December in Burlington, VT: 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 | 37°F |
| Avg daily low | 26°F |
| Rainy days | 19 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.8 mph |
Most golfers assume December in Burlington means the courses are locked up and snow-covered — and honestly, that assumption isn't far off. What surprises the few who do venture out is just how much the month stacks against play all at once: an average high of only 37°F, 19 precipitation days (tied for the wettest month of the year), and peak winds of 13.8 mph, which is Burlington's windiest month of the year. That's a rough combination even before you factor in a low of 26°F.
The reality is that playable windows exist, but they're narrow and unpredictable. A calm, clear afternoon can briefly push into bearable territory, but the daily temperature swing is only 11°F, so mornings rarely warm up enough to matter. Golfers expecting a quiet, scenic round on dormant turf often find frost delays, cart-path-only restrictions, or closures instead. December rewards flexibility and low expectations more than any other month here.
Book only courses that publish same-week or same-day conditions updates, since closures and frost holds in December can wipe out a morning tee time without notice. Midday slots — noon or later — give frost the best chance to lift before you tee off, though a 37°F high means warmth is relative. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 10°F from November's average high of 47°F, making it noticeably harsher rather than just incrementally cooler. It also adds two more precipitation days over November's already-difficult 17, and nudges wind slightly higher to 13.8 mph. January is colder still — averaging a high of just 30°F with lows of 17°F — but it actually brings one fewer precipitation day and calmer winds at 12.1 mph, which is a small irony given how uninviting January sounds.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Burlington, VT for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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A small number of courses may stay open into early December during mild stretches, but with 19 precipitation days and an average high of 37°F, reliable access is not guaranteed. Most facilities in the Burlington area wind down operations by late November or early December, and even those that remain open often shift to cart-path-only or limited-hole play. Checking directly with the pro shop within 24 hours of your intended round is essential.
Expect firm, dormant turf, frequent frost delays in the morning, and a best-case midday high around 37°F with winds that can gust to nearly 14 mph. The low of 26°F means early tee times are essentially off the table without significant cold-weather gear. Precipitation falls on more than three out of every five days that month, so a dry window is the exception rather than the rule.