November in Chicago, IL: cool / cold season for golf — expect distance loss and stiff muscles. Best tee times: midday when temperatures are warmest.
| Average November Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 48°F |
| Avg daily low | 36°F |
| Rainy days | 11 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 16.3 mph |
November flips the tee-sheet calculus in Chicago more than almost any other month. With the average high sitting at 48°F and the low at 36°F, you're not booking a round the way you would in September — you're watching the 10-day forecast and pulling the trigger only when a window opens. That 12°F daily swing matters: an 8 AM tee time at 36°F plays very differently than a 1 PM round closer to 48°F, so afternoon slots become genuinely more valuable than they are the rest of the year.
The one statistical bright spot is precipitation. November is actually the driest month of the year in Chicago at just 11 precip days, which means clear stretches do appear. The catch is the wind — 16.3 mph peak gusts rank this as the 5th-windiest month, and exposed lakeside and prairie-style layouts will play brutal on breezy days. Book late-morning tee times when the ground has had a chance to firm up from overnight frost, and keep a backup date ready.
Because November is Chicago's driest month at 11 precip days, short-range weather windows do open up — but the 16.3 mph peak wind makes morning tee times a gamble on frost and gusts simultaneously, so targeting 11 AM to 1 PM slots gives you the best chance at a playable round. Weekday rates often drop significantly this month as demand thins out, so flexibility on day-of-week can offset the premium you'd otherwise pay for a late-morning slot. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
October averaged a 62°F high — 14 degrees warmer than November's 48°F — so the drop into this month is the sharpest single-month temperature fall in Chicago's golf calendar. On the positive side, November's 11 precip days are actually three fewer than October's 14, meaning the fairways aren't necessarily wetter even if they're colder. Moving forward, December brings another 9°F drop in the average high to 39°F and adds one more precip day, which for most golfers signals the practical end of the season.
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.
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Most public and daily-fee courses in the Chicago area stay open into November as long as the ground isn't frozen, typically closing or going dormant between late November and early December. With an average high of only 48°F and overnight lows averaging 36°F, frost delays are common early in the day. Calling ahead or checking course conditions online before booking is essential this month.
November's peak wind averages 16.3 mph, making it the 5th-windiest month of the year — enough to turn a straight iron shot into a sideways one on exposed holes. Open parkland and lakeside courses bear the brunt of it, while tree-lined layouts offer more shelter. Planning your club selection with at least one extra club into the wind is a practical adjustment for most rounds this month.