Best Disc Golf State

[Lewis]

Lewis or SwellerDG (or anyone handy with a spreadsheet),

I'd like to reiterate a request that I made earlier (check post #155), but it got buried.

I'd love to see a Top 20 list of the states that have the highest number of courses rated 4.0 to 5. I guess that the percentage of courses in a state that are rated 4.0-5 would also be useful.

Would that be possible without too much work? I think this could be valuable to know.

I'll get right on it. I've just got find the cleanest way to craft the formula.

I could also share my spreadsheet, as long as sharing it wouldn't infringe on some sort of copyright or property rights related to the data in the course directory.

 

[Lewis]

Top 20 states with the most courses rated 4 or higher:


24 Texas
19 Wisconsin
17 Michigan
17 North Carolina
15 Iowa
13 California
13 Indiana
12 Illinois
12 Colorado
10 Minnesota
10 Florida
10 Virginia
9 Pennsylvania
9 Kentucky
9 Maine
8 Ohio
8 Tennessee
7 Oregon
7 Georgia
7 Missouri

By the way, this was something I was already thinking about how to factor into the calculations. If I make it part of the scoring criteria, it helps "solve" most surprises in my original results.

And I happily agree that there is no way to objectively quantify what state is the best. It's just fun to discuss.

 

[cc0049]

By the numbers

Let me start the debate.
I'm claiming Michigan we have(I think) the third most courses of any state.
We have 2 in the top ten rated on this site.
And I play here
Now tell me I'm wrong and why

Top 10 states by number of courses according to the PDGA:
1. Texas 168
2. Iowa 139
3. Minnesota 136
4. Wisconsin 134
5. California 133
6. Illinios 121
7. Michigan 102
8. Ohio 94
9. Colorodo 85
10. N Carolina 79

 

[Olorin]

DISClamer: I'd like to reiterate my reservations about determining the "best" DG state that I expressed in post 33 and post 157. Magictenor also makes a good point along the same lines in post 40. With that caveat it's still fun to compare states nonetheless, so I'd like to present some data about the states with the highest numbers of course rated 4.0-5.0. (I wanted to set the bottom standard at 4.5 but that took away too many good courses and too many states wouldn't have anything to show.) Some of this will be almost the same as Lewis posted earlier.

The stats build on each other, so to avoid one huge long mongo post I'll break them up.

Also, I still can't figure out how to post in tables, even using the Code box, so I had to post these tables elsewhere.

 

[Olorin]

Top 20 States by Number of Courses

Ranked by most courses

    [B][FONT=Arial]Rank                       State[/FONT][/B]
  [FONT=Arial]1                             Texas[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]2                             Iowa[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]3                             California[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]4                             Wisconsin[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]5                             Minnesota[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]6                             Illinois[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]7                             Michigan[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]8                             Ohio[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]9                             North Carolina[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]10                            Colorado[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]11                            Pennsylvania[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]12                            Kansas[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]13                            Oregon[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]14                            Florida[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]15                            Kentucky[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]16                            Indiana[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]17                            Oklahoma[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]18                            Missouri[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]19                            Virginia[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]20                            Georgia[/FONT]

See the complete list at Total Number of Courses

 

[Olorin]

Top 20 States- Most courses Rated 4.0 to 5.0

    [B][FONT=Arial]State         Rated 4.0 to 5.0[/FONT][/B]
  [FONT=Arial]Texas  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]23[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Wisconsin  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]19[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Michigan  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]17[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Iowa[/FONT]  [FONT=Arial]15[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]California  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]13[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Indiana  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]13[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]North Carolina  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]13[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Illinois  1[/FONT][FONT=Arial]2[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Colorado[/FONT]  [FONT=Arial]11[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Minnesota  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]10[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Florida  [/FONT][FONT=Arial]9[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Kentucky[/FONT]                    [FONT=Arial]9[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Maine[/FONT]                        [FONT=Arial]9[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Virginia[/FONT]                      [FONT=Arial]9[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Ohio[/FONT]                         [FONT=Arial]8[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Pennsylvania[/FONT]               [FONT=Arial]8[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Tennessee[/FONT]                 [FONT=Arial]8[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Georgia[/FONT]                     [FONT=Arial]7[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Missouri[/FONT]                    [FONT=Arial]7[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]Oregon[/FONT]                     [FONT=Arial]7[/FONT]

Analysis: The greater the total number of courses the greater the probability that they will have more highly rated courses.

See the whole list at Number of Courses Rated 4.0 to 5.0

 

[cocopop]

I've only played 3 states, Michigan, Ohio, and Florida. I live in florida now and play regularly on 4-5 courses in the Tampa area. Ohio....eh, I played 1 course and got bomb-assed drunk so the golfin wasn't as good as the drinkin. Michigan courses offer the widest variances of courses of the 3.

So...
Florida- Overrated! The greatest advantage of playing here is that you can go out and play a round, or3, in your shorts in January. That is , however, a BIG plus for me. But, the land is flat, the bugs are annoying, and you can't jump in the water after that CE Valk that got away from you, unless you wanna count the teeth of the local gators.

