The best time of year to play golf in Dallas–Fort Worth
North Texas golfers can play all year, but not every month plays the same. Using the National Weather Service's official 30-year averages for DFW Airport, here is what each month really offers on the course.
DFW golf weather by month
The table uses the 1991–2020 climate normals for DFW Airport. Normals are long-term averages. Any single year can run warmer, colder, wetter or drier.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Avg rain | What it means for golf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56°F | 36°F | 2.53 in | Cold mornings and frost delays; best tee times late morning to mid-afternoon. |
| February | 61°F | 40°F | 2.76 in | Mild spells mixed with cold fronts and the occasional ice event. |
| March | 69°F | 48°F | 3.30 in | Comfortable temperatures, but wind picks up and storm season begins. |
| April | 76°F | 55°F | 3.22 in | The windiest month on average; strong storms possible, often late in the day. |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 4.78 in | The wettest month; storms are the biggest round-wrecker. |
| June | 92°F | 72°F | 3.70 in | Heat arrives; early tee times start to matter. |
| July | 96°F | 76°F | 2.08 in | Hot and mostly dry; play at sunrise or twilight. |
| August | 96°F | 76°F | 2.18 in | Usually the hottest stretch; the heat index is the main risk. |
| September | 89°F | 68°F | 2.72 in | Still hot early, with relief arriving late in the month. |
| October | 78°F | 57°F | 4.37 in | Prime golf weather, with a second, smaller rainy peak. |
| November | 67°F | 46°F | 2.53 in | Excellent golf between fronts; days get short after the time change. |
| December | 58°F | 38°F | 2.84 in | Playable on most days; watch wind chill and frost. |
DFW averages about 37 inches of rain a year, about 20 days a year at 100°F or hotter, and roughly 29 freezes per cold season, according to the NWS Fort Worth office.
Why October beats April
On paper, April and October look alike: highs in the mid-to-upper 70s and lows in the mid-50s. On the course, they play differently.
- Wind. April is DFW's windiest month on average, while late summer and fall are the calmest part of the year. A 20 mph south wind can turn a pleasant spring day into a grind.
- Storms. April and May are the heart of North Texas severe-weather season. Storms often build in the afternoon and evening, so an early round can finish dry while an afternoon round gets chased off by lightning.
- Ground conditions. May is the wettest month of the year. Repeated storms leave courses soft, which means cart-path-only days, plugged lies and less roll.
October does have a second rainy peak, so it is not dry. But fall rain more often arrives with a passing front and then clears, rather than as day after day of storms.
Best time of day by season
Spring (March–May)
Morning tee times are the safer bet. Wind usually increases through the day, and thunderstorms favor the afternoon and evening. Check the thunder risk for the whole round, not just your start time.
Summer (June–September)
Start as early as you can. July and August average highs near 96°F, and heat builds steadily into late afternoon. Twilight rounds cool off at the end, but you may run out of daylight. Our summer heat guide covers how to play safely.
Fall (October–November)
Almost any tee time works. The main thing to watch is a cold front, which can swing the wind to the north and drop temperatures quickly. After the time change in early November, sunset comes before 5:30 p.m., so afternoon rounds need an earlier start. See sunset times by month.
Winter (December–February)
Aim for late morning through mid-afternoon. Early tee times are often pushed back by frost delays. Our winter golf guide explains why courses wait.
How to pick the best day
Monthly averages tell you what to expect in general. For a specific round, a forecast for your four hours on the course matters more. Golf Weather Intelligence scores each tee time for the conditions during the round and lists live DFW tee times next to the forecast, so you can see which part of the day plays best.
Sources
- NWS Fort Worth — DFW 1991–2020 climate normals
- NWS Fort Worth — 1991–2020 normals summary
- Dallas Morning News — Why is Dallas–Fort Worth so windy? (NWS wind data)
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