Driving ranges return to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years!
There have been many controversial commentaries about golf returning to the games, media attention about players coming or not, whether the course will be ready on time, or should it in fact be an Olympic sport at all? In my opinion, golf’s return sees a wonderful addition to the current roster of summer Olympic sports.
A great friend reintroduced me to golf in 2005. We played on cold wet weekends in the UK with the very basics of both equipment and skill! The hours spent on the course not only gave us a competitive sporting outlet, but a much deeper appreciation for how skilled and talented professional golfers are.
What also makes golf unique in Rio is the new Olympic Golf Course. Over the past three and half years the greenskeepers have shaped and nurtured a derelict site into a brand new 242 acre course. And it is not just about growing and cutting grass. The Chief Greenskeeper is a horticultural scientist, which has enabled him to grow in a course that is not only world class, but has also created an environmental legacy which now offers a natural home to many native birds, plants, capybaras, which are the largest rodents in the world and alligators.
So whether you enjoy golf or not it really comes down to personal taste, however from my experience, watching any elite athlete perform at the Olympic level is truly inspiring. So come August 11 in Rio, when the first Olympic golfers since 1904 take their first drive from the first tee, I hope you too are inspired.
Happy 27 days to go! Four!