Our golf playability score is a 0–100 rating that tells you how suitable current weather conditions are for a round of golf. It evaluates four key factors every hour and produces a single number you can use to decide whether to book a tee time.
| Score | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Elite | Perfect conditions. Light wind, ideal temperature, no rain. Book immediately. |
| 75–89 | Good | Very playable. Minor factors like moderate wind or slightly warm temperatures. Great for most golfers. |
| 60–74 | Fair | Playable with caveats. You may face gusty wind, rain risk, or uncomfortable temperatures. Plan accordingly. |
| 0–59 | Poor | Challenging conditions. High wind, rain likely, or extreme temperatures. Consider waiting for a better window. |
Wind has the biggest impact on playability. Winds under 8 mph are considered calm — ball flight is predictable and club selection straightforward. Between 8–15 mph, you'll notice moderate effects on distance and accuracy. Above 15 mph, scoring becomes significantly harder as gusts affect both approach shots and putting.
Our scoring applies up to 25 points of wind penalty at high speeds. Learn more in our wind guide.
The ideal temperature range for golf is 60–80°F. This range keeps you comfortable walking 18 holes without the muscle stiffness of cold or the fatigue of extreme heat. Temperatures outside this range receive increasing penalties, up to 20 points for extreme cold or heat (below 40°F or above 100°F).
Rain probability is scored linearly: 0% chance means no penalty, while 100% chance costs 40 points. At 30% or higher we flag "chance of rain"; at 60% or higher, "rain likely." Even a moderate rain risk affects ball roll, grip, and fairway conditions.
The gust delta is the difference between sustained wind speed and gust speed. When gusts exceed sustained wind by more than 8 mph, club selection becomes unpredictable — a 5-point penalty is applied. This factor captures the difference between a steady 12 mph breeze (manageable) and a 12 mph wind with 22 mph gusts (much harder to play in).
Each hour starts at 100 and penalties are subtracted for each factor. Hourly scores are then averaged across playable hours (6 AM – 6 PM) to produce the day's overall score. The best 2–3 hour window is identified as the recommended tee time.