The United States boasts a robust and diverse golf course landscape, catering to a wide range of enthusiasts from casual players to professional athletes. The number of golf courses in the USA has seen various trends over the decades, influenced by economic factors, real estate development, and the sport's popularity. Understanding these numbers provides insight into the health and direction of the golf industry.

Key Statistics on Golf Courses

While the exact number can fluctuate due to new constructions and closures, various industry reports and associations regularly track the total number of golf courses. These reports often categorize courses by type (public, private), size (18-hole, 9-hole), and geographical distribution.

Total Number of Golf Courses

Based on recent industry data, the United States generally maintains a total number of golf courses in the range of 14,000 to 15,000 facilities. This figure includes both regulation 18-hole courses and shorter 9-hole or executive courses.

Distribution by Course Type

The majority of golf courses in the USA are accessible to the public. The breakdown typically looks like this:

With hundreds of golf balls on the market, picking the right one can feel impossible. You play, you love the game, and you know you’re not chasing a tour card. But you also don’t want to waste your money on something that doesn’t perform.

We analyzed the entire MyGolfSpy Ball Test results to identify golf balls that deliver the right blend of distance, spin, feel and consistency for average golfers. Here are five to start with.

Titleist Pro V1

The Pro V1 remains the ball by which all others are measured. Across all swing speeds in the 2025 Ball Test, it showed consistent distance off the tee, predictable iron spin and one of the most stable flights of any model tested.

For the average golfer, that means dependable performance round after round. It’s not the cheapest option but its combination of mid-launch, mid-spin and exceptional consistency makes it the industry standard. If you ever wondered what a truly balanced golf ball feels like, start here.

Maxfli Tour

Once again, Maxfli proved it belongs in the same conversation as the big names. The 2025 golf ball test called the Maxfli Tour one of the best-performing value urethane balls we’ve tested.

What if you built your entire golf bag around forgiveness? Not ball speed. Not spin. Just pure consistency. If that’s your goal, these clubs could make all the difference. We went through each of the Most Wanted tests completed this year and pulled the most forgiving golf clubs of 2025. If you need a little help from the equipment, these are the clubs to build your golf bag around.

Most forgiving golf bag of 2025 at a glance

Most forgiving driver

PXG’s Black Ops 0311 Tour-1 topped the driver forgiveness rankings, producing the smallest loss in carry distance and ball speed on off-center contact. Testers called it “the most stable driver in the field,” with consistent results across all swing speeds. It wasn’t the longest in pure distance. Several low-spin models edged it out. The Srixon ZXi Max earned runner-up honors for its high launch, easy-to-square design and excellent dispersion consistency.

Most forgiving fairway wood

The COBRA DS-Adapt Max D delivered standout forgiveness with a high-MOI, draw-biased design that virtually erased the distance gap between center and off-center strikes. The PING G440 SFT trailed just behind, trading a touch of raw distance for a straighter flight and repeatable spin window that helped keep shots in play.

Most forgiving hybrid

The Orka RSX earned its top forgiveness title by producing the tightest dispersion pattern among hybrids tested in 2025. Carry distance deltas were less than five yards between center and off-center strikes. It wasn’t the most powerful hybrid but it was among the most predictable. The TaylorMade Qi35 Max followed closely, offering similar forgiveness with a hotter feel and slightly higher launch.

Most forgiving player’s irons

The Srixon ZXi7 accomplished something rare: it finished first in both accuracy and forgiveness. MyGolfSpy testers found that even when contact drifted slightly off-center, the ZXi7 held spin and carry distance better than nearly any other player’s iron. Its forged feel and clean look give it tour-caliber feedback. The TOURA SCB-1 finished second, offering classic shaping and a softer feel.

The cult classic Golf Channel show “Big Break” is coming back in 2026.

Golf’s version of a reality TV show ran from 2003 to 2015 before leaving the air due to budget cuts. It is arguably the most creative and interesting original programming Golf Channel has produced in its 30-year history.

For my money, Big Break was a huge reason to flip on Golf Channel back in the day. It was captivating TV during the show’s peak as we got to see future stars like Tony Finau, Matt Every, Wesley Bryan, Tommy Gainey, Richy Werenski and Gerina Piller get introduced. There was often Survivor-like drama involved as players were put into niche pressure situations you would never see in a normal golf tournament.

The fact it’s been gone for a decade is symbolic of how Golf Channel has been totally gutted by NBC, so this is a happy surprise to get it back.

This new version of the show will air in August 2026 in partnership with Good Good, the YouTube channel-turned-influencer brand that has been everywhere recently (including the sponsorship of a new PGA Tour event next fall).

