December in Detroit, MI: cool / cold season for golf — expect distance loss and stiff muscles. Best tee times: midday when temperatures are warmest.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 39°F |
| Avg daily low | 28°F |
| Rainy days | 15 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 14.9 mph |
Cold is the defining variable in Detroit's December, and everything else follows from it. The average high of 39°F sits among the three coldest months of the year, and the low of 28°F means frozen turf is a real possibility on any given morning. That 11-degree daily swing matters: an early tee time can mean playing on ground that hasn't fully thawed, while a late afternoon round risks dropping back below freezing before you finish.
Precipitation compounds the problem. December ties for third-wettest at 15 rainy — or slushy — days, and peak wind sits at 14.9 mph, firmly in the moderate range. On most December days in Detroit, at least two of the three main discomforts (cold, wet, wind) will be present simultaneously. Playable windows exist, but they require patience and flexibility to find.
Book the latest available morning slot — ideally 10 AM or later — to give ground temperatures time to rise above freezing after the 28°F overnight low. Check course frost-delay policies in advance, since many Detroit-area courses will hold tee times without notice when turf is frozen. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November averaged a 48°F high, so December's drop of 9°F is significant — that's the difference between a brisk but manageable round and one where frozen fingers affect your grip by the fourth hole. Precipitation days also jump by three relative to November, making December noticeably wetter as well as colder. January pushes the average high down another 6°F to 33°F, so if December feels marginal, January is largely unplayable for most recreational golfers.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Detroit, MI for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Detroit, MI • January in Detroit, MI →
Some are, but hours are limited and conditions dictate day-to-day availability. With an average high of only 39°F and 15 precipitation days, courses frequently issue frost delays or close after snow or ice. Calling ahead the morning of your round is essential in December.
Expect a high near 39°F, a low around 28°F, and roughly one precipitation day in every two — rain, sleet, or snow depending on the day. Peak winds average 14.9 mph, which is moderate enough to affect club selection on nearly every shot, particularly on exposed holes.