December in Sacramento, CA: shoulder season for golf — playable with smart tee time selection. Best tee times: late morning to early afternoon after dew burns off.
| Average December Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 56°F |
| Avg daily low | 40°F |
| Rainy days | 13 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 8.9 mph |
December reshapes how you approach the tee sheet in Sacramento more than any other month. With a 56°F average high — the coldest of the year — and 13 precipitation days (tied for the wettest month), last-minute booking is a liability. The smart play is watching the 7-day forecast closely and reserving a morning slot on the first clear window you see, because dry stretches fill up fast among locals who know the pattern.
Peak wind at 8.9 mph is actually the third calmest of the year, so wind is rarely the problem — rain is. Tee times between 10 AM and 1 PM give frost-softened fairways a chance to firm slightly and let any overnight drizzle pass. If you lock in a weekend round without checking conditions, you're gambling on 13 potential rain days spread across 31. Book with a cancellation option where possible, and have a backup date ready.
Because December is Sacramento's wettest month with 13 precipitation days, prioritize courses that offer flexible rescheduling and book the moment a clear 2-day window appears in the forecast. Midweek morning slots after a dry overnight tend to offer both availability and firmer turf than weekend peak times. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November plays noticeably better, averaging a 63°F high — 7°F warmer than December — with only 8 precipitation days compared to December's 13. January is nearly a lateral move temperature-wise, just 1°F warmer at 57°F, but it averages one fewer rain day and carries slightly higher peak wind at 10.2 mph. In practical terms, December sits at the trough of Sacramento's playable season, bracketed by a drier autumn and a marginally drier January.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Sacramento, CA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Sacramento, CA • January in Sacramento, CA →
It depends on your flexibility. December averages 13 precipitation days, making it Sacramento's wettest month, but that still leaves roughly 18 potential dry days. If you can monitor the forecast and book on short notice, you can catch solid rounds with calm winds — peak gusts average just 8.9 mph, third-calmest of the year.
Expect mornings near the 40°F average low, which makes the first few holes genuinely cold, especially on fingers and grips. The average high only reaches 56°F, so temperatures stay below the ideal 60–80°F window most of the day. Dressing in removable layers and giving yourself a later tee time — around 10 AM — lets the day warm as much as it's going to before you head out.