Rio Grande Valley golf in November: weather, rates and the Winter Texan arrival
Rio Grande Valley golf in November: about 80F, drier air, season pricing from Nov 1 and busy sheets by Thanksgiving. Rates and booking tips seen Oct 2026.
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Rio Grande Valley golf in November is about as good as the weather gets: highs near 80F, lows around 60F, little rain and light wind. It is also the month the season starts. Winter Texans arrive through November, season pricing kicks in around the 1st at many parks and courses, and morning tee sheets fill by Thanksgiving.
That makes November the sweet spot for a short trip and the natural start for a winter stay. The courses are busier each week but not yet at the January peak, and the hot, humid summer is behind you. This guide to Rio Grande Valley golf in November covers the weather, the key dates, rates seen in October 2026 and how to set up a November trip or the first month of a longer stay.
Quick facts
- Normals (McAllen, NOAA 1991-2020): 80.2F high, 60.1F low, 1.17 in of rain, about 5.2 rain days.
- Wind: about 9.1 mph average, among the calmer months.
- Clock change: Central Standard Time from November 1, 2026.
- Thanksgiving: November 26, 2026; tee sheets fill by that week.
- Hurricane season: ends November 30.
- Pricing: many parks and courses switch to season rates around November 1.
Rio Grande Valley weather in November
October is the transition month, with upper-80s highs, the first cool fronts and some heavy rain on the coast. November is when it settles. The normals drop by about 9F from October and the rainfall falls by almost half.
| Month | High (F) | Low (F) | Rain (in) | Rain days | Wind (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October, McAllen | 89.3 | 68.7 | 2.10 | 5.8 | 8.9 |
| November, McAllen | 80.2 | 60.1 | 1.17 | 5.2 | 9.1 |
| November, Brownsville | 80.3 | 60.8 | 1.76 | 7.0 | 9.1 |
| December, McAllen | 73.8 | 54.1 | 1.06 | 6.1 | 9.2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals at the McAllen and Brownsville airports; wind is the average of the hourly normals.
The coast runs almost the same temperatures as McAllen in November but gets more rain, about 1.76 inches over 7 rain days against 1.17 inches over 5.2. If you want the driest base, the west and central Valley (Mission, McAllen, Weslaco) has the edge, and the Harlingen-Brownsville side gets more drizzle and fog when fronts come through.
Turf in November
Valley courses are warm-season bermudagrass, and the area is not known for the multi-week fall ryegrass overseed closures that Arizona desert courses go through. That means November is not usually an overseed gap. This is general guidance from our research rather than a course-by-course check, so ask about aeration dates when you book.
The November calendar
- November 1, 2026: clocks fall back to Central Standard Time. It is also the date many parks and courses move to season pricing.
- November 7, 2026: Jackson Street Market Days in downtown Harlingen, the first Saturday of each month, 9 AM-3 PM.
- Through the month: Winter Texans arrive, RV resorts start their activity calendars and golf leagues form.
- November 26, 2026: Thanksgiving. Family visitors land on top of arriving Winter Texans, so holiday-week tee times are in demand.
- November 30: the official end of hurricane season.
Rates and tee times for Rio Grande Valley golf in November
The single biggest change in November is price. Courses with Winter Texan traffic tend to move up for the season. The clearest example in the files is Tony Butler, Harlingen's 27-hole city course, where a Valley Morning Star report said the green fee with cart rose from $28 to $36 from November 7 as Winter Texans returned. The year of that article is not shown, so treat it as a pattern rather than this year's price. The Tony Butler course guide has the rest of what is known.
| Course | 18 holes (posted) | Twilight or late rate | Seasonal option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Lakes, McAllen | $33 walk, $47 with cart | $37 with cart from 2 PM in standard time | 20-round Smart Card $561 |
| Tierra del Sol, Pharr | $26 walk, $41 with cart | $28 with cart from 2 PM in standard time | 1 month $350 (Apr-Dec); 3 months $800 |
| Shary Municipal, Mission | $21 walk; cart $25 | Night golf, last tee 11 PM | 20-round card about $400; annual $900 |
| Tierra Santa, Weslaco | GolfNow from $24 | Reviewer: $35 from 3 PM with cart (undated) | 6-month memberships mentioned (2023) |
| Tony Butler, Harlingen | $36 with cart (undated report) | Not published | Memberships; one member reported about $1,450 a year |
Rates seen October 2026 on city and course pages or GolfNow listings, except where noted. Rates change; confirm before booking.
