Waterville - Act II

Last night we heard the howling wind in our top-floor bedrooms at the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville. The rain pelted the windows throughout the evening but we were assured that the wet weather would pass before our 11AM tee time.
The rain departed.
But the wind didn't...
The locals informed us that Ireland was in the grip of a windy spell. We believed the wind would eventually dissipate as we wended our way around Kerry. In fact, the wind has increased in power and intensity. We arrived at the Waterville course in 30-35 mph winds to see two other golfers on the entire course. Even the locals refuse to play in such gusty conditions.
But not the four intrepid Jeffs...
Considine-Haggerty were teammates today as we teed off in splendid solitude. We saw/heard no one the entire day. This was survival golf. Drives begun down the left side were magically transported across the width of fairways to the gorse on the right side. Pitches and chips were adventures, and putting was impossible. Wind recordings at the clubhouse registered a steady 35-40 mph with gusts of 50+mph. Crazy golf. We swung and carried on... This was close match, made more exciting by some clutch putting by Doc Healy. Haggerty's birdie on #5 gave C-H an early lead negating Healy's 74-yard putt to two feet on the same hole. The teams traded blows throughout the match with Haggerty coolly trumping Healy's lengthy par putt on #16 with one of his own. Considine woke up on #17 and #18 to par both holes to keep the game H-F duo at bay and win the 4-ball, 2-up. Final scores: Healy 87; Considine 88; Haggerty 90; and Farrell 94. This was difficult demanding golf, exhausting and exhilarating.... We have never played in such awesome windy conditions. It almost felt like
work (with bow to Maynard G. Krebs).
But not in our doltish golfing minds...