September in Portland, ME: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: mid-morning through early afternoon.
| Average September Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 71°F |
| Avg daily low | 56°F |
| Rainy days | 11 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 9.8 mph |
September changes how you approach booking golf in Portland, Maine. The foliage crowds arrive mid-month, which means tee sheets at coastal and inland courses fill faster than the weather data alone would suggest. Temperatures average 71F for highs and 56F for lows — comfortable, with a 15F daily swing that makes an early-morning layer worth carrying. At just 11 precip days, it's tied for the second-driest month of the year, and peak wind sits at 9.8 mph, well inside the calm threshold.
That combination of dry air, moderate wind, and daytime temps squarely in the 60-80F ideal range makes September one of the most playable months on the calendar. The catch is that everyone else knows it too. Local demand, leaf-peeping visitors, and golf travelers wrapping up the season all compete for the same weekend slots. Booking decisions need to account for that pressure, not just the forecast.
Foliage season drives weekend demand sharply upward by mid-September, so book Saturday and Sunday tee times at least two weeks out rather than the one week that often suffices in summer. Weekday mornings — when temperatures start near the 56F low and warm through the day — offer both open slots and the best playing conditions before afternoon sea breezes pick up toward that 9.8 mph peak. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
September drops 6°F from August's 77F high and cuts precipitation from 17 days down to 11, making it noticeably drier and only slightly cooler — a clear upgrade for playability. Compared to October, September holds a 10°F temperature advantage and two fewer rain days, so the window for comfortable rounds is meaningfully wider. Wind is nearly identical across all three months, ranging from 9.5 to 10.1 mph, so that's not a factor that shifts the decision.
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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September is one of Portland's most playable months, with an average high of 71F, only 11 precipitation days (tied for second-fewest in the year), and peak wind of 9.8 mph. Conditions sit comfortably inside the ideal temperature range for most of the day. The main drawback is demand: foliage season pulls in visitors and fills tee sheets faster than the weather would imply.
Course traffic rises noticeably in the second half of September as fall foliage draws visitors to coastal Maine, overlapping with local golfers trying to maximize rounds before the season closes. Weekend tee times at popular courses can be fully booked 10-14 days in advance during peak foliage weeks. Weekday rounds remain more accessible and often come with shorter waits and better pace of play.