What the time change means for twilight
From November 1, twilight at Champion Lakes and Tierra del Sol starts at 2 PM instead of 3 PM. Champion Lakes' afternoon couples rate ($30 for two with a cart) and family rate ($25) start at 4 PM in standard time, which suits nine holes. Shary in Mission is lit for night golf with a last tee time of 11 PM, which is the workaround when the evenings get short and the morning sheets are full.
Booking before the sheets fill
Early November mornings are usually easier to get than late November mornings. Champion Lakes is the home course for about thirty Winter Texan leagues, so league times take up more of the sheet as those groups arrive. Book the tee times that matter to you, such as a Thanksgiving week round with family, as early as each course allows. Our Rio Grande Valley tee times guide has the booking method for each course, and the Champion Lakes course guide covers the online system.
Starting a winter stay in November
For a Winter Texan, November is when the season clock starts. A few things in the research are worth knowing before you arrive.
- Tierra del Sol's monthly package is still on sale. The one-month single with cart ($350) is sold April through December only, so a November or December visitor can use it. From January the three-month package ($800 single or $1,200 couple, one round a day with cart) is the option. See the Tierra del Sol course guide.
- Refund deadlines arrive early. Bentsen Grove Resort in Mission gives a full refund only with written notice before December 1. Its three-month standard-site package was $1,400 plus electric on the card effective November 1, 2025.
- Monthly park rates. Trophy Gardens RV Resort in Alamo listed RV sites at $755 a month for one to two months plus electric, and Alamo Rose RV Resort $735. Both cards were labelled for the 2025-26 period, so 2026-27 prices may differ.
Our winter Texan golf guide explains how a full season fits together, and the Rio Grande Valley golf passes guide compares punch cards and packages.
Hotels for a November trip
November hotel rates seen in October 2026 were reasonable. On Kayak for Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 2, Embassy Suites McAllen Convention Center started at $112 including estimated taxes, and Isla Grand Beach Resort on South Padre from $82. On Kayak for Monday, November 2, La Quinta McAllen Convention Center started at $108. These are typical prices for one night, not quotes, and weekend and later-month rates were not checked. The La Quinta is about 4 minutes from Champion Lakes.
A November week
A simple way to spread Rio Grande Valley golf in November across five days, with drive times from downtown McAllen:
- Monday: Champion Lakes in the morning.
- Tuesday: Tierra del Sol with a cart, about 14 minutes from downtown McAllen.
- Wednesday: Tierra Santa in Weslaco, about 30 minutes east.
- Thursday: Tony Butler in Harlingen, about 44 minutes from downtown McAllen.
- Friday: Shary under the lights.
How November compares
November and early December are calmer than late winter, with average winds near 9 mph against 11-12 mph in March. January is busier, and its cold fronts can hold highs in the 50s for a day or two. See Rio Grande Valley golf in January, the best time to golf in the Rio Grande Valley and our McAllen weather by month guide. If you are deciding between winter towns, Yuma golf in November covers the Arizona side, where overseed matters much more.
Plan it on the map
Open the Rio Grande Valley golf map to see every course, hotel and RV park with drive times. The $30 plan can set up a November trip around Thanksgiving week, or start a whole winter stay with a weekly course rotation from your park.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
Is November a good month for Rio Grande Valley golf?
Yes, it is one of the best. NOAA 1991-2020 normals at McAllen give November highs of about 80F, lows near 60F and only 1.17 inches of rain. The average wind is about 9 mph, much calmer than spring.
When do Winter Texans arrive in the Valley?
They start arriving in late October and keep coming through November. Tee sheets fill by Thanksgiving week, which is November 26, 2026. Morning tee times get harder to find as the month goes on.
Do golf rates go up in November?
Often. Many parks and courses switch to season pricing around November 1, so check each one. A local report said Tony Butler in Harlingen raised its green fee with cart from $28 to $36 from November 7 as Winter Texans returned, though that article's year is not shown.
When does the time change in November 2026?
The Valley moves from daylight saving time to Central Standard Time on November 1, 2026. Twilight rates at Champion Lakes and Tierra del Sol then start at 2 PM instead of 3 PM.
Is November still hurricane season?
Yes, technically. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, but the peak is August and September. November is drier in the Valley, with about 5 rain days on average at McAllen.
Can I buy a one-month golf package in November?
At Tierra del Sol in Pharr, yes. Its one-month single package with cart is $350 and is sold April through December only. From January to March the three-month package ($800 single) is the seasonal option.
How cheap is a round in November?
Posted rates seen in October 2026 include $21 to walk 18 at Shary in Mission, $26 to walk at Tierra del Sol and $33 to walk Champion Lakes. Champion Lakes' afternoon couples rate is $30 for two with a cart. Rates change, so confirm before booking.
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