November in Pittsburgh, PA: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: late morning to early afternoon after dew burns off.
| Average November Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 52°F |
| Avg daily low | 36°F |
| Rainy days | 12 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 10.6 mph |
A 52°F average high sounds playable until you factor in where that temperature actually lands during a round. Tee off at 7 AM and you're likely looking at 36–38°F — stiff hands, hard grips, and iron distances noticeably shorter than summer norms. By the time you reach the back nine, temperatures climb toward the low 50s, but exposed hilltop holes on hilly Pittsburgh-area courses tend to hold onto the cold longer than flat layouts.
November is technically Pittsburgh's driest month of the year at 12 precipitation days, which matters more than it first appears. Fewer rain interruptions mean you're more likely to complete a full 18, but the fairways at most city-area courses are already soft from accumulated autumn moisture. Expect plugged lies in low-lying areas and slower greens as bentgrass slows down. Wind averages 10.6 mph — moderate by site standards — but even that is enough on more exposed layouts to nudge a mid-iron one club stronger.
Book midday tee times — 11 AM to 1 PM — to let temperatures climb as far as they will toward that 52°F high before you're deep into a round; early morning slots near the 6 AM open sit right at the 36°F low and will cost you feel and distance for the first several holes. With only 12 precipitation days spread across the month, last-minute openings are common on dry-forecast days, so checking cancellations 24–48 hours out can land you a preferred slot. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
October's 65°F high made club selection fairly routine; November's drop to 52°F — a 13-degree swing — is large enough to push most golfers a full club longer on approach shots throughout the round. Precipitation actually improves slightly, with November's 12 rain days two fewer than October's 14, so tee sheet disruptions are less frequent even as temperatures bite. December closes the season harder, adding four more precipitation days and shedding another 8°F off the high, making November the more defensible choice of the two late-season months.
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.
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Most public and semi-private courses in the Pittsburgh area stay open through November, weather permitting, since it is the city's driest month of the year with only 12 precipitation days. Daylight is the bigger practical constraint by late November, so 18-hole rounds need an early enough start to finish within the site's 6 AM–6 PM course hours. Call ahead after any cold snap, as sustained lows near 36°F can temporarily frost-close courses on morning tee sheets.
With a morning low of 36°F and a high that only reaches 52°F, cold dense air and the restricted shoulder turn that comes with layered clothing together take a measurable bite out of carry distance on every club. That combination is enough to turn a comfortable 7-iron distance into a forced 6-iron for most players by the middle of the round. Playing from one tee box forward is a practical adjustment that keeps the course playing its intended challenge rather than turning par 4s into three-shot holes.