November in Des Moines, IA: 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 | 49°F |
| Avg daily low | 33°F |
| Rainy days | 9 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.6 mph |
November in Des Moines draws a sharp line between two types of golfers. The traveling golfer — someone flying in specifically to play — will find little reason to book a trip: a 49°F average high sits well below the 60°F comfort threshold, and the 16°F daily swing means a round that starts at 33°F could still feel cold at its warmest point. For a destination visit, the math just doesn't work.
The local regular is a different story. If you've played Blank Park or Tournament Club of Iowa all summer, November is about squeezing out the last playable days before courses close or conditions deteriorate. Precipitation is tied for the driest of any month at 9 days, so dry windows do appear. Peak wind reaches 13.6 mph — within the moderate range — so you'll need an extra club or two on exposed holes. Layer aggressively and keep your expectations calibrated to the season.
Book mid-day tee times, ideally between 10 AM and 1 PM, to capture the brief window when temperatures approach the 49°F daily high and frost has cleared. Avoid early morning slots — the 33°F average low means cart paths and greens can be frost-delayed well past 6 AM. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
October is meaningfully more forgiving, with a 63°F average high — 14°F warmer than November — making it the clear choice if your schedule has any flexibility. December drops another 10°F to a 39°F average high, pushing conditions into territory where most Des Moines courses have little to offer. November does come in one day drier than October's 10 precip days, though December ties November at 9, so the dryness edge is real coming from October but disappears heading into December — cold, not wet, is the dominant factor.
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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Most public courses in Des Moines stay open through November, though hours shorten and conditions vary week to week. Frost delays are common in the mornings given the 33°F average low, and courses may switch to temporary greens or close briefly after an early cold snap. Calling ahead the day before is worth the extra step.
The average high reaches only 49°F, but the 16°F daily swing means morning tee times can start right at freezing. Peak winds reaching 13.6 mph add a meaningful chill factor on top of that, so the feel-like temperature on an exposed fairway will be well below what the thermometer reads. Mid-day rounds in a calm stretch are the most comfortable option, but even then a full set of cold-weather layers is necessary.