December in Wichita, KS: 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 | 48°F |
| Avg daily low | 31°F |
| Rainy days | 6 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 14.3 mph |
In December, the booking calculus in Wichita inverts: daylight becomes the binding constraint more than weather does. With only 6 precipitation days — the driest reading of the year, tied with February — the calendar is actually more open than you might expect for late fall. The catch is temperature: the average high sits at 48°F, second-coldest of the year, and a 17-degree daily swing means a 9 AM tee time plays very differently than a 1 PM start. Wind averages 14.3 mph at peak, which keeps conditions brisk but not unmanageable.
The practical result is that December rewards flexible golfers who watch the forecast and grab afternoon windows. Given the cool/cold-season tier and limited daylight hours, the window between "too cold" and "too dark" is genuinely narrow. When the high stays near 48°F, the 17-degree daily swing means temperatures can dip back toward the freeze threshold by late afternoon if a front drops in earlier than forecast.
With the average high at 48°F and the average low at 31°F — a 17-degree daily swing — targeting a noon or later tee time lets the course warm up meaningfully before you tee off. Courses in Wichita typically run lighter December demand, so booking 24–48 hours out is usually sufficient rather than the week-ahead lead time you'd need in spring. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
December drops 9°F off November's average high of 57°F, but it also sheds two precipitation days, making it drier than the month before despite being colder. Compared to January, December holds a 4°F warmth advantage and sees one fewer rainy day on average. Wind is nearly identical across all three months, ranging only from 14.1 to 14.6 mph, so wind is not a meaningful differentiator when choosing between November, December, and January.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Wichita, KS for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
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Most public and daily-fee courses in Wichita remain open in December when conditions allow, since the month averages only 6 precipitation days — the fewest of any month. However, hard freezes can cause temporary closures or cart restrictions, so calling ahead or checking course conditions online before a morning round is worth the extra step.
Afternoon tee times around noon to 2 PM are generally the best bet, since the average low of 31°F makes early mornings genuinely cold while the average high reaches 48°F. The 17-degree daily temperature swing is large enough to meaningfully affect comfort and turf conditions, so an hour or two of patience in the morning often pays off.