Golf in the Olympics???

[dragonflyin]

Like others, I'm on the fence on this subject. As a biased golfer, I'd love to see this sport included. However, I believe the greatest incentive of including golf being financial. Think of the markets this would open up. It would accelerate the rate of growth of the game for many countries, as well as introducing equipment and apparel companies to these corners of the world. Thus, I think including golf probably does more for the sport itself than the overall Olympic entity.

This doesn't mean that the Olympic Governing Board wouldn't consider this. Think of all the "X-Game" time of "activities" that are included now. This was purely a financial decision. If we were to look at the seven sports fighting for the two spots, golf has the largest marketing potential worldwide.

I do see the Olympics wavering in its decision making when it comes to including/excluding sports. The idea of providing amateur athletes a global forum to compete for the greatest prize in their sport, doesn't quite translate to basketball, tennis, baseball, or golf. These sports already have established tournaments, tours, and traditions. Perhaps biggest reason being that at the best of the competition, the competition is comprised of professionals, the worst of the competition, the best (pros) don't show up, and interest in the Olympic events declines. Having an athlete like Tiger Woods is great, and probably provides a great impetus for the Governing Body to include golf. But, like someone already mentioned, when golf in the Olympics actually becomes a reality, Tiger will be closer to the tail end of his career.

Lastly, I have a hard time imagining the format of competition. How will they make it competive for countries that are NOT the US or Australia? Sports like basketball, softball, and baseball gets a lot of bad rep in the Olympics for being disproportionately dominated by the US. Venue for the competition will be difficult as well. Yes, golf courses are popping up everywhere. But, can you find a championship type of a course in every site that holds the Olympics? You can build a swimming pool, but golf courses needs time to mature and grow into form. You'd hate for the athletes to compete on a second-tier course for the "greatest" prize in their sport, once every four years...

[sean_miller]

Like others, I'm on the fence on this subject. As a biased golfer, I'd love to see this sport included. However, I believe the greatest incentive of including golf being financial. Think of the markets this would open up. It would accelerate the rate of growth of the game for many countries, as well as introducing equipment and apparel companies to these corners of the world. Thus, I think including golf probably does more for the sport itself than the overall Olympic entity.

The US and Australia would have some great players in the field. There are many other countries that could win, but I'm not going to list them. I'm too busy coming up with a list of Australians who are currently dominating the golf world. If it was done like the Canada Cup (World Cup), there would only be one or 2 teams per country anyway.

If Olympic golf (that just sounds wrong) is cherished as much as Olympic tennis and soccer (ie. not very much), I don't think the Majors are in any trouble.

[sean_miller]

i have only one reason. Golf is an actual sport!!!!!!!!!!!! Ping pong is an olympic event and its hardly a sport more of a game.

I've worked with a lot of non-golfers who would argue otherwise. They see golf like billiards or darts. An activity that takes some amount of skill to do, but one doesn't necessarily have to be very strong, flexible, fit or agile. I see their point - an out of shape whale can still get around a golf course quite well (especially when he drive a little buggy between shots) a lot better than someone in the same shape would fare against an average opponent playing table tennis.

I could do without golf in the olmpics, but mostly because with the Ryder Cup, President's Trophy, World Cup, and the little flag beside every golfer's name during majors, there's already enough flag waving in this "sport".

[flanagan]

NO.

1. The motivation is more about marketing and expanding markets for "golf" than any real sense that golf is an Olympic endeavor;
2. The golf schedule is already oversaturated;
3. Not every sport needs to be or should be in the Olympics (examples of sports that should not be don't justify adding golf, they justify dropping those sports from the Olympics);
4. Extension of #1 above: apart from the motives, what does the average golf fan care/how does the average golfer benefit from golf taking root in "new markets"? Probably very little.
5. The idea of our golfing athletes competing naked in the Olympics, isn't that how it works?, is just not appealing to me, some things just shouldn't be done naked, ask Seinfeld.

[Cussin hacker]

You have that right. I can't think of a single event that is better because they have allowed pros in. Basketball was much more interesting when it was amateurs (and the US team was made up of the best college players.)

