Top shipping executives gathered at Costa Navarino, combining athletic action with support for children with cancer.
Against the backdrop of Messinia’s unique landscape and the golf courses of Costa Navarino, the Greek and international maritime community came together once again for its established annual gathering at the Greek Maritime Golf Event. From September 4 to 6, the event brought together leading executives from the maritime industry, combining golf with networking and social responsibility. With 84 golfers forming 21 teams, the event concluded with great success, reaffirming the momentum and enduring appeal of an institution that, for the past 12 years, has united the maritime community through sport and the values of fair play, collaboration and solidarity.
Tangible support for “Floga” Association
True to its charitable character, the Greek Maritime Golf Event actively supported “Floga” – Parents Association of Children with Cancer. Participating golfers contributed to the cause through the purchase of gifts, supporting the Association’s important work in providing essential medical, psychological and social care to children battling cancer.
A day dedicated to golf
On Saturday, September 5, the teams competed on the award-winning The Dunes Course in a Shotgun Scramble 4-Ball (2 better ball) tournament. The golfers delivered strong performances in a highly competitive field, battling until the final holes for the top positions on the leaderboard. At the same time, the event’s non-golfers had the opportunity to discover this Olympic sport through a Golf Clinic led by PGA golfer, Birdie Events Founder and event organizer Thanos Karantzias, who shared valuable tips and guided them through their first steps in golf.
A premium on-course experience
During registration, participants received an array of premium gifts from IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry, Marine Tours, Arrow, Erasmus Shipinvest Group, HEYDUDE, Napapijri, μ. Artisan Water, Benostan and Anatomic Line. Participants stayed hydrated with μ. Artisan Water natural mineral and sparkling water, offered in its innovative, 100% recyclable aluminum packaging, while Benostan sunscreen products provided sun protection throughout the event. Gastronomy also played an important role in the Greek Maritime Golf Event, with golfers enjoying premium meat selections from Aggelis Meatworks, including traditional souvlaki, at specially designed on-course stations, alongside an authentic taste of Italy from La Cucina Italiana with genuine Italian pizzas. The experience was complemented by ice-cold Budweiser beers, local Messinian Athi Rodi juices and fresh local fruit. To round off the experience, guests at the Awards Night enjoyed the signature Grey Goose Espresso Martini.
An elegant Awards Night of celebration and recognition
The event extended beyond the competitive action, culminating on Saturday evening with the Awards Night. The ceremony took place at Costa Navarino’s distinctive Onuki Restaurant, where the atmospheric setting and sunset views provided the ideal backdrop for the evening’s awards. The event was hosted by Joe Arlauckas, European champion with Real Madrid and EuroLeague legend, whose experience hosting major sporting events and international occasions brought his own distinctive energy to the evening.
The tournament’s leading performers
On the competitive side, the team of Oikonomou, Tziotis, Kontaxakis and Angelakis stood out for its accuracy and consistency, taking first place with 109 points. The team of Meimaridis, Karnezis W., Jansen and Karnezis A. finished second with 108 points, just one point behind the winners, while Vezlivtsev, Dalakouras, Noulen and Kariotis completed the top three with 103 points. Psaromatis claimed the “Longest Drive” award, while Moraitis won “Closest to the Pin”. The tournament’s top teams also received exclusive gifts alongside their awards. The winning team received bottles of Blanton’s from Teddy’s Speakeasy, an award-winning premium bourbon with a distinguished place in the world of American whiskey. The runners-up were presented with impressive magnum bottles of Grey Goose, the internationally renowned premium French vodka, while the third-place golfers received Napapijri Duffel Bags from the premium lifestyle brand inspired by travel and exploration. In addition to the top three teams at the Greek Maritime Golf Event, the winners of the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” competitions were also awarded a golf bag each.
The event’s charitable cause was supported with unique gifts from the following Charity Partners: Costa Navarino, Messinian Nest, Karnabakos, Tsikeli Boutique Hotel Meteora, La Cucina Dormi, Dermaperfect, Napapijri, Anama Restaurant and Kookoonari Beach Bar Restaurant. These gifts were made available at special “buy now” prices, with proceeds directly supporting the Association’s mission to provide essential medical, psychological and social care to children battling cancer. SIXT, a member of the MOTODYNAMICS Group, ensured safe and comfortable transportation for the event team and athletes through its premium fleet.
Reflecting on this year’s event, Thanos Karantzias, founder and organizer of the Greek Maritime Golf Event, stated: “The completion of the 12th Greek Maritime Golf Event fills us with great joy and pride. Once again, members of the Greek and international maritime community came together, demonstrating the strength of an institution that has successfully connected sport with values, international outreach and the power of Greek maritime community. The longstanding trust and participation of industry executives are the greatest endorsement of our efforts and, at the same time, the driving force behind our commitment to continuously evolving the event. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors and partners, who consistently support our vision and play a decisive role in the success of every edition. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year, with an even stronger commitment to delivering a distinctive experience worthy of the maritime community we represent.”
The contribution of the leading companies that actively supported the event was instrumental:
The event’s Platinum Sponsor was IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry.
The Silver Sponsor was Marine Tours.
The Bronze Sponsors were Arrow and World Carrier Corporation.
The Official Supporters were Golden Stone Maritime Ventures SA and Erasmus Shipinvest Group.
The Official Footwear Partner was HEYDUDE.
The Official Water was μ. Artisan Water.
The Official Clothing Partner was Napapijri.
The Official Partner was Grey Goose.
The Premium Mobility Partner was SIXT, a member of the MOTODYNAMICS Group.
The Official Suppliers were Budweiser, Teddy’s Speakeasy, Aggelis Meatworks, Athi Rodi, Karnabakos, La Cucina Italiana, Benostan, Mind the Ad and Anatomic Line.
The Charity Partners were Costa Navarino, Messinian Nest, Karnabakos, Tsikeli Boutique Hotel Meteora, La Cucina Dormi, Dermaperfect, Napapijri, Anama Restaurant and Kookoonari Beach Bar Restaurant.
Boo Productions was the Audio Visual Partner.
The Greek Maritime Golf Event was organized by Birdie Events and is an initiative of renowned Greek PGA golfer Thanos Karantzias. Golf Production was undertaken by ActiveMedia Group, Sports Marketing Agency of the Year. Skipper ONDECK was the Premium Yachting Partner, renewing its steady presence at the Greek Maritime Golf Event and actively supporting the organization by contributing decisively to its domestic and international promotion.
