December in Salt Lake City, UT: 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 | 24°F |
| Rainy days | 13 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 10.1 mph |
The defining variable for golf in Salt Lake City in December is temperature. A high of 39°F ties this month as the coldest of the year, and with lows dropping to 24°F, the 15-degree daily swing means conditions that feel marginal at tee time can turn genuinely dangerous for exposed hands by the back nine. Frozen or frost-hardened turf is a real factor, and many public-access courses reduce hours or close temporarily when overnight lows stay below freezing for stretches.
What December does offer is relative calm. At 10.1 mph, peak wind is the second-calmest reading of the year — so on the occasional afternoon when clouds clear and temperatures climb into the high 30s, the air itself isn't working against you. That's a narrow window, but it exists. Thirteen precipitation days — tied for third-most in the year — means you'll likely encounter snow or freezing rain on nearly half the days in the month, so flexibility in scheduling is less a preference than a necessity.
Book early morning slots only if overnight temperatures climbed above freezing — frost delays are common and can push usable tee times well past 10 AM. Given 13 likely precipitation days, hold a cancellation window when you book and check conditions the evening before rather than the morning of. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November offered a noticeably more playable baseline, with highs running 9°F warmer at 48°F and four fewer precipitation days. December and January are essentially identical in temperature — both peak at 39°F — but January adds three more precipitation days (16 total), making December the marginally better of the two coldest months if you're committed to playing through winter.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Salt Lake City, UT for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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Some courses remain open through December when snow cover and frozen ground allow, but hours are typically shortened and closures after overnight freezes below 32°F are common. With 13 precipitation days averaging across the month, expect at least several days where your booked course is unplayable or operating under frost-delay rules. Calling ahead the evening before is strongly advised.
Average highs reach only 39°F — the coldest monthly high of the year — while lows fall to 24°F, meaning early morning rounds start well below freezing. The 15-degree daily swing offers a brief warm-up window in the early afternoon, but even then temperatures sit below the 60–80°F comfort range by a wide margin. Wind is relatively subdued at 10.1 mph, which is the one factor that keeps conditions from feeling worse than the thermometer reads.