December in Denver, CO: 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 | 20°F |
| Rainy days | 6 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 9.6 mph |
December changes how you approach the tee sheet in Denver. With only 6 precipitation days — the fewest of any month — and peak winds sitting at a calm 9.6 mph, the weather window itself is more cooperative than most golfers expect. The catch is the cold: highs average just 44°F, and lows drop to 20°F overnight, meaning a morning tee time can feel brutal while a midday slot in direct Colorado sun is actually manageable.
The smart play is to stop booking early and start booking late. Noon or later gives the sun time to lift fairway temperatures and soften any frost that accumulated overnight. Weekday afternoon slots, which might be easy to grab in summer, now represent genuinely prime conditions — and demand reflects that. Courses see light traffic overall, but the narrow band of playable hours means the good slots go faster than the low-season reputation suggests.
Book tee times no earlier than 11 AM to allow frost to clear and temperatures to approach the mid-40s; the playable window is narrow, so securing afternoon slots ahead of time is worthwhile even in the off-season. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 8°F from November's average high of 52°F down to 44°F, and loses one precipitation day in the process, making it technically drier even as it gets colder. Compared to January, December is 3°F warmer on the high end and averages one fewer rainy day, so it sits in a brief sweet spot between autumn's fading warmth and winter's deepest cold. On wind, December and January are tied at the calmest of the year at 9.6 mph, while November is marginally higher at 9.8 mph.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Denver, CO for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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Most public courses in the Denver metro stay open through December, weather permitting, though hours are shortened to roughly late morning through late afternoon. With only 6 precipitation days and peak winds averaging 9.6 mph — the calmest of any month — closures are more often due to frost or frozen ground than rain or wind. Call ahead on days after a hard overnight freeze, since lows average 20°F.
Midday tee times, typically 11 AM to 1 PM, give the best conditions because the overnight low of 20°F means frost lingers well into the morning. By midday the high of 44°F is reachable and direct Colorado sun can make it feel several degrees warmer. Early morning rounds are playable only if frost delays haven't been posted, so check course conditions the night before.