December in Lincoln, NE: 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 | 42°F |
| Avg daily low | 25°F |
| Rainy days | 7 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13 mph |
Most golfers assume December in Lincoln means hanging up the clubs until spring. The reality is more nuanced. Yes, the average high sits at 42F and lows drop to 25F, landing this squarely in the cold season — but December is also one of the drier and calmer months on the calendar. With only 7 precipitation days and peak winds of 13 mph (fourth-calmest of any month), the air is quieter than November and the fairways aren't getting soaked.
The catch is the 17-degree daily temperature swing. A morning tee time at 6 AM is a different experience than a noon round when it finally nudges toward 42F. Midday windows are genuinely playable in the right gear, and golfers who write off December entirely often miss some of the least-crowded, most affordable rounds of the year on Lincoln's public courses.
Book midday slots — 11 AM to 1 PM — when temperatures are most likely to reach the day's high of 42F and frost has had time to clear the greens. Weekday availability is generous in December, so last-minute bookings a day or two out are realistic rather than risky. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 11F off November's average high of 53F, which is the sharpest month-to-month cooldown in the fall-to-winter stretch. Precipitation stays flat — both months log 7 rainy days — and December is actually 1.2 mph calmer on peak wind than November. Compared to January, December holds a 7-degree advantage in average high and sees one fewer precipitation day, making it the more forgiving of the two winter months.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Lincoln, NE for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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Several Lincoln-area courses stay open through December on a weather-permitting basis, particularly public and municipal layouts. With only 7 precipitation days and a midday high around 42F, playable days do occur, but hours are shortened and conditions depend heavily on whether overnight frost has cleared.
Morning temperatures average around 25F, which is too cold for comfortable play and can leave greens frosted until late morning. By midday the average high reaches 42F, still well below the ideal 60-80F range but manageable with proper layering. The 17-degree daily swing means the window for reasonable conditions is real but narrow.