Ohio-Even tho I am a native Michigander, I must admit that I haven't played there enough, (or sober enough), to form an oppinion of it.

Michigan- If you could play there year round, it would be hard to beat.

 

[Olorin]

Top 20 States- Highest Percentage of Courses Rated 4.0 to 5.0

See the complete list at Highest Percentage of Courses.

State -- Percentage
Maine 31%
Vermont 31%
West Virginia 27%
Massachusetts 26%
New Mexico 26%
Indiana 23%
Alabama 19%
Arizona 19%
Virginia 18%
Connecticut 18%
Utah 18%
Tennessee 17%
Louisiana 16%
Kentucky 15%
Georgia 15%
Florida 15%
South Carolina 15%
Michigan 14%
Hawaii 14%
New York 14%
North Carolina 14%

Analysis: The more courses there are in a state the harder it is to keep a high percentage of Top Class ones.

Sorry for the wacky formatting, but I just can't figure out how to make it line up straight.

 

[Olorin]

Top 20 States- Highest Rated Course

The highest rated course in each state.
Current to Jan 16, 2009

To be included for "Highest Rating" a course needs a minimum of 3 DGCR reviews.

See the whole list at Highest Rated Course

State -- Highest Rated
Massachusetts, 5.00
South Carolina, 5.00
Michigan, 4.90
Kentucky, 4.89
Oregon, 4.88
Wisconsin, 4.83
West Virginia, 4.81
Colorado, 4.79
North Carolina, 4.68
Iowa, 4.67
Missouri, 4.67
New York, 4.67
Pennsylvania, 4.63
Texas, 4.58
Minnesota, 4.57
California, 4.52
Georgia, 4.50
Illinois, 4.50
New Mexico, 4.50
Indiana, 4.42

Analysis: The more courses there are in a state the harder it is to keep a high percentage of Top Class ones.

 

[Olorin]

Overall Ranking

Based on the states with the most top rated courses, this adds together the rankings for Most Courses, Most Courses rated 4.0-5.0, Highest Percentage of courses rated >4.0, Highest rated course.

Lowest Total is best.
current to Jan 15, 2009

To fully appreciate this you've got to see the whole table at Overall Ranking

  [FONT=Arial]1            Michigan[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]2            Wisconsin[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]3            Texas[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]4            North Carolina[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]5            Kentucky[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]6            Iowa[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]7            Indiana[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]8            Colorado[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]9            California[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]10          Oregon[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]11          Florida[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]11          South   Carolina[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]13          Illinois[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]13          Maine[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]15          Massachusetts[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]16          Virginia[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]17          Missouri[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]17          Tennessee[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]19          Georgia[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]19          Pennsylvania[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]21          Minnesota[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]22          New   York[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]23          New   Mexico[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]24          West   Virginia[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]25          Ohio[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]26          Alabama[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]27          Arizona[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]28          Utah[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]29          Oklahoma[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]30          Kansas[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]31          Mississippi[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]32          Vermont[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]33          Idaho[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]33          Louisiana[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]35          Nebraska[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]36          Arkansas[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]37          Maryland[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]38          Connecticut[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]39          Montana[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]40          Nevada[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]41          Washington[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]42          South   Dakota[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]43          Hawaii[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]44          New   Jersey[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]45          Delaware[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]45          North   Dakota[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]47          Alaska[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]48          Wyoming[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]49          New   Hampshire[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial]50          Rhode   Island[/FONT]

You know what? I can live with the top 21 on this list as being really good disc golf states. Although there will be endless debates, I even think that the order is pretty reasonable.

But is it any surprise that the state with Flip City is number 1? I'm sure they could've told me that without having to crunch all of those numbers.

 

[Lewis]

I'm glad you're having fun with the numbers.

My instinct would tell me that you'd get a bias towards large states with the factors you're using, but it looks like a couple of smallish states cracked your top 15. Interesting.

 

[Olorin]

Yeah, Mass and Maine don't usually spring to mind as top DG states. I think they got in by having a higher percentage of good courses and having a few really good ones in that group.

New Mexico is a Top 25 surprise too.

 

[Olorin]

I've also gained more respect for Indiana by looking at these numbers.

 

[discflinger]

I've also gained more respect for Indiana by looking at these numbers.

WOOT!!

 

[harr0140]

17 within 25 miles
35 within 50 miles (Wauwatosa, WI)

 

[Lewis]

17 courses within 25 miles? You lucky bastard.

 

[Olorin]

Ya know, I think the Top 10 list is pretty good too. I don't place much stock in the rankings, but as a group those are about the 10 I'd have thought should be there.

Maybe Pennsylvania and Minnesota should be higher, though.

 

[Donovan]

There are 20 courses within 25 miles of my home. 8 of them are currently sitting at 3.5 or better if that really means anything. I feel very fortunate.

 

[willstradamus]

I agree with everyone that said NC.......but maybe Im biased

 

[ZMan44]

From what I had in mind as well, this seems to be a very realistic ranking. There are some states that should be higher or lower maybe, but this ranking seems to be extremely accurate.