October in Des Moines, IA: peak season for golf — great conditions and a wide playing window. Best tee times: late morning to early afternoon after dew burns off.
| Average October Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 63°F |
| Avg daily low | 47°F |
| Rainy days | 10 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.9 mph |
Most golfers heading out in October expect a transitional month — cool but manageable, maybe a few wet days. The reality is more nuanced, and mostly in your favor. October in Des Moines is tied for the second-driest month of the year at just 10 precipitation days, which catches a lot of players off guard after dealing with September's wetter stretches. The highs average 63°F, sitting comfortably within ideal playing range, though the lows drop to 47°F, meaning morning rounds can feel genuinely cold.
The bigger surprise is the wind. At 13.9 mph peak, October ranks as the fourth-windiest month of the year — not brutal, but enough to affect club selection on exposed layouts. That 16-degree daily swing between high and low also means a round that starts in a jacket can feel like a different day by the back nine. Layer accordingly and you'll find October earns its peak-season badge honestly.
Book midday tee times — 10 AM to 1 PM — to avoid the coldest part of the morning when lows sit around 47°F and to catch the best of that 63°F afternoon high before the temperature slides back down. With only 10 precipitation days spread across the month, last-minute bookings often work out, but weekends fill quickly as golfers recognize this as one of the drier windows of the year. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
September plays noticeably warmer, with highs averaging 78°F — a full 15°F above October — though it also carries one more precipitation day and lighter winds at 12.2 mph peak. November drops hard in the other direction, with highs falling to 49°F and lows hitting 33°F, making October's conditions look genuinely inviting by comparison. Wind eases only slightly into November at 13.6 mph, so the breezy conditions don't disappear when October ends.
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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Not typically. Highs average 63°F in October, which sits within the ideal playing range, though the mornings are genuinely cool with lows around 47°F. As long as you dress in layers and aim for a midday tee time, conditions are comfortable for most of the month.
October is the fourth-windiest month of the year in Des Moines, with peak winds averaging 13.9 mph — up 1.7 mph from September. That puts it in the moderate range, enough to require thoughtful club selection, especially on courses with limited tree coverage. It's not unusual for gusts to exceed that average, so building wind into your game plan is a practical habit this time of year.