GOLF

Maria Karlström – goldsmith, entrepreneur, mother, and wife. Life is hectic, and she works with what she loves, but sports are also something Maria holds close to her heart. And the longing for the golf course is something quite special.

Golf came to Maria at just the right time. Family and business are always most important, and when the children were younger, golf would not have fit into everyday life.
- I started playing 10-11 years ago, actually I bought a golf course for a friend. I decided to do the same course myself and take the kids with me to do something different, and I ended up being the only one who continued," says Maria.

On the golf course, she has found a leisure interest that is fun, calming, challenging, and difficult enough to continue to be interesting. At the same time, golf has become a community and platform for meeting other like-minded individuals. Maria believes that golf is the optimal leisure interest in all aspects.

- I can actually travel anywhere in the world and play anytime. I always meet others who have the same love for the sport. There is always something common to talk about on the golf course, if nothing else you can talk about golf itself. It's an inexhaustible topic," says Maria.

Even though golf can attract travel, Maria's favorite courses are at home. The courses at Kastelholm Castle in Sund are by far the best she knows.
- I love the courses we have here in Åland. They are exceptionally beautiful and well maintained, as well as offering exciting and challenging games. There is no greater feeling of freedom than playing on the courses at Kastelholm Castle with the perfect view, especially the newly renovated Slottsbanan which is an outstanding success," says Maria.

Guldviva's main goldsmith Maria Karlström had the honor of making the winner's trophy for the Åland 100 Ladies Open by Ålandsbanken golf competition.

The trophy is handmade in recycled 925 sterling silver where Maria has bent and shaped some 40 Guldviva signature pieces Blomman™ and assembled them in the shape of a golf ball.

- It is a unique trophy and a very time-consuming task," says Maria Karlström, a golfer herself.

Between September 1-3, the Åland Golf Club will host the Åland 100 Ladies Open by Ålandsbanken, as part of the Ladies European Tour. The competition will be played at Slottsbanan in Kastelholm where 126 players from the world's elite golfers will compete for the coveted trophy.

Maria has also previously created the GOLF collection for Guldviva which is highly appreciated and widely used in the Nordic golf community.