“Bucket Lists”

Those who know me, know I am a list person. I love my lists! I have “to-do” lists, I have “to-read” lists, I even have “send a post-card to” list!

And yes – I have a Golf Bucket List!

However, my Golf Bucket List has only one item on it, and that is to golf in all 50 states. Newsflash – we just golfed in state number 37!

The idea started as a dream between Marc and me when we were preparing for our pending retirements, just a comment about how cool it would be to play golf in every state. But as the miles passed and the courses added up, the joke evolved into a mission. This wasn’t just about collecting state stickers on our map; it was about experiencing America, one fairway at a time. Through desert heat and coastal fog, over mountain ranges and across prairie plains, this is the scorecard of my journey so far.

It began innocently enough along the east coast. States are close together there, so it was easy to knock out a handful in a single trip. In fact, for a short time we were calling it the “FGA” (Festa Golf America) Tour. But for some crazy reason, that tag line just didn’t catch on.

I remember a fun round in Florida at a small course with friends, and a memorable day in West Virginia where we teed off on hole #10 in West Virginia and finished the hole in Pennsylvania!

Or the time we practically had the course to ourselves after a morning rainstorm in upstate New York. This was the era of pure enthusiasm, where the simple act of checking a new state off the list was all the reward I needed. The courses were more about the company than the challenge, and every state sticker on my travel map was a small victory.

The middle of the country has been a whole different ballgame.

The road trips are a bit longer, the landscapes more dramatic. The golf in Wyoming was a revelation – the wind was a constant variable, and the elevation changes added a wild, unpredictable element to every tee shot.

Iowa’s Amana Colonies Golf Club was a standout, a true destination course in the middle of nowhere that proved some of the best golf is found where you least expect it. This leg of the journey is a test of endurance, a reminder that the goal requires more than just desire; it requires miles on the road and a willingness to embrace the journey.

Of course, no 50-state quest is complete without ticking off some true bucket list courses. The sheer joy of walking the hallowed grounds of famous tracks is an incredible feeling. These rounds will always be the climax of my golfing pilgrimages. They are the stories I will tell for a lifetime, but they are also a reminder that the journey is more than the destination.

But for me, the true character of a state’s golf scene is often found on the local, public courses, not just the famous ones.

Some of our golf trips have been more exotic and complex. Hawaii was a breathtaking experience, with magnificent views, and there were a couple of courses that were hard to focus on because of the scenery.

Not surprisingly, Alaska was the most challenging state so far. The scenery was stunning, but the season is short, the challenges are different, and the sheer remoteness made it a logistical feat.

Right now, we are at 37 states. I am sure when we hit number 50 and the final round, it will be as much a celebration of the journey as it will be about the golf we have played, sizing it all up with a backdrop marking the completion of an epic quest.

So, what have I learned from all these rounds so far? I have most certainly learned that golf is a great way to see the country, to meet new people, and to push myself out of my comfort zone. I am still learning that every course has a story, and that I don’t need a perfectly manicured lawn to have a great time.

And….as I approach the final 13 states, I am beginning to realize that completing a bucket list item doesn’t mean the end of the adventure.

This journey has reminded me that there is always another round to play, another course to discover, and another story waiting to be told. The map on Dee-Luxe 2.0 is almost full of stickers, but my heart is full of memories.

And while the 50-state quest is approaching its completion, my business card still reads: 18 Holes and Counting!

My Reads From The Reds: The journey is never over!

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting

Written By: Kathy Festa