December in Marana, AZ: peak season for golf — great conditions and a wide playing window. Best tee times: mid-morning through early afternoon.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 67°F |
| Avg daily low | 44°F |
| Rainy days | 4 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 9.1 mph |
Most golfers flying into Marana in December expect a cold, slow month — maybe a fallback option when courses elsewhere are frozen. The reality is more interesting. Highs reach 67°F with winds averaging just 9.1 mph, the calmest of any month all year, and only 4 days see measurable precipitation, tied for third-driest on the calendar. That combination puts December squarely in peak season, not on the fringe of it.
The catch worth knowing: a 23°F daily swing between the 44°F morning low and the 67°F afternoon high means early tee times play very differently from midday rounds. A 7 AM start in late December can feel genuinely cold, with club distances running shorter until the air warms. Plan around a 9 or 10 AM start if you can, and you'll find conditions that outperform what December's reputation would suggest.
Because December brings the year's softest winds and peak-season demand from visitors escaping colder climates, afternoon slots from 10 AM onward fill quickly — book at least two weeks out. Morning tee times before 8 AM are easier to find last-minute but carry the full brunt of that 44°F low, so weigh availability against comfort. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November is the warmer entry point into the desert golf season, running 8°F hotter on average and only 2 rainy days versus December's 4, so golfers who prioritize warmth often favor it. December compensates with the year's calmest winds at 9.1 mph, actually 0.7 mph quieter than November, which matters on exposed desert layouts. January steps colder still — down another 3°F on the high — and adds 2 more precipitation days while winds tick up slightly to 10 mph, making December the cleaner 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 Marana, AZ for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Marana, AZ • January in Marana, AZ →
Not in practice. Afternoon highs average 67°F and winds are calmer in December than any other month of the year at 9.1 mph, so midday conditions are genuinely comfortable. The main adjustment is the 44°F morning low — early starters should dress in layers and expect to feel the chill through the first few holes.
December sits in peak season, drawing a steady wave of visitors from colder states looking for playable winter conditions. Tee sheets at the more established courses along the Tucson metro corridor tend to fill up on weekends and holidays, so advance booking matters more than it would in, say, September. Weekday late-morning slots are the easiest to secure on shorter notice.