Swing into Retirement: the Best Cities for Golf Lovers
Most of the best retirement cities for golfers are in the Southwest and Southeast, but a few northern cities chipped into the top 25. Here's where to go for the green.
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Former President Gerald Ford once said, "I know I am getting better at golf because I am hitting fewer spectators." If you've ever golfed, you know what he means. And if you’re retired, you know that the game of golf isn’t just for the young at heart. It’s a sport that anyone with a little patience can play, whether you're 8 or 98.
In 2024, 47.2 million Americans played golf. Of these players, 15% were older adults, according to the National Golf Foundation. Golf is a sport for all ages, but it’s perfect for those in retirement. And, it’s not just because they have more time at their disposal, although that’s certainly a factor.
Looking for the best cities to play a couple of rounds of golf in retirement? Then consider LawnStarter’s list of the 2025 Best Cities for Golfers.
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To determine its list, Lawnstarter looked at the number of public and private golf courses, PGA courses with public access, and driving ranges in the 500 largest U.S. cities. Not surprisingly, many of the best cities for golfers are in the Southwest or the Southeast, led by a pair of cities in Arizona.
Only three northern cities “chipped” into the top 25 — New York (#5), Chicago (#7), and Denver (#11). Chicago also stands out with a wealth of municipal courses (open to all), high search interest, plus tons of gear shops and indoor ranges.
Top 10 best golf courses for retirees
Although Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, hold the first and second spots as the best courses in the U.S. for retirees, New York (No. 5) makes a surprising swing into the top 5, proving you don’t need endless greens to be a golf hotspot.
Overall Rank | City | State | Overall Score |
1 | Scottsdale | Arizona | 55.29 |
2 | Phoenix | Arizona | 54.76 |
3 | Los Angeles | California | 54.12 |
4 | Orlando | Florida | 51.27 |
5 | New York | New York | 50.20 |
6 | Las Vegas | Nevada | 49.21 |
7 | Chicago | Illinois | 47.30 |
8 | Mesa | Arizona | 46.69 |
9 | Houston | Texas | 46.00 |
10 | Dallas | Texas | 45.96 |
Fairway to Heaven? Ten courses on par with the best
LawnStarter took a deeper dive into the top five courses where retirees will love and hate the game all in the same round.
1. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Overall Score: 55.29
- Public Course Access Rank: 170
- Premium Course Access Rank: 2
- Training and Equipment Rank: 2
- Course Quality Rank: 25
Some of the finest courses in Scottsdale include Troon North Golf Club, known for its stunning desert landscapes and challenging fairways, or PopStroke Scottsdale, a course designed by Tiger Woods that combines two 18-hole mini-golf courses with a full restaurant and sports bar.
2. Phoenix, Arizona
- Overall Score: 54.76
- Public Course Access Rank: 4
- Premium Course Access Rank: 14
- Training and Equipment Rank: 10
- Course Quality Rank: 72
On the other side of the Valley from Scottsdale, Phoenix offers an authentic desert golf experience with scenic mountain views and challenging greens at Papago Golf Club. Or, visit the recently renovated Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, known for its manicured fairways and historic charm.
3. Los Angeles, California
- Overall Score: 54.12
- Public Course Access Rank: 45
- Premium Course Access Rank: 6
- Training and Equipment Rank: 5
- Course Quality Rank: 330
Play with the pros at the members-only Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, a favorite PGA Tour stop, or for a more laid-back game, try Rancho Park Golf Course, a classic public course that is affordable and full of local charm.
4. Orlando, Florida
- Overall Score: 51.27
- Public Course Access Rank: 140
- Premium Course Access Rank: 1
- Training and Equipment Rank: 8
- Course Quality Rank: 1
The Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando is renowned for hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational and featuring challenging fairways.
To practice your swing, visit Orange County National Golf Center, home to two championship courses and America’s largest driving range.
5. New York
- Overall Score: 50.20
- Public Course Access Rank: 98
- Premium Course Access Rank: 8
- Training and Equipment Rank: 4
- Course Quality Rank: 61
Hit the fairway at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in nearby Long Island, a public course that even hosted the U.S. Open. Or, check out Pelham Bay & Split Rock Golf Course in the Bronx, where you can play 36 holes surrounded by parkland.
6. Las Vegas, NV
- Overall Score: 49.21
- Public Course Access Rank: 163
- Premium Course Access Rank: 59
- Training and Equipment Rank: 3
- Course Quality Rank: 43
Besides plenty of sunshine, casinos and entertainment galore, Las Vegas also offers some of the best golf in the country, coming in at number six.
Palm Valley Golf Course is located in the heart of the valley and boasts a mature layout that is neatly manicured with long fairways and rolling greens.
Or, check out Durango Hills Golf Club, a Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley-designed public 18-hole par 58 golf course.
7. Chicago, IL
- Overall Score: 47.30
- Public Course Access Rank: 19
- Premium Course Access Rank: 23
- Training and Equipment Rank: 17
- Course Quality Rank: 211
Although often overlooked as a mega for golf, Chicago has its share of fabulous golf courses for retirees. Chicago Golf Club ranks right up there with the top in the nation a private golf club located just outside the city in Wheaton.
Shoreacres Golf Club also ranks as one of the best in the Chicago area with fluctuating topography that ranges from deep ravines to dead flat playing surfaces.
8. Mesa, AZ
- Overall Score: 46.69
- Public Course Access Rank: 9
- Premium Course Access Rank: 70
- Training and Equipment Rank: 18
- Course Quality Rank: 148
Mesa is located southeast of Phoenix. Like both Scottsdale and Phoenix, Mesa offers a number of golf courses where retirees can feel at least reasonably confident of making the putt.
One of the best is Painted Mountain Golf Resort — an 18-hole, par 70 course. Toka Sticks Golf Club also ranks high for its bent grass fairways and greens.
9. Houston, TX
- Overall Score: 46.00
- Public Course Access Rank: 244
- Premium Course Access Rank: 3
- Training and Equipment Rank: 1
- Course Quality Rank: 187
Houston, Texas boasts 57 courses within a 15-mile radius of the city limits; 32 are public courses and 25 are private courses.
Houston’s Gus Wortham Municipal Course, just a few miles from downtown, has a scenic, rolling layout with greens that veer one way and then the other. Many of the game's best professionals have tested their games at the vaunted Cypress Creek course. Now, it's your turn.
10. Dallas, TX
- Overall Score: 45.96
- Public Course Access Rank: 106
- Premium Course Access Rank: 5
- Training and Equipment Rank: 16
- Course Quality Rank: 63
Coming in at number 10 is Dallas, with five courses within the city limits, including three public, five municipal, and 17 private golf courses.
Brook Hollow Golf Course is the oldest course in Dallas, Trinity Forest Golf Course is the longest, Brookhaven is the easiest, and if you're up for a challenge, The Clubs of Prestonwood Hills Course is the hardest.
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