Olympic Golf? In Rio?!

by rcrusoe on Oct 5, 2009 3:52 PM EDT Comment 7 comments

Should golf get the green light for the Rio olympics in 2016, where are they going to play?

There are only two courses in the city: Gavea Golf & Country Club and Itanhanga Golf Club. Reportedly, neither is long enough to handle a professional-level major event. Further, Rio's original bid did not contain plans for the construction of new golf courses.

Brazil's highest ranked golfer, Alexandre Rocha, holds down the 550th spot in the Official World Golf Rankings (Wall Street Journal).

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What ? Geez – I’m taking back my wager on Brazil taking home the gold !!

Surely the committee knew that Rio didn’t have golf course construction in their bid. Seems unlikely that they would name golf as a sport if their bid was chosen without them. (and please, don’t call me Shirley)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 5, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Itanhanga Golf Club was long enough for the LPGA earlier this year when they played their 36 hole unofficial HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup. Oh, and in this week’s Rolex World Rankings the Brazilian-born Angela Park, despite her recent woes, is still in the Top 50.
As for the guys, well they have 6 years to get a course built and properly broken in if they want.

Kevin

by IceCat on Oct 5, 2009 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like golf is hardly a popular game in Brazil, and if so, a championship-worthy golf course will be little-used after the Olympiad there.

by Old Man Par on Oct 6, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No wonder they picked Rio! Golf’s infrastructure there will match the other crap they have to build to host it!

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 6, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes – but think of all the topless women on the beaches !! (lol)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 6, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see that every year in Saint Martin. Trust me when I say too many will make you turn your head…away.

I could also tell you a great story about a couple that walked down the beach naked as jaybirds…we had a hard time telling which was who, so my wife called them “Pat and Pat” in homage to the old Saturday Night Live skit.

by Old Man Par on Oct 8, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs