TOURNAMENT

In 2006 AEGEAN Airlines, inspired by the vision and the noble ambition of its people to create an outstanding, world - class golfing event, launched an innovative and challenging idea: the organization of the AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am golf tournament, an avant-garde event in Greece at the time, endorsed since the beginning by the PGAs of Europe, and supported by the PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Golf Federation.

Wholeheartedly committed to the strategic objective of developing golf and eager to promote the Greek local culture and natural beauty to international golfers, AEGEAN Airlines designed the much desired Pro-Am tournament according to the latest international standards. The first tournament was successfully staged in June 2006 at the “Crete Golf Club”, in Hersonissos, Crete.

AEGEAN Airlines has proven to be a company firmly anchored in the communities in which it is active and deeply committed to contributing to their prosperity and well being. As a result, the tournament donates each year an amount of the event income to non-profitable institutions or charities, such as: the local trust “Iliachtida” in Crete, the "SOS Children’s Villages", the "Society of Messenian Archeological Studies" in Messene, "Elpida - Association of Friends of Children with cancer", "Medecins du Monde - Greece", “KIVOTOS”, “FLOGA”, etc. Since the 2nd Aegean Airlines Pro-Am, we have exceeded the amount of 100,000 euros in donations.

The “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am”, an international 36-hole game, attracts professional and amateur players from all over the world. Each team of the tournament consists of 1 professional player and 3 amateurs. Until today and for ten consecutive years the tournament has been hosted at various venues (18-hole championship courses) all over Greece, such as Crete Golf Course for 3 consecutive years (2006-2008), Porto Carras Golf Course in 2009 and The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino for 2010 & 2011, where also the celebration of the 5 years anniversary took place.

In 2012, the “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am” was hosted at a golf venue outside of Greece at the spectacular and highly awarded Aphrodite Hills Resort and Golf in Cyprus. The tournament had duration of 4 days (30 May – 2 June 2012) with the 1st day being the official practice day. Since 2010, an extra day has been added with an individual competition for professionals and amateurs.

In 2013, was the first time that the “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am”, took place over two golf Courses at Costa Navarino, on the unspoiled and breathtaking seaside landscapes of "The Dunes Course", and in the newest addition to the Resort, "The Bay Course".

A year later, 2014, the competition returned to Greece and Costa Navarino. With the participation of 60 teams and 240 players from 14 countries, this year’s “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am” offered a total prize fund of € 70.000.

In 2015, the “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am” celebrated its 10th anniversary at the prestigious premises of Costa Navarino. In association with the Hellenic Football Federation and top-tier Super league players, AEGEAN Airlines powered for the first time in Greece the 1st Footgolf Event, at "The Dunes Course", where a total of 24 renowned footballers and VIPs took part. The game is played the same way as golf, except players use a football instead of a golf ball, and the ball is kicked rather than struck with a club, working towards a 21-inch "cup" in place of the usual golf hole.

In 2016, having already successfully organized Pro-Am for ten consecutive years, AEGEAN marked the beginning of the next decade of golfing in Greece by hosting Pro-Am for the fourth time at Costa Navarino’s two magnificent golf courses, "The Dunes Course" and "The Bay Course". 63 participating teams were given the opportunity to passionately compete over a period of four days.

In 2017, several former professional athletes, such as prominent basketball, rugby and football players, had the opportunity to participate at the Pro-Am held at Costa Navarino, between 7-10 June. Their participation next to other avid golfers justified how ex-professional players and sportsmen enjoy deploying their competitive nature on the golf course. Furthermore, it is worth noting that that year's tournament donated € 8,000 to “KIVOTOS” (Ark of the World), a charitable Nonprofit Organization for the caring and protection of mothers and children.

The 2018 “AEGEAN Pro-Am” was held between 6-9 June, 2018, at Costa Navarino’s two golf courses, and offered unforgettable golfing moments to 66 teams from 28 countries.

The 2018 “AEGEAN Pro-Am” was highly emotional for all concerned and dedicated to the memory of the late Chairman of AEGEAN Airlines, Theodore Vassilakis, as that tournament, had taken place only a few weeks after the sad passing of the Pro-Am’s creator and visionary of Golf in Greece and in Europe. The Welcome Reception included a tribute video to the late Theodore Vassilakis, while memorial notes were made by the officials of the PGAs of Europe, the owner of Costa Navarino Achilles Constantakopoulos and of course AEGEAN’s representatives.

It is also worth mentioning that by 2018, all donations to charities throughout the Pro-Ams amounted in total to € 125,000.

This year’s “AEGEAN Airlines Pro-Am” will be held from 17 to 21 September 2019 at Costa Navarino’s two golf courses, “The Dunes Course" and the fully renovated "The Bay Course". May it be a unique, unforgettable and highly successful experience to all players and visitors!

Aegean Airlines Pro-Am in numbers:

1st Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at Crete Golf Club

  • 2 – 4 June, 2006
  • 52 teams
  • 208 players
  • 13 countries
  • 70.000 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Liam Bond

2nd Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at Crete Golf Club

  • 1 – 3 June, 2007
  • 45 teams
  • 184 players
  • 16 countries
  • 61.500 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Henrik Engdahl

3rd Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at Crete Golf Club

  • 5 – 7 June, 2008
  • 44 teams
  • 176 players
  • 12 countries
  • 62.000 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Fredrick Mansson

4th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at Porto Carras Grand Resort

  • 4 – 6 June, 2009
  • 48 teams
  • 192 players
  • 14 countries
  • 64.800 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Paul Nilbrink

5th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino

  • 2 – 6 June, 2010
  • 48 teams
  • 192 players
  • 16 countries
  • 64.850 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Lee Rinker

6th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course, Costa Navarino

  • 1 – 4 June, 2011
  • 45 teams
  • 180 players
  • 17 countries
  • 62.700 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Nicolo Gaggero

7th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at Cyprus, Aphrodite Hills

  • 30 May - 2 June, 2012
  • 45 teams
  • 180 players
  • 13 countries
  • 62.700 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Zeke Martinez

8th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes & Bay Courses, Costa Navarino

  • 29 May - 1 June, 2013
  • 60 teams
  • 240 players
  • 21 countries
  • 70.000 prize money
  • Pro event winner: Nicolo Gaggero

9th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course & The Bay Course, Costa Navarino

  • 11 - 14 June, 2014
  • 60 teams
  • 240 players
  • 14 countries
  • 70.000 total prize fund
  • Pro event winner: Nicolo Gaggero

10th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course & The Bay Course, Costa Navarino

  • 17 - 20 June, 2015
  • 64 teams
  • 256 players
  • 14 countries
  • 71.345 total prize fund
  • Pro event winner: Jake Roos

11th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course & The Bay Course, Costa Navarino

  • 22 - 25 June, 2016
  • 63 teams
  • 252 players
  • 17 countries
  • 70.000 total prize fund
  • Pro event winner: Carly Booth

12th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course & The Bay Course, Costa Navarino

  • 7 - 10 June, 2017
  • 60 teams
  • 240 players
  • 18 countries
  • 70.000 total prize fund
  • Pro event winner: Peter Gustafsson

13th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am at The Dunes Course & The Bay Course, Costa Navarino

  • 6 - 9 June, 2018
  • 66 teams
  • 264 players
  • 28 countries
  • 72.000 total prize fund
  • Pro event winner: Henrik Engdahl