Wow. That would be considered a category 1 hurricane!
I know I've told this story before on GCA.com, but this thread warrants another account. I planned a quick there-and-back trip to St. Andrews while visiting a friend in London in February 2008. I lugged my clubs all the way from the States for that single round. I had one day to play the course, so I would have played in almost any weather condition.
After arriving in the city the previous evening in a pretty solid rain (I still managed to walk the course before sunset), I was pleased to wake up with the sun shining through my window. However, the second I stepped outside, I knew I was in for a wild ride.
Per the starter, the wind was blowing 45 mph steady and gusting into the mid 60s. I walked over to the tee sheet board and noticed 3-4 morning foursomes crossed out (with "R&A" and "New Club" next to the names). Needless to say, the course was almost completely empty. I dropped three balls on the flat putting green and watch in amazement as all three were blown right off the green.
The day started off with my playing partner's drive on #1, a ball that I believe would have probably travelled around 200 yards in no wind, get caught in a gust, balloon, and come flying back at us bouncing out of bounds behind the tee box. I had to make sure to set my travel bag down parallel to the wind otherwise it would get blown down the fairway. One was forced to tee their ball at a 45 degree angle into the wind, as this was the only way to keep the ball on the tee.
I had never seen anything like it before and haven’t since. I didn’t keep score but had a blast bunting it around that day. What I do remember was hitting the best 5-iron of my life on the Road Hole, against a crossing wind, and watched as it landed short of the green, rolled up the slope, and stopped about 15 feet from the hole.
It was a great day. And now I can tell people I played the Old Course when even the locals stayed indoors!