After 112 years of absence, Golf will make a return to Olympics in Rio 2016

If everything goes according to plan, Golf will yet again be a sport in contention in the Olympic games when the circus travels to Rio in 2016. This would be the first time in a very long time that Golf will be re-introduced. In fact it has been 112 years ever since Golf was last played in the planet’s biggest sports tournament.

The organisers of the Rio 2016 Olympics have earmarked a new course for the game to be played as well as identifying a list of designers who could be involved. Among the names which have been listed are renowned golfers like Jack Niklaus, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa.

Peter Dawson, the Chief Executive of the Royal and Ancient Club who is also the President of the IGF (International Golf Federation) said that the best thing to do is to build a new course on a new site, a move which he believes that the organising committee would agree to. He also said that the site is a great and ideal location as it is located nearby the beach and also very close to the Olympic Village.

Currently, discussions are going on about the acquisition of the land and more confirmation would most likely come out in the next few weeks. He said that while the committee is responsible to provide the venue and the means for the games to be conducted, the Federation would have to be responsible to ensure that the standards and requirements are adhered to at the Games. So far, 15 companies have voiced their interest in being involved.

In order not to disrupt the golf tournament calendar, the federation is also working out a more conducive schedule in order to accommodate the Olympic games. While 2016 is still quite a few years away, they would have to start work on the course as soon as possible so that there would be no rush whatsoever then. It is reported that some 60 players in the men and women categories would be competing at the Olympics with automatic qualifications awarded to the top 15 world ranked players of the season.