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After we launched our High 100 Programs within the U.S. and High 100 Programs You Can Play lists this fall, a couple of states with essentially the most programs and golfers total dominated the rankings.
California, for instance, got here in second with 13 of the High 100 Programs, simply behind New York, and first within the High 100 public programs rating (11). Florida, which is virtually carpeted with programs coast-to-coast, got here in second on the general public programs checklist with 9.
None of these are surprises. However when the dialog strikes from states with essentially the most high programs to the taking part in skill of a state’s golfers, very completely different states rise to the highest, a lot of which could shock you.
We all know this due to the USGA, which launched a rating of states by common handicap index. By that measure, it’s Mississippi that takes the crown with a mean index of 10.7, presumably fractionally higher than the state in second, Arkansas, which additionally sports activities a ten.7.
However what about California, the state that dominated our course rankings? The Golden State is available in a dismal fortieth out of 51 (the rating consists of Puerto Rico), with a mean handicap index of 15.2, although that’s significantly higher than Florida, which is available in forty sixth on the checklist with a 16.2 common index.
The final place “honors” go to Alaska, with a mean index of 16.7.
The USGA’s averages are primarily based on the three.2 million golfers within the U.S. who actively submit scores. General, the common handicap index for males is 14.2 and for girls it falls to twenty-eight.7.
You possibly can see the highest 10 states within the USGA’s common handicap index score beneath, or you may take a look at the total outcomes from the USGA’s Instagram submit beneath that.
High 10 states with the perfect common handicap index
- Mississippi: 10.7
- Arkansas: 10.7
- Oklahoma: 10.9
- Alabama: 11.6
- Tennessee: 11.8
- Texas: 12.3
- North Dakota: 12.4
- Louisiana: 12.4
- Kansas: 12.5
- Kentucky: 12.5