December in Chicago, IL: 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 | 39°F |
| Avg daily low | 27°F |
| Rainy days | 12 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 16 mph |
December marks the point where Chicago golf shifts from uncomfortable to genuinely difficult. The average high sits at 39°F with a low of 27°F — a 12-degree daily swing that means a round starting in near-freezing conditions rarely climbs into bearable territory by the back nine. Winds peak at 16 mph, firmly in the moderate range, and with Lake Michigan providing no shelter, that number punishes thin gloves and light layers.
That said, December is actually one of the quieter months for precipitation, tied for second-driest on the year at just 12 days of measurable precip. Courses that stay open will see less rain and snow accumulation than January ahead, and the cold itself tends to firm up turf rather than flood it. If you're determined to play Chicago golf in December, the window is narrow but real — and it's wider here than what January hands you.
Book the earliest afternoon slot available — around 11 AM to noon — so the day has had a few hours to climb toward its 39°F high before your round starts. At 12 precip days for the month, the odds of a dry day exist, but call ahead the morning of, since frozen or snow-covered greens can close a course with no advance notice in Chicago December. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
Coming out of November, you lose 9°F off the average high (48°F down to 39°F) while gaining only one additional precipitation day, making December colder but not meaningfully wetter. Wind is essentially unchanged, dropping just 0.3 mph from November's 16.3 mph peak. Looking ahead, January turns the screw further — another 7°F drop in the high (down to 32°F), three more precipitation days, and the same 16 mph peak wind, meaning December is genuinely the more playable side of that winter stretch.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Chicago, IL for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Chicago, IL • January in Chicago, IL →
Some public and daily-fee courses do stay open through December when weather allows, but closures on short notice are common once temperatures drop below freezing or snow sticks to greens. With an average high of only 39°F and a low of 27°F, call the course the morning of your round rather than relying on an online schedule.
At an average high of 39°F, you're roughly 21 degrees below the lower end of the ideal playing range of 60°F, which typically translates to a 10-15% reduction in carry distance compared to summer. Cold air is also denser, adding further drag, so club up at least one to two clubs on approach shots. Wind peaking at 16 mph compounds the effect, particularly on exposed lakeside or open-layout courses.