ASU Junior comes from six back to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur. Plus, Ridley and Darbon discuss Ryder Cup, while Peter Dawson talks OWGR and LIV.

Michael Brennan was just as dominant at Black Desert as he was on the PGA Tour Americas. He closed with a 5-under 66 to go from a sponsor exemption to a PGA Tour winner Sunday with his four-shot victory in the Bank of Utah Championship.

Michael Brennan just won the PGA Tour's Bank of Utah Championship on a sponsor's invite. Here are the Titleist clubs he used to do it.

The post Michael Brennan’s clubs: Inside his Bank of Utah Championship-winning bag appeared first on Golf.

Michael Brennan set the scoring record in his first PGA Tour victory, but his lava-ridden finish on 18 was no cakewalk.

The post ‘Not over yet’: Pro’s 3-word answer sums up white-knuckle lava finish appeared first on Golf.

Our Tour Confidential panel discusses Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup future, the PGA Tour's scheduling questions, Yani Tseng's win and more.

The post Tour Confidential: Will Keegan Bradley get another Ryder Cup chance? appeared first on Golf.

Michael Brennan won the Bank of Utah Championship to earn a PGA Tour card and a $1.08 million check. Here's how much everyone made in Utah.

The post 2025 Bank of Utah Championship payout: Here’s how much every player made appeared first on Golf.

Former World No. 1 Yani Tseng won for the first time in 11 years on Sunday. Her victory was about much more than a trophy.

The post Former World No. 1’s drought-snapping win came with a deeper meaning appeared first on Golf.

Fifa Laopakdee, a 20-year-old amateur from Thailand, overcame a massive deficit to claim a Masters invite at the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

The post Golfer clinches first Masters after insane 6-stroke comeback, 3-hole playoff appeared first on Golf.

American Jordan Gumberg secured his DP World Tour card with an unlikely hole-out on the final hole Genesis Championship.

The post ‘Unbelievable’: Pro saves job with unlikely walk-off hole-out eagle appeared first on Golf.

Hitting low controlled pitch shots is an easy way to shave strokes off your score. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mike Malizia explains how.

The post Hit low pitch shots with ease by following these tips appeared first on Golf.

When you encounter a fried-egg lie in the bunker, you've got a couple different options for how to escape.

The post 2 different strategies for escaping buried bunker lies appeared first on Golf.

Pongsapak "Fifa" Laopakdee rallied from a six-shot deficit with a 4-under 68 and beat 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki of Japan on the third playoff to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur, sending him to the Masters and Open next year.

Mountain Lake Golf Club assistant general manager Aaron Langley shares his expert guidance on how to replicate the club's famous cookies.

The post How to replicate this historic golf club’s famous gingersnap cookies appeared first on Golf.

That persistent slice? The pulls that start left and stay left? The monster snap hook? They all trace back to one fundamental problem: your swing path is off.

Swing path determines where your ball starts and, when you add in the clubface position, how it will curve. Get it wrong and you’ll fight compensations that make golf miserable. Get it right and suddenly the game suddenly feels easier than ever.

You don’t need months of lessons or a complete swing overhaul. Three specific drills can fix your path issues faster than you’d think possible.

(All references are for right-handed golfers.)

Why swing path matters more than you realize

Most golfers obsess over their grip, their stance and their takeaway, which are all important. However, swing path (the direction the clubhead travels through impact) can undermine everything else.

It’s a well-known fact that seven out of 10 doctors agree that quarterly golf trips are mandatory for long, happy and healthy lives.

Those other three quacks? Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard …

Once you’ve sold your better half on the obvious quality of life benefits of a late fall golf trip, you’re going to have to gear up. Your summer stuff is fine if you’re heading to Streamsong, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, but you’ll need to bundle up if you’re heading anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line.

In that spirit, we’ve put together some recommendations to help you stay warm, dry and comfortable as you make your way to Pebble Beach or any other less-than-tropical golf destination.

#1: You’ll need to stay warm

Northern California is a dandy spot for a fall golf trip. The crown jewel, of course, is Pebble Beach, but there are plenty of other great destinations between the Napa Valley and the Monterey Peninsula. Daytime temperatures are typically in the low-to-mid 60s, while nighttime lows can dip into the mid-40s.

If you know, you know.

The adidas ZX line is one of those icons that never gets the love it deserves. It first dropped in the 1980s and has since been resurrected a few times. Shoes like the ZX 8000 were popular in 1988, and they’re still popular today.

Heck, if you saw the numbers the ZX Flux did in the high school halls of Utah, you’d be impressed.

So when adidas decided to drop a retro version of the ZX 8000 for winter golf, I couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. The problem? They didn’t really tell anyone.

That’s what my job is!