December in Portland, ME: 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 | 39°F |
| Avg daily low | 26°F |
| Rainy days | 14 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 11.7 mph |
December in Portland, Maine is honest about what it is: cold, frequently wet, and short on daylight. Highs average 39°F with lows dropping to 26°F overnight, a 13-degree daily swing that means a round starting in the morning can feel meaningfully colder than one starting midday. With 14 precipitation days — tied for the second-most of any month — there is a real chance of encountering rain, sleet, or snow on any given outing. Wind averages 11.7 mph at peak, which at these temperatures turns a cold round genuinely uncomfortable.
Who actually plays golf in Portland in December? Mostly locals who know the courses, own the gear, and have low expectations about conditions. A traveling golfer planning a dedicated golf trip would find better odds in almost any other month. That said, a local regular who wants to keep their game moving through winter will find playable days scattered through the month — they just need to pick them carefully and dress for it.
With 14 precipitation days spread across the month, checking a short-range forecast the night before is more important than booking far in advance — a week-out reservation means little if sleet arrives by morning. Midday tee times, when the temperature is closer to the 39°F high rather than the 26°F low, are worth the extra flexibility. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December's average high of 39°F is a sharp 10°F drop from November's 49°F, and the jump to 14 precipitation days from November's 11 makes it noticeably wetter as well. Heading into January, conditions tighten further — temperatures fall another 4°F to a 35°F high — though precipitation days actually ease slightly to 13 and peak wind holds nearly steady at 12.0 mph. In short, December sits in the middle of the coldest stretch, meaningfully harsher than November but only modestly better than what January brings.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Portland, ME for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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Some courses do stay open into December depending on snow cover and ground conditions, but with an average high of only 39°F and 14 precipitation days, closures due to frost, snow, or waterlogged fairways are common. Calling ahead the day before is essential, as conditions can change quickly. Local municipal courses are more likely to post day-of status updates than private clubs.
Expect temperatures ranging from 26°F at the low to around 39°F at the high, so a waterproof outer layer over insulating mid-layers is the baseline. Hand warmers in your pockets, a thermal hat under your cap, and waterproof golf shoes are practical necessities rather than extras given the month's high precipitation frequency. Wind at nearly 12 mph peak will make the effective temperature feel several degrees colder than the thermometer reads.