December in Lexington, KY: 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 | 48°F |
| Avg daily low | 33°F |
| Rainy days | 16 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 11.2 mph |
Precipitation is the defining variable for golf in Lexington in December. With 16 rainy days on average — tied for the third-wettest month of the year — you're looking at odds above 50% that any given day involves some form of wet weather. That's not an occasional shower you can wait out; it's a persistent backdrop that shapes every booking decision.
The cold compounds the challenge. Average highs reach only 48F, making this the second-coldest month of the year, while lows drop to 33F. That 15-degree daily swing means an early morning round starts close to freezing even when the afternoon feels manageable. Wind averages 11.2 mph at peak — third-windiest on the calendar — enough to turn a cold round genuinely raw. Playable windows exist, but they require patience and flexibility.
Book a late-morning tee time — 10 or 11 AM — to let temperatures climb as far above that 33F overnight low as possible, since the gap between dawn and the 48F afternoon high is 15 degrees. Keep a same-week backup slot ready, because with 16 precipitation days spread across the month, rescheduling is more likely than not. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December is a sharp step down from November, dropping 8 degrees in average high and adding six more precipitation days — the wettest stretch of the transition into winter. Compared to January, December is actually slightly wetter at 16 precipitation days versus 15, and 0.4 mph windier, though January's average high falls another 5 degrees to 43F, making it the colder of the two months overall.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Lexington, KY for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Lexington, KY • January in Lexington, KY →
Most public and private courses in Lexington stay open in December barring frost closures or saturated fairways, but operating hours shrink significantly with daylight. Given 16 average precipitation days and lows near 33F, expect frequent cart-path-only restrictions and occasional temporary greens — calling the pro shop the morning of your round is essential.
Early morning tee times can start right around the average low of 33F, which is effectively freezing with any wind factored in — and December averages 11.2 mph peak wind. Even afternoon rounds top out around the 48F average high, so mid-layer and waterproof outerwear are necessary for the full round, not just the first few holes.