Twilight golf in Dallas–Fort Worth: sunset times by month
Twilight golf (a late-afternoon tee time, usually at a lower rate) is one of the best deals in the game, especially during a Texas summer when evenings are cooler. The catch is daylight. Here's when the sun sets in Dallas–Fort Worth through the year, and how late you can start.
Dallas sunrise and sunset times
Times are for Dallas, in Central Time, with daylight saving time applied (it starts the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November). Other DFW cities differ by only a minute or two. "Last light" is the end of civil twilight, when it is usually too dark to follow a golf ball.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Last light |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | 7:29 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 5:59 p.m. |
| January 15 | 7:29 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 6:10 p.m. |
| February 1 | 7:22 a.m. | 5:59 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. |
| February 15 | 7:10 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:37 p.m. |
| March 1 | 6:55 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| March 15 | 7:37 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 7:59 p.m. |
| April 1 | 7:15 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 8:12 p.m. |
| April 15 | 6:57 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 8:22 p.m. |
| May 1 | 6:40 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 8:35 p.m. |
| May 15 | 6:28 a.m. | 8:19 p.m. | 8:46 p.m. |
| June 1 | 6:20 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 8:58 p.m. |
| June 15 | 6:18 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. | 9:05 p.m. |
| July 1 | 6:22 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 9:07 p.m. |
| July 15 | 6:29 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. | 9:04 p.m. |
| August 1 | 6:40 a.m. | 8:25 p.m. | 8:52 p.m. |
| August 15 | 6:50 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 8:38 p.m. |
| September 1 | 7:01 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 8:17 p.m. |
| September 15 | 7:10 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 7:58 p.m. |
| October 1 | 7:21 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 7:36 p.m. |
| October 15 | 7:31 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 7:19 p.m. |
| November 1 | 7:44 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 7:01 p.m. |
| November 15 | 6:57 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 5:52 p.m. |
| December 1 | 7:11 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 5:47 p.m. |
| December 15 | 7:22 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 5:49 p.m. |
The latest sunsets of the year come in late June and early July, around 8:39 p.m. The earliest are in early December, around 5:20 p.m. That's more than three hours of difference in evening daylight.
How late can you tee off?
A typical 18-hole round on a public course takes about four to four and a half hours. On a busy weekend it can be five. Nine holes usually takes about two hours. To finish before sunset:
- 18 holes: tee off at least 4½ hours before sunset. In June, that's around 4:00 p.m. In December, it's before 1:00 p.m.
- 9 holes: start at least 2–2½ hours before sunset.
Twilight rounds often move faster because the course empties out late in the day. Don't count on it, though, especially on summer weekends. If you start with less time than that, plan to play the holes you can and walk in when it gets dark.
Twilight rates
Many DFW public courses offer a twilight rate after a set time in the afternoon, and many also have a later "sundown" or "super twilight" rate. The start time often moves with the season: later in summer, earlier in winter. Twilight pricing can be a big discount on prime-time rates, but because it depends on the course and the season, check the rate on the course's booking page before you go.
Twilight rounds are a good fit for:
- Summer evenings, when the heat eases as the sun gets low.
- Practice rounds, when you don't need to finish all 18.
- After-work golf from April through September, when daylight lasts past 7:30 p.m.
Things to know about evening golf in Texas
- The heat lingers. On a July evening, it can still be in the 90s at 7:00 p.m. Bring water. See our summer heat guide.
- Spring storms favor the evening. In April and May, late-day thunderstorms are common. Check the storm risk for the whole round. See lightning safety.
- The sun is in your eyes. On holes that play west, the low sun makes the ball hard to follow. Sunglasses and a partner watching help.
- The November time change. When clocks fall back, sunset jumps about an hour earlier overnight, and after-work golf ends until spring.
Golf Weather Intelligence flags tee times that would finish after sunset and shows live DFW tee times with prices, so you can spot twilight deals and see whether you'll have enough light to finish.
Sources
- NOAA — General solar position calculations (method used for the times above)
- NOAA — Solar calculator
More golf weather articles