New Jersey Golf Courses Just Ranked Among the Most Difficult in America

Approximately 48.1 Million Americans play the game of golf, the highest number of participants in any non-team sport in North America. Of those 48.1 Million, it is estimated that 29.1 Million regularly play on traditional 18-hole golf courses.

There are 16,800 golf courses in total across the 50 United States, and 59,795 courses have 18-hole qualifying rated tee records in the OpenGolfAPI system. This is a database used for the latest research about where the most challenging golf courses can be found in the United States.

Analysts from Hard Rock Bet went through the data, and created an Average Course Rating (utilizing golf courses whose par is between 68-75), along with Slope Rating (how a golf course plays for a recreational golfer compared to a golfing expert).

New Jersey has some of the most difficult golf courses in America

In a press release, Hard Rock Bet researchers reveal that The Garden State lands inside the top three most difficult states for recreational golfers in the country.

With the highest Average Slope Rating in the United States (127.6), New Jersey is rated the third most difficult golf courses in America. NJ's 107 qualifiying golf courses have the third highest course rating (70.86), behind South Dakota (71.10), and Hawaii (71.14).

New Jersey is one of only two states that land inside the top ten most challenging states for golf (Massachusetts is rated 9th). Neighbors to the north in New York are ranked 22nd overall, and Pennsylvania at 26th. Delaware is the fifth-easiest state for golf in the USA.

The Top Ten States with the Most Challenging Golf Courses:

1. Hawaii (71.14)
2. South Dakota (71.10)
3. New Jersey (70.86)
4. Texas (70.75)
5. North Dakota (70.71)
6. California (70.71)
7. Minnesota (70.66)
8. Illinois (70.65)
9. Massachusetts (70.62)
T10. Montana (70.58)
T10. Kansas (70.58)