From Ancient Olympia to the International Olympic Academy Golf Course
Nick Edmund, a four-time head and neck cancer survivor and founder of Global Golf4 Cancer (GG4C), is about to undertake an epic challenge for charity and carry his golf clubs from storied Ancient Olympia to Costa Navarino – the Mediterranean’s sustainably driven destination, located in Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese of Greece.
With the Ionian Sea accompanying him for much of his ‘golf walk’, Edmund’s journey on foot from November 7 to 16 will take him from the 776 BC birthplace of the Olympics, via the ‘four Ks’ – Krestena, Kakovatos, Kalo Vero and Kyparissia – to Filiatra and Marathapoli, and finally on to Costa Navarino and to Navarino Hills, venue of the world’s first International Olympic Academy Golf Course.
On reaching his final destination, he will play the fourth hole with two-time Masters champion José María Olazábal, the designer of the acclaimed par-72 layout. The pair will then symbolically raise the Global Golf4 Cancer ‘4-Flag’ in honour of cancer fighters worldwide, with the flag flying on the green of the par-four hole for the duration of the Olazabal & Friends Charity Pro-Am tournament, which is taking place from November 17-18.
The event provides golf fans with the exclusive opportunity for an up-close and intimate experience with Olazábal and a collection of his professional friends including fellow Spanish golf legend Miguel Ángel Jiménez, with the pro-am being played on the two new courses at Navarino Hills that were designed by Olazábal and opened in 2022.
Explaining the special significance of walking from Ancient Olympia to Costa Navarino, Edmund said: “Since Global Golf4 Cancer’s mission is to encourage the golf community to ‘pick up the baton’ and support cancer fighters and cancer fighting organisations in whatever way possible, I cannot imagine a more inspiring or appropriate place to help convey this than Ancient Olympia and its adjacent landscape. Just as Olympians have the opportunity to carry a torch, so golfers can fly the flag for a cause. I may be a little biased, but I am not sure if there is a more important cause than the battle against cancer.”
Peter Walton, CEO of IAGTO, a founding partner of Global Golf4 Cancer, said: “IAGTO has supported GG4C since its inception, and we believe in the enormous impact the global golfing community can make to help bring cures closer for a disease that affects one in four of us. I have lost count of the vast distances Nick has covered, both ‘golf-walking’ and travelling throughout the world these past six years to help spread that message, and this ‘Greek Odyssey’ is yet another milestone. The support of José María Olazábal and three-time IAGTO award winning Costa Navarino is tremendous, and greatly appreciated.”