Study: Golfer Performance By State

How Does Your State Measure Up?

Which state has the best golfers? Which state has the worst?

Today we’re going to take a closer look at how golfer performance compares across state lines. While much of what we found aligns with our expectations, we found a few curiosities as well.

To bring you this information, we’ve partnered with TheGrint, a Golf GPS and Handicap/Stat Tracking service. TheGrint’s massive database provides absolutely incredible insight into the makeup of the golfing population as a whole.

How Data was Mined

Data was captured from TheGrint App and Website.

We used a total sample of 15,000 golfers who:

• Are part of a USGA Compliant Golf Club
• Have uploaded at least 5 scores to TheGrint

Abnormal scores (scores with handicap differentials lower than -10 or higher than 45) were removed from an initial sample of over 300,000. While it should be obvious enough, it’s worth mentioning that our data is limited to golfers who track their handicap. It’s also reasonable to assume that data from TheGrint skews towards a more tech-savvy golfer, and that could also suggest a demographic that is, on average, younger than that of the total golfing population as a whole.

To ensure valid sample sizes we’ve limited our graphs to show the top 20 states based on use of TheGrint.

Golfer Performance by State

This graph shows the average handicap for golfers who live in a given state.

Insights:

• Not surprisingly, the majority of states with the best golfers are those that experience mild winters. This is likely attributable to golfers having more opportunity to practice and play.
• What some may find surprising is that Ohio and Minnesota rank high despite the fact that both see a fair amount of snow on an annual basis.
• Despite warm weather and an abundance of golf courses, Florida ranks only 15th.

This graph shows the average recorded score by state.

Insights:

• While there isn’t a one-to-one correlation, as you’d expect, there is significant overlap between the states with the lowest handicaps and those with the lowest average score.
• Differences between the two can be attributed to variations in slope ratings and the fact that average score considers all rounds played, while only the best 10 are used for handicapping purposes.

This graph shows the percentage of single digit handicap golfers within each state’s population.

Insights:

• Within the Top 20 participating states, Tennessee has the highest percentage of better golfers, while New York has the lowest. I’m at least partially  responsible for the latter.
• Once again the logical inference is that both ends of the chart are strongly influenced by climate.

As you may recall from our earlier post, only 10% of golfers who track their handicap break 80 on a regular basis, so to find that over 40% of golfers in 3 different states have single digit handicaps is surprising. It’s reasonable to assume that sample size plays a role in the result. TheGrint’s presence in Tennessee and Ohio isn’t as strong as it is in states like New York and California. So while golfers in those states who leverage TheGrint’s robust round tracking capabilities may in fact be above average players, there aren’t enough of them to measurably impact the national averages.

The following chart shows the number of scores posted per golfer in each state on an annual basis.

Insights:

• While, as you would likely expect, golfers in warm weather states post more scores annually, the difference in rounds played is not as significant as you might think.
• The number of scores entered in cold weather states like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey suggests that golfers in those states make the most of the active golf season.

Coming Soon

Stay tuned. In our next project with TheGrint we’ll take start to take a closer look at some data related to the golf courses themselves.