Definition:

A golf slang term, "dawn patrol" refers to golfers or groups of golfers who prefer to play as early as possible in the morning - right at the crack of dawn if possible. Golfers who make up the "dawn patrol" are the first ones to get on the course. In that vein, "dawn patrol" is similar to "dew sweepers."

Examples: Billy's group is the dawn patrol at the local muny; they're always the first group out in the morning.