The 5 Best Times To Play Golf Ranked

As we near the end of the golf season for much of the continental U.S., it’s time to rank the best times to play golf.

Some might argue that the course plays fastest in the afternoon and that, therefore, it’s the best time to play, while others will swear that the views during a sunset tee time are unmatched. While both opinions are valid, there can only be one true winner.

I understand that these are my opinions and I’m counting on the MyGolfSpy family to provide their input in the comments.

These are the five best times to play golf ranked.

#5: Midday

I think most of us can agree that a midday tee time is the biggest loser on the list with the summer heat being the main catalyst for its last-place spot.

Depending on where you live, you might be dealing with some brutal midday weather. For example, an Arizonan is used to temperatures exceeding 100 degrees from June to September. Does that keep them off the golf course?

Picture this: It’s 2 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon. It’s 106 degrees outside and the courses are offering 50-percent discounts to fill up the tee sheet. You put on some light clothing and sunscreen, load up on electrolytes and end up playing a discounted 18-hole round with the course to yourself.

If you can brave the heat, many courses are emptier than usual during the hellish summer afternoons. Tee times are easier to book, you can play at your own pace and you’re in your own little utopia. Grab some snacks and drinks, be ready to sweat and suck it up, buttercup.

I talk a big game but golf in 100-plus-degree weather can be miserable. Even with the best solutions in the game, you’re going to feel hot and sweaty and you’re likely to feel drained after playing.

#4: Late afternoon

Thanks to a major gap between midday and the rest of the tee times, early afternoon avoids last place.

The early afternoon can offer slightly cooler temperatures and will get you back home in time for dinner and some time to relax before bedtime. On top of that, it can be a good way to decompress after a stressful day.

On the flip side, it’s also one of the busier times with many golfers coming straight from work to catch a quick round. The course typically plays slower and you’re dealing with a myriad of different golf archetypes. When people are coming from work, it’s easy to be late for your tee time which can cause delays for everyone on the course.

While cooler temperatures and the ability to be home in time for dinner are the pros, the cons balance it out with slower pace of play and warmer than preferred temperatures.

Fourth place is the right spot for an early afternoon tee time.

#3: Mid-morning

Mid-morning steals the next spot with the 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m. window offering quiet on-course play and cooler weather.

If you tee off mid-morning, you’ll typically avoid the first wave of golfers and you should notice a slight lull in busyness. The pro shop workers are sure to have a bit more pep in their step and if you eat a hearty breakfast beforehand, you’ll be a well-oiled machine, prepped and ready to go low.

There are real downsides to mid-morning tee times, though. If you tee off at 10 a.m., you have very little time before your round to get things done and your day is mostly gone after the round is finished. It’s an awkward time to play golf if you’re looking to be productive outside of your round.

With mid-morning landing smack dab in the middle, there’s no reason to feel ashamed if this is your favorite time to play golf. I’d compare liking mid-morning tee times to liking vanilla ice cream—there’s nothing wrong with it but you’re missing out on what’s best.

#2: Sunset

Ain’t nothing wrong with silver, right? Sunset tee times capture second place in an epic finish.

A sunset tee time equals unmatched views, a nice quarter-zip and the perfect nightcap to a long day. If you’re playing sunset golf, you’re typically less concerned about playing fast and more concerned about enjoying every second with those you love most. Your camera roll will be filled with every scenic photo opportunity possible and a snack in your hand with a drink in the cupholder will make life complete.

Sunset golfers risk not finishing their rounds due to teeing off so late in the day and you may encounter other golfers who are less concerned about pace of play or typical etiquette. If you catch a quick nine during sunset, you can also expect to have little to no time left in the day to prioritize other things.

Sunset narrowly misses out on first place with some people viewing the top two as 1A and 1B. If your favorite time to play golf is sunset, we don’t blame you.

#1: Sunrise

If you’re surprised by this, you’re probably not fit to be a detective. The stage was set and we inched closer and closer to the best time to play golf: sunrise.

If you’re anything like me, you set out your outfit the night before like a little kid preparing for their first day of school and you have a hard time falling asleep due to the excitement of heading to the first tee. You set six alarms to make sure you get up in time and you open your digital golf GPS to plan each shot in an attempt to visualize your best round yet.

You pick up your caffeine of choice on the way to the course, maybe grab a quick bagel or donut and zoom over with your favorite pregame tunes on blast.

The wind subtly bites at your skin and you give a quick handshake to your friends as you meet them at the range to hit some balls. You know that you’ve got the entire day ahead of you once the round is over and that, if the rest of the day sucks, at least you got to play golf.

The only downside is the tiredness that can follow which often calls for a quick nap. This isn’t a problem unless the “honey-do list” is packed to the brim that day.

Try all you might but like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, sunrise tee times are undefeated.

Did I get the order right or is there a fierce enough competitor to knock sunrise tee times off the throne? Let me know in the comments!