April in Des Moines, IA: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: late morning to early afternoon after dew burns off.
| Average April Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 60°F |
| Avg daily low | 41°F |
| Rainy days | 13 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 15.5 mph |
Wind is the defining variable for golf in Des Moines in April. At 15.5 mph peak, it's the windiest month of the year — not a freak occurrence but a reliable pattern that shapes every round. Temperatures have climbed to a 60°F average high, which sits right at the lower edge of comfortable, but that 19°F daily swing from high to low means a morning tee time in the low 40s calls for real layering. Thirteen precipitation days also keep the ground soft and fairways slow.
The playable window is real, just narrow. Calm mornings before the afternoon gusts pick up are the sweet spot. Club selection in April here isn't about distance — it's about reading which way the wind shifted between the front nine and the back.
Book the earliest morning slot available — peak winds are an afternoon phenomenon, and getting out at or near 6 AM gives you the best chance of sub-10 mph conditions before the daily gusts build. Mid-week mornings also tend to have more tee time flexibility than weekends, when demand spikes with the first warm-ish days of the Iowa spring. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
April is 10°F warmer than March and sheds none of March's wind — in fact peak gusts climb another 1.2 mph to a year-high 15.5 mph, so conditions aren't straightforwardly better, just different. May brings a significant 12°F jump in average highs and drops wind to 13.2 mph, making it clearly the more comfortable month, though it also adds five more precipitation days. If you can tolerate wind, April gives you drier windows; if you want warmth and calmer air, May is worth the wait.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Des Moines, IA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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April averages a peak wind of 15.5 mph, the highest of any month in Des Moines — that's firmly in the moderate-to-difficult range and will affect every club in your bag. It's not unplayable, but golfers who struggle with wind management will find it frustrating. Scheduling an early morning round when winds are typically lighter is the most practical way to get ahead of it.
With 13 precipitation days, April ties July as the third-wettest month of the year, so expect soft fairways and likely some cart restrictions at public courses. The ground hasn't dried out from spring thaw, and frequent rain keeps it that way. Calling ahead to check cart-path rules and green conditions is worth the two-minute phone call before you make the drive.