If it were amateur only.....I could almost see that. It would open markets for buisness, not that I care, and it would really mean something to Amateurs to win a medal. Pro's have their game and it's not in the Olympics.

[wannabe]

I pretty much say no to this as well. Just seems weird. And yeah, how in the heck would this impact the regular tour schedule? freaky, just freaky.

[uttexas]

should not

1. Not a world sport. Sure it's played in many countries, but it only thrives in maybe two handfuls of countries world wide. Golf is only for countries with wealth. Less fortunate countries can't sacrifice grazing or crop land for golf courses.
2. There are already too many events during the summer olympics. Lets get back to track and field and swimming. The olympics is about running/swiming fast, jumping high/far, throwing something. Lets get rid of synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics. Lets get rid of tennis while we are at it.
3. the best golfers in the world might not play in it (they already complain about not getting paid for the Ryder Cup). The Olympics is no longer for amateurs (which is a shame), but almost impossible to achieve this ideal these days.
4. How do you figure out the playoff system to make it fair--there could be ten ties for second/third place. How many playoff holes, or just give out three silvers and seven bronzes
5. Nobody would watch it, unless Tiger plays.

[Ath]

Dutch television news just announced that the Olympic Committee has added golf and rugby sevens to the 2016 Olympics. I'm sure people will be able to provide links to nice inside stories shortly. Apparently there's one more meeting before it's official, but it seems settled.

Now I'm just curious whether they will keep the top 30 + the 2 best players per country selection rule. Cause that would result in a lot of ecstatic golfers from smaller countries

What do you think? And did I miss the thread on this subject somewhere?

[DavidFehertysBike]

If olympic golf format is just going to be another 72 hole stroke play event, then its barely gonna be worth watching, IMO. I hope it changes between now and '16 games.

[pinhigh27]

If olympic golf format is just going to be another 72 hole stroke play event, then its barely gonna be worth watching, IMO. I hope it changes between now and '16 games.

yeah, I agree, it'll just be another tournament. We need like better ball, scramble anything to actually get watchers and showcase the players skills in a different way. I hate the 72 hole thing for the Olympics.

[ugottabjoshinme]

Golf proposes a 72-hole stroke-play competition for men and women, with 60 players in each field. The world's top 15 players would qualify automatically, and all major professional tours would alter tournament schedules to avoid a clash with the Olympics.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=4396021 72 hole stroke play is disapointing to me. I would have liked to seen 2 man teams or something to differentiate it from a normal tournament.

[clearwaterms]

how would you change it? match play?

maybe have an elimination round of 18 hole stroke play. Top so many players advance to match play. To fit it in, you could do 9 hole matches, that would allow you to have 6 matches and have the top 64 golfers, and in the end you are still only playing 72 holes of golf. If you did 18 hole matches you would only have like the top 8.

[clearwaterms]

one good thing is that there is a possability that Chicago will get the 2016 olympics, so the first olympic golf match since ~1904.

[Ath]

I'd like fourball, or even foursome, but scramble would be totally usuless right? Our scramble games always turn into a putting contest...

But if all tournaments on the PGA and European Tour are played strokeplay, barred one or two, it makes sense to use that format for the olympics as well right?

[Knockglock]

Well I am excited! I think that it will be awesome. Trust me it won't be just another tournament, its the OLYMPICS!!! Your not playing for a trophy your playing for a gold medal!

[chriskzoo]

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=4396021

I think they should do both - just as any other sport has both team and individual events.

Other than that, 72 hole play is the only way to go

[David in FL]

Nothing but another professional tournament.......with a weaker overall field.

Remember back when the Olympics represented the pinnacle of amateur athletic competition? Before the days of professional dream-teams and the like? When athletes had to make a decision to delay turning professional in order to compete in the Olympic games......

Sorry, I just can't get any more excited about Olympic golf than I do Olympic basketball.

[TomDonS]

I dont know about anyone else but I think it is CRAP that the Olympic hypothetical golf in 2016 and beyond will be played by pros and not Amateurs. It should be the top Amateurs from around the world competing. The pros have millions of $ let the Amateurs have the Olympics. It also might be a springboard for aspiring pros to get in the limelight.