Golf came to Maria at precisely the right moment. Her family and business always take precedence, and when the children were small, Maria would not have had time for golf. ”I began to play 10-11 years ago. I had actually bought golf lessons for a friend. I decided I was going to take the lessons too and take the kids with me to do something different, and, in the end, I was the only one who continued,” says Maria. On the golf course, she has found a hobby that is fun, relaxing, challenging, and difficult enough that it remains interesting. At the same time, golf has become a community and a platform for meeting other like-minded people. According to Maria, golf is the optimal hobby in every way. ”I can really travel anywhere in the world and play at any time. I always meet others who have the same love for the sport. You can always find things in common to talk about with people on the golf course. If nothing else, you can talk about golf itself. It is an inexhaustible subject,” says Maria. Even if golf trips can be enticing, Maria’s favourite courses are at home. She thinks the golf courses at Kastelholm Castle in Sund are the absolute best ones of all. ”I love the courses we have here on Åland. They are exceptionally beautiful and well-maintained, and additionally offer exciting and challenging games. There is no greater feeling of freedom, than playing on the Kastelholm Castle golf courses, with the perfect scenery, especially at the newly renovated Castle golf course, which is an outstanding success,” says Maria.