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Dec 1st, 2016
What's the future for the Olympic golf course?
Here's what's happening
Words: John Dean Photography: Getty Images
As we reported earlier in the week the Olympic golf course has been practically deserted, and there are problems with the operator. So what is the future for the course?
The Brazilian Golf Confederation has reportedly not paid Progolf, the course operator, in two months, which has led to speculation that the course could soon close due to lack of upkeep.
“We are bitterly disappointed if this is the outcome for all of our efforts in creating the Olympic Course,” Gil Hanse, architect of the Rio Olympic Course, said to Golf World. “We witnessed this type of brinksmanship during the construction of the course, and we are hopeful that this is another example of having to hit a low point before things get better.”
In a letter to GolfChannel.com, Brazilian Golf Confederation president Paulo Pacheco reaffirmed the country's commitment to the golf course.
“The OGC is part of the legacy of the 2016 Olympics,” Pacheco said. “We know of the difficulties of implementing sports projects in times of crisis, but we never stop looking for solutions and it is far from our minds giving up such a representative project for golf in Brazil and in the world.”
According to Pacheco, the reason the course has not been internationally promoted is because the site still doesn't have the proper infrastructure, such as a Pro Shop or even a website.
A restaurant is planned for the site, alongside a Pro Shop, and then the country plans to market the Olympic course to the wider world.
Pacheco remains confident that in time the course will help grow and serve the game, but did admit that economic difficulties in Brazil were not helping matters.
“We have been disheartened by the recent reports regarding the status of the Olympic Golf Course and can only hope that the (Confederation), Rio 2016 and the city of Rio can work together to find both a short-term and long-term solution," he said.
So maybe there is a future for the course, and that it won’t become another Olympic white elephant.
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