January in Scottsdale, AZ: peak season for golf — great conditions and a wide playing window. Best tee times: mid-morning through early afternoon.
| Average January Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 65°F |
| Avg daily low | 43°F |
| Rainy days | 7 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 9.7 mph |
January is Scottsdale's coldest month, with an average high of 65 le°F — right at the lower edge of the ideal 60 –80 °F scoring window. That matters on the card in a few ways. Morning tee times starting at 6 AM will see temperatures near the 43 °F low, which stiffens muscles, shortens backswings, and costs distance. Expect to play one to two clubs longer until the course warms toward midday. The 22 °F daily swing means conditions change meaningfully between your front and back nine.
Peak wind averages 9.7 mph, making January the second-calmest month of the year — tied with November. That's a genuine scoring advantage on Scottsdale's open desert layouts where wind typically complicates approach angles. The tradeoff is seven precipitation days, tied for the most of any month. Showers tend to be brief, but soft fairways and wet sand can affect lie expectations and bunker play more than visitors anticipate.
Book midday slots — 10 AM to 1 PM — rather than early morning in January; the 43 °F low lingers well past dawn and can cost you meaningful distance for the first several holes. January is peak season, so those midday windows fill fast and should be reserved at least two weeks out, especially on weekends. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
January sits one degree cooler than December (65 °F vs 66 °F high) and carries one additional precipitation day, so the practical playing conditions are nearly identical to the month before. The bigger shift comes looking ahead: February averages a 70 °F high — five degrees warmer — with two fewer rainy days, meaning February is noticeably more comfortable for scoring. Wind ticks up slightly in both directions, rising 0.9 mph from December into January and another 0.9 mph into February, but that change is small enough to be irrelevant on most rounds.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Scottsdale, AZ for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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January is Scottsdale's peak season, and the 65 °F average high and 9.7 mph peak wind — second-calmest of the year — make for comfortable afternoon rounds. The main caveat is that mornings start near 43 °F, which affects distance and feel, and seven precipitation days (the most of any month) means you should watch the forecast. Book early; courses fill quickly.
The average low hits 43 °F, which is what early starters face on the first tee. By midday the high climbs to 65 °F, so the same round can feel like two different weather conditions. Dressing in layers and planning a later start time is the straightforward fix if you want to avoid the cold affecting your swing.