Which US state has the best average handicap index? USGA ranking explored ft. North Dakota in seventh

The USGA has revealed the golf handicap indexes of all states in the USA. Mississippi and Arkansas topped the list.

The first two positions remain unchanged. For the second time in a row, Mississippi leads the way with an average of 10.7. Last year, it had an 11.16. Arkansas also has an index of 10.7, which was 12.8 last year.

Oklahoma ranked fourth in 2023 with a 13.0. It jumped to third place in 2024 with 10.9. Meanwhile, Alabama settled in fourth place, followed by Tennessee in fifth, Texas in sixth, and North Dakota in seventh. Louisiana improved from 12.9 in 2023 to 12.4 in 2024. However, the state still fell down in the rankings, slipping from third in 2023 to eighth in 2024.

Georgia was among the top 10 in 2023, but this year it settled in 11th place, while Kentucky jumped into the top 10. Last year, Florida was ranked last, but in 2024, it jumped to 46th, with Alaska last this year with 16.7.

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2024 USGA average handicap index

Here are the average handicaps by state as per USGA in 2024:

• 1. Mississippi - 10.7
• 2. Arkansas - 10.7
• 3. Oklahoma - 10.9
• 4. Alabama - 11.6
• 5. Tennessee - 11.8
• 6. Texas - 12.3
• 7. North Dakota - 12.4
• 8. Louisiana - 12.4
• 9. Kansas - 12.5
• 10. Kentucky - 12.5
• 11. Georgia - 12.6
• 12. Missouri - 12.9
• 13. Utah - 13.1
• 14. Indiana - 13.2
• 15. West Virginia - 13.3
• 16. North Carolina - 13.4
• 17. Ohio - 13.4
• 18. Iowa - 13.4
• 19. Michigan - 13.7
• 20. Illinois - 13.9
• 21. Minnesota - 13.9
• 22. Wisconsin - 13.9
• 23. Virginia - 14.0
• 24. South Carolina - 14.0
• 25. Pennsylvania - 14.2
• 26. Nebraska - 14.3
• 27. Colorado - 14.4
• 28. New Mexico - 14.6
• 29. New Jersey - 14.7
• 30. Nevada - 14.8
• 31. Arizona - 14.8
• 32. Maryland - 14.8
• 33. New York - 14.8
• 34. Massachusetts - 14.9
• 35. Hawaii - 15.0
• 36. Rhode Island - 15.0
• 37. Connecticut - 15.1
• 38. Oregon - 15.1
• 39. South Dakota - 15.1
• 40. California - 15.2
• 41. Washington - 15.6
• 42. Vermont - 15.6
• 43. Idaho - 15.8
• 44. Montana - 15.8
• 45. Puerto Rico - 16.0
• 46. Florida - 16.2
• 47. New Hampshire - 16.3
• 48. Delaware - 16.4
• 49. Wyoming - 16.5
• 50. Maine - 16.6
• 51. Alaska - 16.7

A handicap is a numerical measure of a player's golfing ability. The lower the handicap, the better the player.