It is estimated that there are some 32,000 golf courses in the world with upto 18,000 golf courses in the United States alone.  Florida has the most golf courses in America with anything upto about 1,400, followed by California at 950. The oldest public golf course in the United States is Van Cortlandt in New York City which first opened n 1895. The oldest  golf course in the world is believed to be "The Old Links" at Musselburgh, Scotland, where golf has been played since 1672 although golf was said to be first played in the 1400's.