This surprising state has best average handicap index in U.S.

When we released ours Top 100 courses in the USA AND The 100 best courses you can play on Several states with the most golf courses and total golfers dominated the rankings this fall.

California e.g. finished second with 13 of the top 100 coursesjust outside New York and first place in the Top 100 public courses ranking (11). Florida, which is virtually carpeted from coast to coast, took second place on the list of public fields with 9.

None of this is a surprise. But when the conversation turns from the states with the most top golf courses to the playing opportunities for golfers in that state, a wide variety of states come to the top, and many of them may surprise you.

We know this thanks to the USGA, which has published a ranking of states according to the average handicap index. In this regard, Mississippi takes the crown with an average rate of 10.7, probably slightly better than the second state, Arkansas, which also scores 10.7.

But what about California, the state that dominates our course rankings? The Golden State ranks a dismal 40th out of 51 (Puerto Rico is included in the rankings) with an average handicap of 15.2, although that’s much better than Florida, which ranks 46th on the list with an average handicap of 16.2.

Alaska ranks last with distinction, with an average score of 16.7.

USGA averages are based on data from 3.2 million U.S. golfers who actively post scores. In general, average handicap rate for men it is 14.2, and for women it drops to 28.7.

You can see the 10 states with the highest USGA average handicap rankings below, or you can check out the full results in the USGA Instagram post below.

Top 10 states with the best average handicap rate