December in Destin, FL: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: mid-morning through early afternoon.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 65°F |
| Avg daily low | 49°F |
| Rainy days | 12 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 11.9 mph |
A traveler stepping off a flight from, say, Chicago or Minneapolis in late December finds Destin sitting at a 65°F afternoon high — a meaningful contrast to what they left behind. For the local regular, December marks the start of the cooler stretch, with lows dropping to 49°F and a 16-degree daily swing that demands layers at dawn and a lighter vest by mid-round.
Peak wind sits at 11.9 mph, placing December as the 4th-windiest month, so club selection will be tested on Destin's exposed coastal layouts. Twelve precipitation days ties it with January, making it neither particularly wet nor dry by Destin standards. Morning tee times can feel legitimately cold; afternoon slots from noon onward are where the temperature earns its shoulder-season status.
Book afternoon tee times starting around noon to take advantage of the daily temperature climb from the 49°F low toward the 65°F high — morning rounds in December can feel considerably colder than the headline number suggests. The data shows peak wind at 11.9 mph, so on exposed coastal holes, factor in at least a club of adjustment on approach shots regardless of time of day. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November is the milder choice, running 6°F warmer on average highs and carrying two fewer rainy days, making it the easier month for comfortable all-day golf. December holds roughly the same precipitation load as January, but January brings cooler highs (61°F) and noticeably stronger peak winds at 13.5 mph — so December is the gentler of the two winter months if you're choosing between them.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Destin, FL for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Destin, FL • January in Destin, FL →
It depends on your baseline. For golfers traveling from colder northern states, Destin's 65°F average high in December feels comfortable and the shoulder-season conditions keep the experience manageable. Local regulars tend to find December one of the cooler months, with lows at 49°F and winds averaging nearly 12 mph, so it rewards some preparation rather than casual warm-weather expectations.
Overnight lows average 49°F, meaning early morning rounds can start quite cold before temperatures climb toward the 65°F afternoon high — a 16-degree daily swing. Layering is practical rather than optional, especially for tee times before 10 AM when the gap between low and high is widest.