December in Hilton Head, SC: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: late morning to early afternoon after dew burns off.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 62°F |
| Avg daily low | 48°F |
| Rainy days | 11 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 12.3 mph |
December sits in an interesting spot on Hilton Head's calendar — cooler than November but not dramatically different from January, making it a transitional shoulder-season month worth understanding on its own terms. The average high of 62°F sits just inside the lower end of the ideal playing range, while the 48°F average low means early morning rounds can feel legitimately cold. Plan tee times for mid-morning when temperatures have had time to climb.
On the plus side, December is tied for the 3rd-driest month of the year at just 11 precipitation days, and peak winds of 12.3 mph match November exactly — so conditions aren't deteriorating as winter arrives. Courses are less crowded than the spring and fall peak windows, and the light is low and flat in a way that can actually make reading fairways easier. Layer up and you'll find the island plays quite well.
With lows sitting at 48°F, the first tee times around 6 AM are genuinely uncomfortable — target a 9–10 AM start to get temperatures closer to the 62°F daily high before you're deep into your round. December's reduced crowds compared to spring mean same-week bookings are often available, but weekend slots at the resort-affiliated courses still fill several days out. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
Coming out of November, you lose 7°F off the average high (69°F down to 62°F) while gaining almost nothing in wind or rain relief — November and December share identical 12.3 mph peak winds, and December actually sheds one precipitation day. Heading into January, the drop is smaller: just 2°F cooler at 60°F average high, one additional rain day, and a modest wind uptick of 1.4 mph to 13.7 mph. In practical terms, December is the month where the cold transition does most of its work, with January representing only a marginal additional step down.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Hilton Head, SC for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Hilton Head, SC • January in Hilton Head, SC →
December is a workable shoulder-season month, not a peak one. The average high of 62°F keeps rounds playable, and with only 11 precipitation days it's actually tied for the 3rd-driest month of the year on the island. The main trade-off is genuinely cool mornings around 48°F average low, which reward mid-morning tee times over dawn starts.
Average lows hit 48°F, which is cold enough to make early tee times uncomfortable and to firm up greens differently than warmer months. Average highs reach 62°F, so afternoons are manageable with the right layers. The 14°F daily swing means conditions change noticeably from the first hole to the last.