Clarence Shimoko remembers his very first round of golf. It was on April 22, 1970, at the Leilehua Golf Course and he shot a 122.

But don't ask Shimoko for the scorecard. Not that he tossed it because of the forgettable score. It's just that there's no room in his house to keep all of his scorecards.

What do you expect of someone who has played more than 300 days of golf a year for the past 36 years?

"Beginning part, I used to play once a month," said Shimoko — he's the S&S Saimin guy — who figures he has played more than 12,000 days of golf since he first took up the game.

Shimoko, who will be 74 in June, knew he was in trouble when he got hooked on golf. He had played softball and bowled with his Japanese jaycees' gang. Then a business associate from Japan told him one day, "Next time I come to Hawai'i, you got to play golf."

Knowing how Japanese visitors love golf, Shimoko knew it was the best way to combine business with pleasure. He took lessons from Masa Kaya and then from Larry Lee Sr., whose golf shop was near his S&S Saimin factory on Nimitz Highway near Sand Island. Shimoko still plays occasionally with Lee, former pro at the Wailua Municipal Course on Kaua'i.

"When I started golf, I knew I was going to be crazy for it. It was so interesting. Everything I do, I do all out," Shimoko said

Boy, that's putting it mildly.

His numbers are mind-boggling.

"You've got to be crazy or stupid. It's just that I love golf," he said.

Here's a guy who played 327 days of the year in 2007, 337 days in 2006 and a career-high 348 days in 2005. He's on track to maintain his daunting average, having teed it up for the 102nd time yesterday at the Ala Wai Golf Course with 258 days remaining this year. I'm sure he's on the golf course somewhere today, rain or shine.

Shimoko knows he's lucky to live in Hawai'i, where such a feat is possible because of its year-round weather for golf. And he wants to make it clear that he's talking about the number of days he goes out golfing, not the number of rounds he plays.

"So long as I'm on the golf course, even if I only play nine holes, I count it as one day," said Shimoko. Rain is the biggest hindrance to his golfing marathon. "Heavy rain, I don't play because I know I can play the next day," he said.

What about when he goes on one of his frequent trips to Japan? No problem, according to Shimoko, who's going there next month for three weeks. He figures he'll get in at least 10 rounds. "The main thing when I travel is to play golf," he said matter of factly.

Being retired — his company was bought out by Itoen — and a senior citizen also contribute to his almost daily dose of golf.

"To me, this is one of the cheapest enjoyments you can have in Hawai'i. You know how cheap it is here (at Ala Wai)?" said the man who was first to freeze saimin noodles in 1967. The rate for seniors (65 and older) is $15 daily for green fees and golf cart, $24 on weekends and holidays. Shimoko also has a $22 monthly card good for 10 rounds. No wonder he's a familiar face at Ala Wai.

It also helps having an understanding wife and family, says Shimoko. He and Masuzu, his wife of 52 years, have two sons and two daughters.

So how long can he keep going?

"As long as I can walk. My goal is if I can die at one of the holes," he said.

Fortunately, Shimoko is in good health. "For 74, I think I'm doing pretty good." And he has genes on his side. "My father (Donald) lived to almost 99 and my mother (Fumie) 93."

Even injuries haven't stopped Shimoko for long. He remembers having arthroscopic surgery on his knee and being back on the golf course six days later. He once had surgery on his right hand and played golf four days later, using a sponge to cushion the impact when he swung the club. "Couple years ago, I had a shoulder injury so I only played 322 times," Shimoko said with a laugh.

He has certainly come a long way since his first round of golf at Leilehua 38 Aprils ago. Less than a year after his 122, he shot a 78 at Ala Wai. He's now plays to a 7-handicap. His happiest experience was shooting a 73 at the Waialae Country Club to qualify for the USGA Senior Amateur in Louisville, Ky., in 1994.

But simply golfing, says Shimoko, beats it all.

Bill Kwon can be reached at billkwonrhs@aol.com