December in Pittsburgh, PA: 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 | 44°F |
| Avg daily low | 30°F |
| Rainy days | 16 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 10.9 mph |
December marks a clear step down from November in Pittsburgh, and it sits just one notch above the coldest point of the year. The average high drops to 44°F — eight degrees colder than November — while the low of 30°F means frost is routine, especially on early-morning tee times. With a 14°F daily swing, you may start a round needing a thermal mid-layer and finish wishing you had brought one less.
That said, December is not unplayable. Wind averages 10.9 mph at peak, which is moderate rather than punishing. Precipitation days jump to 16 — four more than November — but that still leaves room for dry windows throughout the month. Golfers who are comfortable playing in the low 40s and can layer properly will find the courses quieter and more accessible than any month from spring through fall.
Book midday tee times — late morning to early afternoon — to let temperatures climb as close to 44°F as possible and avoid frost delays that are common before 9 AM. With fewer golfers out in December, last-minute same-week bookings are usually available, so there's little need to reserve weeks in advance. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
Coming out of November, December loses 8°F on the high and adds four more precipitation days, making the shift from chilly-but-manageable to genuinely cold. Heading into January, the drop continues but more gradually — just 6°F colder on the high and one additional precip day — so December and January feel like close neighbors, not a dramatic cliff. Wind barely budges in either direction, adding only 0.3 mph both coming in and going out.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Pittsburgh, PA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Pittsburgh, PA • January in Pittsburgh, PA →
Most public and semi-private courses in Pittsburgh stay open through December as long as the ground is not frozen solid or snow-covered. With an average high of 44°F and 16 precipitation days, you will find playable windows, but hours are reduced and some courses move to cart-path-only policies after wet periods. Calling ahead the day before is the safest approach.
The average low is 30°F, which is typical of early-morning and late-afternoon conditions, while the average high reaches only 44°F. That 14°F daily swing means a midday round starts cold and stays cold — well below the 60–80°F comfort range for golf. Dressing in removable layers is essential rather than optional.