What Month Does the Golf Season Start?

The start of the golf season isn't one specific date on the calendar, it's a timing that hinges almost entirely on where you live. This article breaks down when the golf season typically kicks off across different regions and, more importantly, provides a practical guide to help you shake off the rust and make your first round of the year a great one.

The "When" Depends Entirely on the "Where"

Unlike sports with fixed schedules, golf's timetable is set by Mother Nature. A course opening in Maine faces a very different set of circumstances than one in Arizona. Understanding your local climate is the first step to knowing when to dust off your clubs. Here’s a general guide for the United States.

Year-Round Paradise: The South and Southwest

For golfers in states like Florida, Arizona, Southern California, and most of Texas, the concept of a golf "season" is flipped on its head. Golf is a year-round activity here. However, there's still a "prime season" and an "off-season."

• Prime Season (Typically October - May): This is when the weather is spectacular. The triple-digit heat of the summer has subsided, making for perfect golfing conditions. This is tourist season, so tee times can be more expensive and harder to get.
• Off-Season (Typically June - September): Extreme heat becomes the main challenge. Many locals switch to playing very early in the morning or Mlate in the evening. This period is also often when courses undertake major maintenance like overseeding (in the fall) to transition summer grasses to winter rye, a process that can lead to temporary closures or less-than-ideal playing surfaces.

The Traditional Season: The Northeast and Midwest

When most people think of the "golf season," they are thinking of the classic window found in states like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

• Season Start (Typically April - May): The reliable start to the season usually falls in mid-to-late April. Courses wait for the last hard frost to pass and for the ground to thaw and dry out enough to handle foot traffic without damaging the turf. March can sometimes offer "bonus rounds" during a warm spell, but these are often on temporary greens or under "cart path only" rules.
• Season End (Typically October - November): Play usually winds down as temperatures drop and the first snows approach in late October or early November.

The In-Betweeners: The Mid-Atlantic and Upper South

This region includes states like Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. It's a fantastic middle ground that enjoys a greatly extended season.

• Season Start (Typically March): Courses here green up and become consistently playable much earlier, often by early March. While a late frost is possible, the ground is generally ready for play.
• Playable "Off-Season": Winter golf is often possible. You might find a beautiful 60-degree day in January, followed by a week of ice. The official season for leagues and club tournaments generally runs from March through November, but dedicated golfers can find playable days year-round.

A Shorter, Stunning Window: The Mountains and High Plains

Golfers in states like Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming face a shorter but often spectacular season dictated by elevation and snowpack.

• Season Start (Typically May - June): The start here is much later. Higher-elevation courses may not be clear of snow and ready for play until late May or even early June.
• Season End (Typically September - October): The season is intense but brief, often concluding with the first significant snowfall in late September or early October. Playing a mountain course with the aspen trees changing color is a bucket-list experience.

The Pacific Northwest: A Different Kind of Green

States like Washington and Oregon have unique playing conditions thanks to their temperate aAnd wet climate.

• A Soft Year-Round Season: Technically, you can play golf nearly all year in many parts of the PNW, as snow is rare in lower-lying areas.
• Prime Time (May - October): The true season is the dry season. The challenge of winter and spring golf here isn't the cold, it's the rain. Wet, soggy fairways and "plugged" lies are common. Once the consistent sunshine arrives in late spring, the courses firm up and are at their absolute best.

5 Steps to Your Best Season-Opener Ever

Knowing when the season starts is one thing, being ready for it is another. As a coach, I see players make the same mistakes every spring: they rush to the course unprepared and walk off frustrated. Follow these simple steps to make sure your first round back is enjoyable and sets a positive tone for the year.

Step 1: Get Your Gear in Order

Don’t wait until you're in the parking lot to find out your gear isn't ready. A week or two before your first round, do a quick inventory:

• Clean Your Clubs: Give your grooves a thorough cleaning with warm water and a brush. Clean grooves are essential for creating spin and controlling your shots.
• Check Your Grips: Dirty, slick grips force you to squeeze the club too tightly, creating tension that ruins your swing. Wipe them down with a damp cloth. If they still feel hard or slippery, it’s the perfect time to get your clubs regripped.
• Organize Your Bag: Restock on balls, tees, and ball markers. Use a fresh glove. Most importantly, make sure your rain gear and a towel are in the bag - spring weather is unpredictable.
• Inspect Your Shoes: Check your spikes for wear and tear. If you have soft spikes, now is a great time to replace them for better stability.

Step 2: Awaken Your Golf Muscles

Your golf swing is an athletic, rotational motion. Going from the couch directly to swinging a driver at full speed is a recipe for a sore back. Prepare your body a few weeks in advance.

Focus on mobility, not just strength. Simple stretches that promote rotation in your hips and upper back (thoracic spine) will do wonders. The golf swing is powered by the body a nd it needs to be able to turn freely. You don't need a gym, a few minutes of daily stretching will help you feel more fluid and less restricted when you finally get a club in your hands.

Step 3: A Purposeful First Range Session

Your first trip to the range shouldn't be about hitting a driver as far as you can. It should be about re-establishing rhythm and solid contact. Think of it as a wake-up call, not a test.

• Start Small: Begin your session with a wedge. Make slow, half-swings with the only goal being to make clean contact with the ball. Feel the club striking the ball, then the turf.
• Focus on Tempo, Not Power: The swing is a rotational action that moves around your body. It is not an aggressive, up-and-down chopping motion. Feel the pace of your swing. Try to make the backswing and downswing feel evenly paced.
• Work Through Your Bag: Gradually move up from short irons to mid-irons, then hybrids and woods.Don't hit more than 5-7 balls with any single club. The goal is to reacquaint yourself with how each club feels, not to dial-in your 7-iron distance on day one. Cap the session with only a few drivers.

Step 4: Set a Realistic Goal for Your First Round

Your worst score of the year will most likely be your first or second round back. Accept this. Fighting it will only lead to frustration. Instead of focusing on your total score, set a "process goal."

Good examples include:

• "I will go through my full pre-shot routine on every single shot, no matter what."
• "I will try to avoid having any three-putts."
• "I won't get mad at a bad shot, I'll just focus on the next one."

This approach takes the pressure off and allows you to focus on rebuilding good habits.

Step 5: Your Opening Round Strategy is "Boring Golf"

Early in the season, your game is rusty. Your distances are off, your touch around the greens is gone, and you’re more likely to make big mistakes. The smart play is to be conservative.

What does "boring golf" look like?

• Aim for the middle of every green, no matter where the pin is.
• If you have a long, risky carry over water, lay up.
• Choose a club off the tee that you know will find the fairway, even if it's 30 yards shorter than your driver.

The objective of the first round isn't to shoot a career low, it's to avoid blow-up holes. Playing smart, "boring" golf is the best way to do that.

Final Thoughts

The start of the golf season varies greatly by region, but the approach to getting ready is the same everywhere. By preparing your equipment, awakening your body, and approaching your first few rounds with a smart plan and realistic expectations, you can avoid a lot of early-season frustration and build a strong foundation for the entire year.

Starting the season with confidence is something we built our app to help with. When your game is rusty, making smart, on-course decisions can be tough. We created Caddie AI to be your personal caddie and coach, giving you instant strategic advice right on the course. Whether you’re unsure about club selection or facing a tricky lie you haven't seen in months, you can get a simple recommendation in seconds, taking the guesswork out of your game so you can just focus on making a good swing.