Florida Has The Drunkest Golfers in America

Although that statement may seem obvious, we now have the research to back it up. The data scientists at Pickwise analyzed which states have the drunkest golfers, and of course, Florida leads the way. But how we compare to other golfers is the real story.

Drinking and golfing go hand in hand here in Florida. It's hot and you have to do something to stay cool, especially in the summer. Beer just seems like the right move. My personal ratio is 2 beers to 1 water on the course. Gotta stay hydrated, too.

The study shows that Florida golfers drink, on average, 4.8 beers per 18 hole round. Personally, I think those are rookie numbers, but we outpace the rest of the country. Texas is second with 4.6, North Carolina 3rd at 4.3 beers. Rounding out the top 5 is New Mexico and Pennsylvania. If you're looking to drink while golfing, steer clear of Utah with a paltry 1.1 beers per round. The drunkest golfers are here in Florida where I usually finish my first beer while waiting to tee off on Hole 1. And what about Jello shots? Do those count in my total?

Drunk Golfing in the U.K. is apparently - not a thing. According to Golf Digest "despite what the galleries at the Open and Ryder Cup seem to suggest, drinking is not as big a part of golf culture across the pond." Northern Ireland consumes the most at .4 drinks per round. England and Scotland are at .3 per round. How do you only drink a third of a beer in 18 holes?

Wait - Don't they drink warm beer over there? That might be it. A warm Guinness while you wait to tee off may not be the way to go on a hot summer day. Doesn't seem refreshing.

I'm citing my own personal knowledge on this. We have a golf tournament coming up this Friday, and despite the 8:30 am start, there's some heavy drinking going on. And really, 5 beers on 18 holes is nothing.

Personally, my scores aren't too bad on the front 9. But the back? By the 14th I'm ready to call it. At that point it's a combination of beer, jello shots, and the sun trying to kill me. So, does Florida have the drunkest golfers in the US? Probably. But you try golfing in 90 degree weather with 100% humidity. You can just have the drink cart follow us.

The 9 Best Public Golf Courses in Southwest Florida. Fort Myers and Naples have some of the nicest golf courses in the country – the only problem is, to play these, you either need a rich friend who belongs at one of the courses, or you need to part ways with a couple hundred thousand to become a member yourself.

Don’t have either? You’re still in luck!   Southwest Florida has a litany of fun and challenging public courses open year-round to the average bloke. They may not offer the luxury amenities such as iced towels, golf carts outfitted with GPS and speakers, and Pro-V1 range balls, but the beers are just as cold and often times the cart girls are better looking!

I put these courses through a screening process and am basing this on certain criteria – first and foremost, they need to be open year-round for public play. After that, I judged them on: Layout (fun vs challenging), Condition and Amenities, Rates, Cart Girls (when applicable), and of course, the 19th hole. So, text your buddies, wash your balls, and tee up at these local favorites year round.  

These are The 9 Best Public Golf Courses in Southwest Florida

Don’t sleep on this muni – affordable rates and easy to score. I am listing this course for the golfers who like to have a good time playing. Pack a few beers, grab a transfusion at the turn, and swing away with no regard! Don’t come here if you’re bougie – but if you enjoy a good buzz and a good time without breaking the bank, San Carlos Golf Club is a great option. 

Eagle Ridge has great rates year round – even during season (October through May). Decent layout and can score if you’re playing well. The are several downsides though - you could easily get stuck behind several slow foursomes, the 19th hole is more reminiscent of a small deli, and if it rains for a few days make sure wear your mud boots as the drainage is poor.    

A hidden gem in Cape Coral. They don’t allow coolers, but not sure that has ever stopped anyone. Not the cheapest during season, but you can find good deals sometimes on golfnow.com  

River Hall is a little hike from Fort Myers or Naples, and that is probably why this course is still public, but if you can make it out there you won’t be disappointed. Great layout, nice amenities, and the course is usually in great shape.  

Once a top 50 Public Golf Course in the Country, Eastwood Golf Course is a staple if you grew up in Fort Myers. This course is one of two public courses owned and maintained by the City of Fort Myers. Next to a nature center and it’s not uncommon to see Bald Eagles, Alligators, and Snakes along the track.  

Shell Point is easily one of the most fun courses on the list. The different tee boxes can make this course very scorable or very challenging. It’s always in great shape, but the problem is…it’s a dry course. I can’t stress this enough – pack your own drinks, if you’re into that kind of thing.  

Old Corkscrew is actually the nicest course on this list, however, the price keeps it at #3. This Jack Nicholas layout and the greens will certainly challenge the best golfers, but will make you feel like a pro if you can shoot a low round. Just watch out for the alligators, seriously…. 

Pretty fun layout on this tract. Not always in the best shape but it’s affordable, fun, has great drinks (thanks to having Duffy’s at the turn), and can be quite challenging if the wind is blowing. A lot of water on this course – starting with the water range. Runner up for best 19th hole also! 

Sure, I’m a little biased because I grew up here and have played Fort Myers 1,000 times – but it never gets old. Some holes were actually redesigned a few years ago (5th Tee Box used to give slicers nightmares). This course has great rates, fun to play (several drivable par 4s), cart girls, and by far the best 19th hole in the area, The Edison! Always a fun time at “The Fort.”