Because we could. That is the answer as to why we played golf in 70 mph wind gusts in the desert. Sand and small stones were flying everywhere...and you needed a bit of courage to play the ball so far out into the wind and let the wind then float it back to the target area. But we managed to finish and we had a great time. And as with all golf games...there are plenty of stories about the incredible shots that were played to perfection in the wind...and an equal amount of cussing and club throwing stories that were all blamed on the wind.