Golf hasn’t been on the Olympic program for more than 100 years.
But in 2016, when the Games are played in Rio de Janeiro, three golfers will be standing on the podium receiving gold, silver and bronze medals to the applause of an appreciative audience.
That is my read on the selection of Rio despite the moaning and groaning of golf purists that Brazil has nothing in the way of a great golf course over which the world’s top players will compete.
Cynics have offered a variety of reservations about golf being an Olympic sport in addition to Brazil’s lack of a quality layout.
This latter assumes our good friends to the south won’t toss a truckload of money at the problem and build their own version of a Pebble Beach, an Augusta National or a Southern Hills. We suspect that will happen. But even if not, selection of an acceptable venue in another country (think equestrian competition being held in Hong Kong rather than Beijing) is possible, if not preferable.
As for those objecting to golf on other grounds, critics note that some countries don’t have courses and, even if they did, their citizenry probably couldn’t afford to play. In short, golf is expensive and exclusive. Furthermore, only a handful of countries are capable of sending truly competitive golfers to Rio.
Probably the biggest sour-grapes argument is that golfers aren’t genuine athletes and don’t deserve the same Olympic credibility and respect as, say, those participating in track and field. But synchronized swimming, fencing and other sports would seem excellent counters to that way of thinking.
If there is any real concern, I believe it is that television coverage of Olympic golf may not find much of an audience already sated by Ryder Cup, President’s Cup and international tournaments almost every weekend somewhere. But the truth is that golf probably won’t get much air time anyway. It will be sharing the spotlight with track and field and gymnastics.
The overriding argument in favor of having golf on the Olympic scorecard is a simple one: Competing for one’s country in any sport on the biggest international sports stage is a great honor, win or lose. It is time that golfers get that opportunity.
Improvement
The fall and winter are big months for making improvements on golf courses. Maintenance crews are working to improve drainage on selected sand traps at Eagle Creek Golf Course, according to Brent Burney, director of golf.
Holiday gift
With Christmas just around the corner behind Thanksgiving, golfers are looking around for potential gifts that they can point out to their spouses or significant others as holiday gifts.
My suggestion is that most golfers would do well to ask for lessons as a positive gift that can pay huge dividends next spring and summer. Drivers, putters and irons are important. But if you don’t know you’re not likely to improve as much as you hope or expect.
Address correspondence to Clair Goodwin at sports@joplinglobe.com.
