December in Bend, OR: cool / cold season for golf — expect distance loss and stiff muscles. Best tee times: midday when temperatures are warmest.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 40°F |
| Avg daily low | 26°F |
| Rainy days | 18 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.9 mph |
Most golfers assume Bend shuts down entirely in December — and that assumption is mostly correct, but the reality is more specific than "too cold to play." The real story is a convergence of every unfavorable metric at once: December is simultaneously Bend's coldest month (avg high 40F), its wettest (18 precip days), and its windiest (peak wind 13.9 mph). That's not one obstacle to manage; it's three at the same time.
The surprise for golfers who do show up is how fast conditions change on any given day. A 14-degree daily swing between the 26F low and 40F high means a frost-delayed 9 AM start looks nothing like a 2 PM round — if the course is even open. Cart path restrictions, frost holds, and shortened daylight hours (tee times after 6 AM and before 6 PM compress fast this time of year) mean the window for actual play is narrow and unpredictable. Flexibility isn't a nice-to-have in December; it's the only way to get around.
Book morning tee times only if the forecast shows temps climbing through the day, since a 26F overnight low often means frost holds that push actual starts well past your booked time. Midday slots — late morning to early afternoon — give frost the most time to clear and still leave a buffer before the short December daylight closes out. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November is already a step down from fall conditions, but December drops another 7 degrees in avg high (from 47F to 40F) and adds 3 more precipitation days, making the jump to December noticeably sharper than the slide into January. January, by contrast, is nearly identical — just 1 degree warmer on average, one fewer precip day, and 0.1 mph less wind — so there's essentially no recovery waiting on the other side of December. If you're weighing December against November, November wins on every data point without exception.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Bend, OR for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Bend, OR • January in Bend, OR →
Some courses in Bend do stay open through December, but hours and availability are limited and subject to frost delays, cart restrictions, or temporary closures after snowfall. With an avg high of only 40F and 18 precipitation days — the most of any month — it's worth calling ahead the morning of your round rather than assuming conditions from the forecast alone.
Overnight lows average 26F in December, which means frost is a regular issue on morning tee times. The avg high only reaches 40F, and with peak winds averaging 13.9 mph, the effective feel on the course will be well below that. Dress for temperatures in the low-to-mid 30s for early rounds and plan on adding or removing layers as the day's 14-degree temperature swing plays out.