[Golf Topic] American Couple in Their 70s' Love for Golf "Record of Rounds in 50 States Over 20 Years"

A couple in their 70s, Jim Manjeom and his wife Emily, are taking a commemorative photo after completing rounds in all 50 states of the United States. Photo by Golfweek

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…An intense love for golf.

This is the story of a couple in their 70s, Jim Manjeom and his wife Emily, living in New Jersey, USA. On the 17th (Korean time), Golfweek reported, "Manjeom and Emily have played at least one round in all 50 states of the US," adding, "It took a staggering 20 years to set this record." Alaska and Hawaii, far from the US mainland, were naturally included. Their grand journey concluded in July last year in Oregon. After each round, they marked the location with a red pin on the map.

Jim, with a handicap of 13, played 300 rounds, and Emily, with a handicap of 25, played 200 rounds. The couple, both former high school teachers, often played golf while traveling. Around 2000, they realized they had played in only 20 states and set a goal to visit all 50 states. Whenever they took a 1-2 week vacation, they grouped 4-5 neighboring states to play golf. Once, they toured Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota all at once in the upper Midwest.

On their next vacation, they grouped Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. They also traveled packages including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota. The couple is grateful that they completed all rounds before the spread of COVID-19. Green fees varied widely, ranging from $15 (18,000 KRW) to $400 (487,000 KRW) per person.

The most expensive green fee was paid at the Blue Course of Doral Golf Resort in Miami, Florida, owned by former US President Donald Trump. They cited Hawaii and Colorado as golf courses with the best scenery. The golf course in Arkansas, where large deer appeared, left the strongest impression. "We visited many truly wonderful places," the couple said with a bright smile, adding, "We met wonderful people during our travels and made unforgettable memories."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.