January in Des Moines, IA: cool / cold season for golf — expect distance loss and stiff muscles. Best tee times: midday when temperatures are warmest.
| Average January Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 31°F |
| Avg daily low | 15°F |
| Rainy days | 10 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.5 mph |
Most golfers assume January in Des Moines is a dead month — courses locked up, ground frozen solid, not worth a second thought. The reality is more nuanced, though the cold is genuine. At an average high of 31°F and a low of 15°F, this is the coldest month of the year, and that 16-degree daily swing means a morning tee time feels meaningfully harsher than an afternoon round. What surprises some players is that January is actually tied for the second-driest month of the year at just 10 precipitation days — meaning dry windows do exist.
The catch is that 'dry' in January often means frozen fairways, cart path restrictions, and greens that putt nothing like they will in May. Wind averages 13.5 mph at peak, which at 31°F is genuinely punishing. If you do get out, expect cart-only conditions, limited pin positions, and a course playing much longer than the yardage suggests on firm, cold turf.
Book mid-afternoon slots, ideally between noon and 2 PM, to catch the narrow window when temperatures approach the daily high of 31°F before dropping back toward the 15°F overnight low. Check course status the morning of your round — frozen turf conditions in January can prompt last-minute closures even on days that look clear on the forecast. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
January is the coldest month of the year in Des Moines, dropping 8°F below December's average high of 39°F — a significant step down from an already chilly month. February begins the slow climb back, recovering 5°F to a high of 36°F, and sheds one precipitation day compared to January's 10. Wind stays nearly flat across all three months, ranging from 13.4 to 14 mph, so the wind itself isn't the deciding factor — raw temperature is what separates January from its neighbors.
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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Some courses do stay open when the ground isn't frozen, but operating hours are reduced and conditions vary day to day. With an average high of only 31°F, expect frequent cart-path-only rules, temporary greens on some layouts, and the possibility of same-day closures after overnight lows near 15°F.
The thermometer reads a high of 31°F, but peak winds averaging 13.5 mph push the wind chill well below that during your round. The 16-degree gap between the daily high and low means an early tee time near dawn is a materially different experience than going out at 1 PM, so timing matters as much as layering.