The Best Golf-Weather Destinations in the US, Ranked by the Numbers
Based on 1991–2024 ERA5 weather data · Updated 2026-06-07
The most overlooked part of planning a golf trip is the weather — not whether it's warm, but whether it's actually playable: comfortable temperatures, dry fairways, light wind, clear skies. We scored 18 of the country's top golf destinations month-by-month on a 0–100 golf playability index, then ranked them by how many months clear the bar.
The result rewards season length, not just a single perfect week — which is why mild coastal climates beat the desert overall, even though the desert owns winter. A place can have a flawless peak and still rank mid-pack if half its calendar is unplayable. Below is the full ranking, a data-backed verdict for every destination, and the quick picks for different kinds of trips.
How we scored it
Each month's golf score weights feels-like temperature (40%), dry-day frequency (25%), wind (20%), cloud/fog (10%) and humidity (5%), with 62–80°F, light winds and clear skies scoring highest. Historical figures come from ERA5 reanalysis (1991–2024). "Good golf months" counts months scoring 70+. See the full methodology.
The Ranking
| # | Destination | Good golf months | Best month | Year-round avg | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego, CA | 12/12 | June (99) | 96 | A+ |
| 2 | Pebble Beach, CA | 12/12 | July (99) | 86 | A+ |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | 10/12 | October (99) | 82 | A |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | 9/12 | October (98) | 83 | A |
| 5 | Kiawah Island, SC | 9/12 | October (92) | 78 | A |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 9/12 | October (93) | 78 | A |
| 7 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 9/12 | October (92) | 77 | A |
| 8 | Palm Springs / La Quinta, CA | 8/12 | April (99) | 83 | B |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | 8/12 | April (98) | 81 | B |
| 10 | Sea Island, GA | 8/12 | October (92) | 78 | B |
| 11 | Destin (Emerald Coast), FL | 8/12 | October (94) | 77 | B |
| 12 | Austin, TX | 8/12 | November (91) | 76 | B |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | 8/12 | November (95) | 75 | B |
| 14 | Palm Beach, FL | 8/12 | December (94) | 74 | B |
| 15 | Williamsburg, VA | 7/12 | October (94) | 75 | B |
| 16 | Naples, FL | 7/12 | December (95) | 74 | B |
| 17 | Pinehurst, NC | 6/12 | October (94) | 76 | C |
| 18 | Bandon Dunes, OR | 6/12 | August (96) | 71 | C |
"Good golf months" = months scoring 70+ on our golf playability index. Linked destinations have full month-by-month guides with a live 16-day forecast.
Every Destination, Scored
San Diego, CA
America's most consistent golf climate. The coastal marine layer keeps summer mornings cool and grey, but it burns off to comfortable 70s by midday almost every month — there is no truly bad time to play, just a foggy June Gloom stretch.
Pebble Beach, CA
Mild Monterey Peninsula temperatures all year, but summer fog is the catch. September and October deliver the clearest, warmest and most reliable golf weather of the year — the locals’ not-so-secret window.
Full Pebble Beach golf-weather guide →Las Vegas, NV
Bone-dry, sunny and built for a long shoulder season. Spring and fall are ideal; summer highs near 105°F push play to early mornings, and winter mornings can be genuinely crisp.
Tucson, AZ
A slightly cooler, higher Sonoran alternative to Scottsdale. Excellent golf weather October through April; the summer monsoon (July–September) brings heat plus afternoon thunderstorms.
Kiawah Island, SC
Oceanfront barrier-island golf near Charleston. Spring and fall are prime; July and August trade comfort for heat, humidity and a stiff sea breeze.
Full Kiawah Island golf-weather guide →Myrtle Beach, SC
The self-styled 'Golf Capital of the World' lives on its long shoulder seasons. March–May and September–November are ideal; summer is hot and humid but cheap, and winter is playable in a sweater.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Lowcountry island golf at its best in spring and fall. Summer is hot, humid and buggy; winter is mild and underrated for value.
Palm Springs / La Quinta, CA
Desert-perfect from November through April: low humidity, abundant sun and almost no rain. Summer is brutal — 110°F+ means dawn tee times only — but the winter half of the year is among the best golf weather anywhere in the country.
Scottsdale, AZ
The desert golf capital. November through April delivers blue-sky, low-70s perfection at peak-season rates; June through August trades comfort for 105°F heat and deep twilight discounts.
Full Scottsdale golf-weather guide →Sea Island, GA
Refined Golden Isles golf with a long Southeast season. Spring and fall are superb; summer is humid and stormy, winter mild and quiet.
Destin (Emerald Coast), FL
Panhandle golf with a true four-season feel. Spring and fall are excellent; summer is hot and humid with Gulf storms, and winter is mild but occasionally cool.
Austin, TX
Hill Country golf with a long warm season. Spring and fall are ideal; summer routinely tops 100°F, and winter is mild with the occasional sharp cold front.
Orlando, FL
Central Florida's golf hub plays great in the dry winter and spring. Summer brings some of the most thunderstorm days in the country — a mornings-only proposition from June to September.
Palm Beach, FL
Classic South Florida winter golf: warm, breezy off the Atlantic and low on rain from December through April. Summer is a humid, storm-prone grind best played early.
Williamsburg, VA
Mid-Atlantic golf with four real seasons. April–June and September–October are excellent; summer is humid and winter brings a genuine cold spell.
Naples, FL
Warm and reliably playable all winter, which is exactly when it shines. Summer is hot, humid and stormy with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms — strictly a dawn-golf season.
Pinehurst, NC
The Sandhills' sandy soil drains fast and the season runs long. April–May and especially October are the sweet spots; summer is hot but playable, winter cool but rarely frozen.
Full Pinehurst golf-weather guide →Bandon Dunes, OR
Bucket-list links golf at the mercy of the Pacific. A short but elite window — July through September is the driest, calmest stretch; winter is cold, wet and wind-blasted.
Full Bandon Dunes golf-weather guide →What the Data Shows
Mild coast beats the desert overall. Places like San Diego and the California coast post the longest golf seasons because they almost never get too hot or too cold. The desert (Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Las Vegas) has a glorious winter and spring but loses three to four summer months to dangerous heat — so it ranks lower on season length while still owning the best winter golf in the country.
A short elite season still rates. Links destinations like Bandon Dunes have a narrower window, but their peak months are as good as anywhere — proof that "best" depends on whether you care about a perfect week or a long season.
Summer is the great divider. In the Southeast and Florida, July and August trade comfort for value: still playable at dawn, but humid, stormy and draining by midday. The discounts are the consolation prize.
Shoulder seasons are the sweet spot almost everywhere. Across nearly every destination, the highest single-month scores land in spring (March–May) or fall (September–November) — warm enough to be comfortable, past the worst of the heat, and usually drier than mid-summer.
Course-by-Course Guides
Full month-by-month playability plus a live 16-day golf forecast:
See all golf destinations → · Best winter golf destinations →