December in Minneapolis, MN: 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 | 31°F |
| Avg daily low | 16°F |
| Rainy days | 12 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 10.5 mph |
Temperature is the defining variable for golf in Minneapolis in December — not wind, not precipitation, but a 31°F average high that puts play firmly in the realm of the exceptional rather than the routine. Outdoor rounds are possible in brief windows when daytime readings push toward freezing, but frozen fairways, reduced roll, and a low 16°F average overnight mean conditions are unforgiving. Most golfers here treat December as the natural end of the outdoor season.
That said, the wind picture is slightly better than you might expect. At 10.5 mph peak, December is actually the 4th-calmest month of the year — tied with February. With 12 precipitation days, moisture is a factor, though much of it falls as snow rather than rain, which can make cart paths and approaches unpredictable. Anyone venturing out should target the few hours around midday when the temperature briefly peaks.
Book the latest available morning slot — typically a 10 or 11 AM tee time — to let the overnight low of 16°F climb as much as possible before you play. The window between 11 AM and 2 PM captures any daytime warmth; most courses operating in December will have shortened afternoon hours given early sunset. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November averaged a 44°F high — 13 degrees warmer than December's 31°F — and that gap represents the practical difference between a cold but playable round and one that requires genuine cold-weather commitment. Moving into January, the average high drops another 6 degrees to 25°F, with the overnight low falling to 9°F, making January the harder month despite its two fewer precipitation days. December sits at an uncomfortable middle point: colder than late-fall play but slightly less brutal than what follows.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Minneapolis, MN for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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A small number of public and semi-private courses in the Minneapolis area attempt to stay open through early December when ground conditions allow, but most close by mid-month once the ground freezes solid and snow accumulates. With a 31°F average high and 12 precipitation days, consistent outdoor play is not realistic, and indoor simulator facilities become the practical alternative for most golfers.
Overnight lows average 16°F, and the daily high only reaches 31°F on average — right at the freezing mark. The 15°F daily swing means a morning round could start near 20°F and warm only slightly by midday. Wind averages 10.5 mph at peak, which at those temperatures creates a wind chill that makes sustained play genuinely uncomfortable without proper cold-weather gear.