December in Columbus, OH: 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 | 44°F |
| Avg daily low | 29°F |
| Rainy days | 15 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 11.5 mph |
December's numbers translate directly into penalty strokes if you're not ready for them. A 44°F average high sits well below the 60–80°F comfort band, which means the ball flies shorter — expect 5–10% distance loss compared to a summer round — and cold fingers slow down grip pressure and feel around the greens. The 15 precipitation days spread across 31 days works out to roughly every other day seeing some form of moisture, whether rain, sleet, or freezing drizzle, which softens fairways but also turns rough into ankle-deep mud that costs you lies and clean contact.
The 11.5 mph peak wind adds another layer. At that speed, mid-iron shots require deliberate wind adjustment — club selection and shot shape both need recalibrating. Combined with a 15°F daily swing — lows dipping to 29°F — the first tee at 7 AM plays like a completely different course than the back nine at noon. Morning rounds at Columbus-area courses in December are genuinely hard golf; afternoon slots give you the best of a bad situation.
Book midday tee times — 11 AM to 1 PM — to catch the few hours when temperatures climb closest to the 44°F daily high and frost has cleared; morning slots near the 29°F low risk frost delays or cart path-only restrictions that add strokes and walking distance. With 15 precipitation days in the month, check course conditions the evening before rather than the morning of, since many Columbus public tracks will post cart restrictions or closures after overnight freezing rain. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 8°F from November's 52°F average high, the steeper of the two adjacent-month drops shown here, and precipitation days jump by four, from 11 to 15 — so conditions deteriorate meaningfully coming out of fall. Compared to January, December is actually 6°F warmer at 44°F versus 38°F, with identical precipitation days and only 0.6 mph less wind, meaning December sits marginally above January but the two months play almost equally difficult.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Columbus, OH 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 Columbus remain open in December on a weather-permitting basis, but with a 44°F average high and 15 days of precipitation, closures for frost, cart-path-only conditions, or standing water are common. Calling ahead or checking course websites the night before is more reliable than assuming availability, especially after any overnight temperature drop below 29°F.
Cold air is denser than warm air, and at a 44°F average high you can expect roughly 5–10% distance reduction on full shots compared to a 70°F summer round — that translates to about 10–20 yards on a 200-yard carry. The 29°F morning low amplifies that loss further, so if you're teeing off early, club up an extra one to two clubs until the air warms through midday.