Florida Golf Season Guide: When to Play

The short version

Florida has two seasons: dry (November–April) and wet (May–October). For golf, dry season equals prime conditions and peak prices. Wet season equals afternoon thunderstorms, serious humidity, and rates that drop by a third to half. Neither makes Florida unplayable — but they require different strategies.

Month by month

December – February: Prime season

This is Florida golf at its best. Overnight temperatures drop to 50–65°F, daytime highs sit at 70–78°F with low humidity, and the sky is clear most days. This is when the snowbirds arrive, when resort courses hit peak occupancy, and when tee-time windows fill fast.

The Cognizant Classic is held at PGA National in late February, and multiple Tour events run through this window. If you plan to spectator, book accommodation at least 60 days out.

Rate: $$$$. Book 2–3 weeks in advance for popular courses.

March – April: Peak PGA Tour month

The Players Championship (TPC Sawgrass), Arnold Palmer Invitational (Bay Hill, Orlando), and Valspar Championship (Innisbrook, Tampa Bay) all run in March. Course conditions are immaculate. Temperatures are ideal — 72–82°F. Humidity starts creeping up in April.

If you're playing tourist courses in Orlando, March school-break weeks add to resort crowding. Avoid mid-March if you're near Disney/Universal corridors.

Rate: $$$$. Busiest month for most Florida golf markets.

May: Shoulder season begins

Crowds thin fast in May. Temperatures climb (80–88°F), afternoon showers begin appearing, and courses return to more normal availability. Still excellent morning golf. Rates drop noticeably by mid-May.

Rate: $$$. Best value window for serious golfers.

June – September: Summer golf

This is the honest truth about Florida summer golf: it is survivable if you know the rules. Play before noon. Have a plan for afternoon lightning (every course has a horn system). Carry two shirts.

Humidity is 80–90%. Heat index regularly hits 100°F+. The grass is lush and courses look good, but conditions are challenging. This is when locals play early morning and skip the afternoon entirely.

Rates hit their annual low. A course that costs $200 in January may be $70 in July. If you're price-sensitive and can handle the heat, this is your window.

Rate: $$. Best pricing of the year, but weather demands early tee times.

October – November: Recovery season

October is Florida's most unpredictable month — hurricane season technically runs through November 30, though major storms late in the season are uncommon. Course conditions improve as heat eases. By November, you're back to very good morning golf at shoulder prices.

The QBE Shootout and CME Group Tour Championship (both at Tiburón in Naples) run in November–December, signaling the return of the high season.

Rate: $$$. Good conditions, good prices, low crowds.

Regional variation

South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Naples) is noticeably warmer year-round and more humid in summer than Central and North Florida. The Keys are genuinely tropical — temperatures almost never drop below 65°F even in winter.

North Florida (Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville) follows a more traditional southern U.S. seasonal pattern — actual cool winters, less extreme summers. TPC Sawgrass and Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville are ideal October–April.

Central Florida (Orlando, Tampa Bay) is the median: four distinct seasons compressed into a subtropical band. Streamsong in Bowling Green is in this corridor and is genuinely playable 12 months.

The practical takeaway

• Best all-around experience: December–March
• Best value: May, June, September, October
• Avoid afternoon tee times: June–September (lightning)
• Book farthest out: January–March in Palm Beach and Naples markets