b'In his own words.Touching Em All, TwiceMark Soisson, Portland, OregonM y name is Mark Soisson, a member of Claremont Mens Links Club in Portland Ore. I recently completed a personal golf quest Ive been chasing for many years.In 1983 I made a bet with a friend and fellow golfer, Jon Henricks (now a member of Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho) to see who could play a round of golf in each of the 50 states first. I won the bet in 1996 when I played a round in my 50th state, while Jon was at 41.To celebrate that event, Jon and I went to Fairbanks, Alaska, to play 24 hours of golf during the solstice in the summer of 1997 to see how many holes we could play in a single day. We teed off at the Fairbanks Golf and Country Club at midnight and played 165 holes (walking) before waving a white flag about 11:35pm that evening. At the time, playing (and walking) 165 holes in a day was thought to be a state record by our golf hosts in Fairbanks.Ten years prior to that, on our first Alaska trip, Jon and I had played 163 holes in Fairbanks on July 4, 1987, so the outing in 1997 was our effort to beat our previous record for most holes in a day, which we topped by two holes. We averaged about 8.7 minutes per hole for 24 hours, and used only a handful of clubs. A few years later, our interest in pace of play led us to try our hand at Speedgolf, where the objective is to play one round adding your time in minutes to your score. Jon and I competed in several Speedgolf tournaments in the 2000s held at Bandon Dunes. We enjoyed each of the events, and of course the setting, despite not placing among the winners, but generally breaking 100 in less than 90 minutes. While Ive given up running on a golf course, I do enjoy playing quickly. Since January 1, 2000, my quest has been to play a second round of golf in each of the 50 states (but without a wager this time). Its been nearly 25 years in the making, but on June 27, 2025, I completed my second circuit of 50 states at the same Fairbanks course. This time, I played just one round that day with my wife, MJ, andTop: Mark Soisson (left) and Jon Henricks in two sons, Matt and Joe rounding out the foursome. At 71 years old, one round in a1987 at the Fairbanks course, in front of the day was enough for me. We did add a second round the next day at nearby Midnightoriginal clubhouse, taken shortly after midnight Sun Golf Course, considered the northernmost golf course in North America.after they completed 163 holes in 24 hours, Midnight Sun wasnt around in 1997, so Fairbanks GCwalking. The course was a bit shorter then, par held the northernmost title back then. While my35, different layout, and astroturf greens.friend Jon couldnt make the Alaska trip with me thisBottom: Joining Mark and MJ at Fairbanks GC time, he did extend his congratulations. for the completion of the round in the 50th state I imagine many golfers have played in all thewere their two sons, Matt (left) and Joe (right).states, but not sure if anyone else has done it inLeft: Mark and his wife MJ at Fairbanks Golf two different centuries. Its a marvelous way toCourse. MJ played in over 40 states while with see the country. MJ has been with me and playedMark. I couldnt have done any of this without in over 40 different states. I couldnt have done ither, he says. without her support.SEPT 2025|PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER33'