Best Time to Play Golf: When to Book Your Tee Time

The difference between a great round and a miserable one sometimes has nothing to do with your swing. It's when you teed off.

Book the wrong time and you're stuck behind a fivesome of guys who treat every shot like it's the back nine at Augusta, in 95-degree heat, with a pace that makes you question your life choices. Book the right time and you're flying through 18 on a quiet course with a gentle breeze and nobody in front of you.

Timing is everything. Here's how to pick the best tee time for your game, your schedule, and your sanity.

Morning vs. Afternoon — The Big Debate

Early Morning (6:30 AM - 8:30 AM)

The case for it: Cooler temperatures, the course is in its freshest condition (greens were just mowed and rolled), dew is burning off, and you're ahead of the crowds. If you can get a 7 AM tee time, you're likely finishing before noon with the whole day ahead of you.

The case against it: You have to wake up absurdly early on your day off. Your body is stiff. Your swing doesn't fully show up until hole 4. And in the summer, the dew can make the first few holes play long and wet.

Best for: Serious weekend golfers who want the best conditions. Florida golfers in summer who want to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Anyone who values an empty course.

Mid-Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM)

The case for it: This is the sweet spot for most weekend golfers. You've had coffee. Your body is awake. The dew is gone. The course is in great shape. The temperature is comfortable.

The case against it: This is peak demand. Everyone else also thinks 9:30 is the perfect tee time. Expect the most crowded conditions and the slowest pace, especially on weekends. You'll probably need to book 3-7 days in advance.

Best for: People who refuse to set an alarm before 7 AM on a Saturday. Which is most people. Fair enough.

Early Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM)

The case for it: Crowds thin out after the morning wave finishes. Tee times are often easier to get and sometimes cheaper. The course opens up and pace improves dramatically.

The case against it: In the South and Sun Belt states, this is the furnace window from May through September. You'll be playing in 90+ degree heat with full sun exposure. Hydration isn't optional — it's survival.

Best for: Fall and winter golf. Shoulder season bargain hunters. Golfers who run hot and don't mind the heat.

Late Afternoon / Twilight (3:00 PM+)

The case for it: Cheapest rates of the day (twilight pricing is real and it's spectacular). The course is nearly empty. The light is beautiful. The temperature is dropping. And there's a unique, meditative quality to finishing a round as the sun sets.

The case against it: You might not finish 18 holes, depending on the time of year. You're also playing greens that have been walked on all day — they'll be bumpy and slower than the morning surfaces. And if you're slow, you're racing daylight.

Best for: 9-hole rounds. Budget-conscious golfers. People who appreciate golden hour aesthetics. Couples' golf dates (seriously, sunset golf is romantic — use it for Valentine's Day).

Weekday vs. Weekend

Weekday Mornings — The Cheat Code

If you can swing it — work from home, flexible schedule, take a half day — a Tuesday or Wednesday morning round is genuinely a different sport than Saturday golf. The course is empty. You can play 18 in 3.5 hours. No one's breathing down your neck.

Many courses also offer weekday rates that are 30-50% less than weekend pricing. Some have weekday-only memberships or punch cards that make the math irresistible.

Weekend Strategy

If weekends are your only option, optimize:

• Book early. 7-day advance booking windows are common. Set a reminder.
• First or last. The first tee time or late afternoon will give you the best pace. Mid-morning Saturday is a traffic jam.
• Sunday > Saturday in most markets. Saturday is peak peak. Sunday afternoon, when people are heading home, can be surprisingly open.

Seasonal Timing

Summer (June - August)

• Play before 9 AM or after 4 PM. The mid-day heat isn't just uncomfortable — it's dangerous. Heat exhaustion on a golf course is real.
• Watch for afternoon storms. In Florida, the daily thunderstorm cycle is almost clockwork: 2-5 PM. Plan around it.
• Hydration math: You should be drinking water every 2-3 holes, minimum. Don't wait until you're thirsty.

Fall (September - November)

• The golden window. September through November is peak golf weather in the South. Mid-morning tee times are perfect. Everything is great. Just go play.

Winter (December - February)

• Late morning is ideal. Let the frost burn off and the temperature climb a bit. 10-11 AM is the sweet spot.
• In northern states: Course conditions can be rough (dormant grass, soft ground). Twilight rounds are off the table — it's dark at 5 PM.
• In Florida/Sun Belt: This is tourist season. Courses are packed. Book well in advance and expect premium rates.

Spring (March - May)

• Similar to fall — most times work well. Just watch for pollen (that yellow dust on your ball isn't sand) and early-season course maintenance (aeration season is real and the greens will be bumpy for a few weeks).

The Pace Factor

Here's something most golfers don't think about: your tee time affects your pace more than your playing speed.

Why the first tee time is fastest: There's nobody in front of you. You're setting the pace for the entire day. Even if you're not fast, you won't be waiting.

Why mid-morning is slowest: You're slotting into a line of groups. If the group two ahead of you is slow, it cascades. You'll be waiting on every tee box and there's nothing you can do about it.

The gap theory: Some courses leave 8-10 minute gaps between groups. Others pack them in at 7-8 minutes. Ask the pro shop about their interval spacing — it tells you a lot about how your pace will be.

Quick Reference

The Bottom Line

The "best" tee time depends on what you value most:

• Best conditions: First tee time, weekday morning
• Best price: Twilight or weekday
• Best pace: First tee time or late afternoon
• Best comfort: Mid-morning in cool seasons, early AM in summer
• Best for your marriage: Twilight, so you're home for dinner

Stop defaulting to "Saturday at 9." Experiment with different windows. You might find that Tuesday at 7 AM or Sunday at 3 PM becomes your new favorite round of the week.