December in Traverse City, MI: 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 | 36°F |
| Avg daily low | 28°F |
| Rainy days | 19 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 14.2 mph |
Most golfers assume December in Traverse City means the clubs are packed away until spring — and for many courses, that's true. What surprises those who look closer is that a handful of facilities stay open into early December, and the conditions, while genuinely cold, are sometimes more playable than the calendar suggests. The daily temperature swing is only 8 degrees (high 36°F, low 28°F), so if you catch a calm midday window, you're not fighting dramatic swings between frozen ground and soft fairways.
The reality check: with 19 precipitation days, December is the second-wettest month of the year, and peak winds average 14.2 mph — second-windiest on the annual calendar. Cart path restrictions, frost delays, and outright closures are the norm rather than the exception. Golf in Traverse City in December is possible, but it rewards flexible scheduling and zero attachment to ideal scoring conditions.
Book morning tee times only if the forecast shows temperatures trending upward through midday — frost holds are common when the low sits at 28°F, and courses may not open until 10 AM or later. Midday slots between 11 AM and 1 PM offer the best chance of reaching the 36°F average high before light fades, since usable daylight is at its shortest this month. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December is a sharp step down from November, with the average high dropping 10°F to 36°F and precipitation days climbing by two to 19. Compared to January, December is actually the milder side of the winter trough — January's average high falls another 6°F to 30°F, though peak winds ease slightly from 14.2 mph to 12.5 mph. If you're determined to play this stretch of the calendar, December gives you the last realistic window before January makes even casual rounds genuinely difficult.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Traverse City, MI for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Traverse City, MI • January in Traverse City, MI →
A limited number of courses attempt to stay open through early December, but most close by mid-month or operate on a day-by-day basis depending on frost and snow. With 19 precipitation days and an average high of only 36°F, course conditions are unpredictable, so calling ahead on the morning of your round is essential.
Expect an average high of 36°F and a low of 28°F, with a narrow 8-degree daily swing that limits warm-up windows. Peak winds average 14.2 mph, placing December as the second-windiest month of the year, and precipitation falls on roughly 19 days — meaning rain, sleet, or snow is more likely than not on any given day.