Imagine you’re flying over New Jersey and spot a pristine golf course stretching out below. Your first thought might be, “Wow, I’d love to play that one.” Well, I’ve got some sobering news for you. I wouldn’t count on it.
That’s because nearly 1 out of every 2 golf courses in New Jersey is not open to the public. New Jersey ranks as the worst state in the nation for publicly accessible golf facilities. By contrast, in Alaska every single one of its 21 courses welcomes the general public with no exceptions.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t simply a binary public versus private divide. At Downgrain Labs, we’ve broken down golf course access across America into five distinct categories:
- Daily Fee: Anyone can show up, pay the green fee, and play (open to the public).
- Semi-Private: Members enjoy meaningful perks, but the general public can still play under certain conditions (open to the public).
- Private: Play is restricted to members and their invited guests only (not open to the public).
- Resort: These facilities pair golf with lodging. Some let non-guests book tee times (open to the public), while others limit access to registered guests or members (not open to the public).
- Military: Many U.S. military-operated courses welcome civilians (open to the public), though some remain exclusive to military personnel (not open to the public).
When we crunch the statewide data on publicly accessible golf, a few clear patterns emerge. Here are our biggest takeaways:
The Midwest is the King of Publicly Accessible Golf
The Midwest shines not just in golf course density. States like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota rank in the top 10 nationally for total facilities. Even more impressive is how welcoming those courses are to everyday players. These states consistently lead the pack in percentage of courses open to the public.
What drives this? A combination of abundant affordable land and a deep-rooted tradition of municipal and community-supported development. Lower land values make it feasible to build straightforward golf courses without the need to bundle them into gated communities or luxury real estate developments. Beyond economics, the Midwest’s ethos of humility, hard work, and value-driven recreation has nurtured a strong preference for accessible, no-nonsense golf. Locals flock to these courses for their straightforward playability, welcoming vibe, and sense of community. They prioritize genuine enjoyment over exclusivity. The result is a region that has become a true haven for golfers chasing authentic, affordable rounds.
The Northeast is the King of Private Golf
If the Midwest reigns supreme for public access, the Northeast claims the crown for exclusivity. States like New Jersey, Connecticut, and the densely populated corridors around New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia boast the highest concentration of private clubs anywhere in the country.
The reasons are straightforward. These areas are among the most densely populated in the U.S., where land comes at a premium. Municipalities struggle to justify the expense of developing or maintaining public courses amid skyrocketing property values and competing urban demands. For private owners of daily-fee facilities in these high-demand markets, the math often favors selling the land for residential or commercial development rather than grinding out modest annual returns from green fees. The end result is fewer public options and a landscape dominated by elite, invitation-only clubs.
Culturally, the Northeast also leans toward traditions of prestige, wealth, and social stratification. Private clubs here offer more than just golf. They deliver exclusivity, networking, and a refined status symbol for affluent individuals seeking separation from the everyday crowds.
Warmer Climates Skew Toward Exclusive Golf
Despite the Northeast’s strong pull toward private golf, warmer states like Florida and Texas show similarly lower rates of public access. Meanwhile, colder climates like Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota sit at the top of the public-friendly charts.
Several factors help explain this tilt. Wealthy retirees and seasonal residents gravitate to mild weather, and they often favor private golf. Developers in these regions have leaned heavily into golf course communities, where bundled real estate makes the economics work. Year-round playability boosts property values and justifies higher-end, gated setups. Our data backs this up. Golf course communities are far more common in milder climates, where consistent weather supports the model and attracts buyers willing to pay for exclusivity.
Golf Is Still Primarily Publicly Accessible
Despite these regional variations, the bigger picture is encouraging. Roughly 74% of all golf courses in the United States remain open to everyone, whether through daily fees, semi-private arrangements, public resorts, or welcoming military facilities. This is a significant number. As detailed in our earlier collaboration with Gather Golf, we see that golf often gets labeled as an elite, exclusionary sport that caters almost exclusively to the upper class. Critics portray it as a game locked behind gates and high fees, out of reach for most people. But the reality doesn’t match the stereotype. The vast majority of courses welcome the public, offering affordable entry points and broad access that keep the sport far more inclusive than its reputation suggests. Golf remains, at its core, a game for the many, not just the few.
Downgrain Labs’ classifications of every golf facility’s public accessibility is just one of the many data points available in our platform. Learn more about the data in the Downgrain platform today.