December in Spokane, WA: 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 | 35°F |
| Avg daily low | 24°F |
| Rainy days | 18 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 9.3 mph |
December turns Spokane's courses into a scorecard stress test. With an average high of just 35°F and a low of 24°F, the ground is frequently frozen or semi-frozen—meaning irons plug differently, chips release farther than expected off hard turf, and any standing water from the month's 18 precipitation days (the most of any month this year) can render fairways nearly unplayable. Cold air alone costs distance: a ball struck at 35°F travels roughly 8–10% shorter than at 70°F, so expect to add at least one full club on every approach.
The one genuine bright spot is wind. December's peak wind of 9.3 mph is the calmest reading of the year, which means errant tee shots are less likely to be punished by gusts and wind-chill is somewhat contained. That calm doesn't make up for the cold and wet, but it at least keeps the ball on a predictable flight path on the rare dry morning you can get out.
Book the earliest available morning tee time only after checking overnight lows—at 24°F average, greens and cart paths are often frost-delayed past 10 AM, so courses frequently push first tee times to late morning. Confirming with the pro shop the day before will save a wasted drive, since 18 precipitation days spread unevenly and a dry window can close fast. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
November into December sees the average high drop 8°F—from 43°F to 35°F—while precipitation days tick up by two, making December both colder and wetter than its predecessor. Compared to what follows, December is marginally colder than January (35°F vs. 37°F high), but it carries one more precipitation day and is fractionally calmer on wind at 9.3 mph versus January's 9.7 mph. In practical terms, all three months are deep in the difficult-conditions tier, with December representing the low point for temperature.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Spokane, WA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Spokane, WA • January in Spokane, WA →
A small number of Spokane-area courses remain open on a weather-permitting basis in December, but with an average high of only 35°F and 18 precipitation days—the wettest month of the year—expect frequent closures or frost delays. Spokane's inland location means overnight lows averaging 24°F can freeze greens and cart paths that appeared fine the evening before, so checking course status that same morning is the only reliable approach.
At a 35°F average high, cold air density and a firmer ball core can reduce carry distance by roughly 8–10% compared to a 70°F round—translating to 15–20 yards on a 200-yard shot. The relatively calm winds (9.3 mph peak) won't add significant distance loss on top of that, but frozen turf means you lose the warm-season forward roll that typically compensates, so the net yardage gap is real and consistent throughout the round.