December in Washington, DC: 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 | 49°F |
| Avg daily low | 34°F |
| Rainy days | 12 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 10.5 mph |
Most golfers assume December in Washington, D.C. means locked courses and frozen fairways. The reality is more playable than that reputation suggests. Highs reach 49°F on average, and with only 12 precipitation days — tied for second-driest in the calendar year — you'll find more open windows than expected. Courses are rarely iced out for long stretches, and weekend tee times do come available.
The catch is the 15-degree daily swing between a high of 49°F and a low of 34°F. Morning rounds can feel genuinely cold, especially with peak winds averaging 10.5 mph. Time your start for late morning when temperatures have climbed, and layer aggressively from the ground up. Golf in Washington, D.C. in December rewards the prepared golfer who checks the forecast and doesn't assume the worst.
Book a late-morning slot — around 10 or 11 AM — so you're teeing off after temperatures have risen toward the day's 49°F high rather than near the 34°F low. Weekday availability is generally solid in December; weekend rounds can still fill with die-hards, so grab those slots a few days out rather than last-minute. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 8°F off November's average high of 57°F, and precipitation days increase from 9 to 12, so the playable-weather window noticeably tightens. Wind is almost identical — December's 10.5 mph peak is just 0.1 mph calmer than November's — so that's not where the real change shows up. Looking ahead, January gets colder still at a 43°F high, adds another precipitation day, and picks up 1.2 mph of wind, making December the more forgiving of the two winter months.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Washington, DC for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← November in Washington, DC • January in Washington, DC →
Most public and daily-fee courses stay open through December as long as the ground isn't frozen or snow-covered. With an average high of 49°F and only 12 precipitation days, there are typically several playable stretches each week. Calling ahead the morning of your round is the reliable way to confirm conditions.
Expect a high of 49°F and a low of 34°F on an average day, with a 15-degree swing between morning and afternoon. Peak winds average 10.5 mph, which can push the felt temperature several degrees lower, especially on exposed holes. Late-morning tee times give you the best chance of playing in the warmer half of that range.