58) reigning in exclusivity, boasting more private courses than public courses. For public course access, head north to Orlando (No. 4), where golfers can enjoy top-notch fairways, including a Golfweek top 100 public course.
Only three northern cities break into the top 25 — New York (No. 5), Chicago (No. 7), and Denver (No. 11). Chicago stands out with a wealth of municipal courses (run by local agencies and open to all), high search interest, plus tons of gear shops and indoor ranges.
Land more insights below.
