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Well was watching the news today and it appears the Olympic Committee voted to approve GOLF as an event starting in the 2016 games. I did not catch many details, but like Basketball and Hockey Pros will be eligible.

Anyone know details about:

• Qualifications
• Format

I would assume to qualify each country will be allowed to enter X amount of players based on population, and each country will have their own method of qualifications. My only hope is the USA does not do it like the US Open where a large number of Pro's are exempt from qualifying. Even though very few amateurs will actually qualify, it would at least give them a greater chance to qualify if 90% of the field is not exempt.

As for format I am clueless. Again I would assume they would would play 2 to 4 rounds of stroke play, then take the top 64 low scores, and single of double elimination match play until th elas man or women stading takes gold.

What do you know or think? I mean who knows there maybe another Bobby Jones out there somewhere.?

As much as I like golf and the Olympics, I'm not sure Golf is a good fit. Just not that many countries have really good players, not like most of the other sports. As for the format to qualify, I hope they use the same format that will be used at the games. No sense using stroke play to earn a spot on the team if the games are going to be Match play. This is the BIG problem with the Ryder cup team. They pick the top Stroke play golfers to play in a Match play event. Makes very little sense to me.

Only professional players will be playing in the Olympics.
I thought this was rather strange so I contacted the R&A a couple of weeks ago.

This was the reply I recieved back......


Thank you for your email on golf in the Olympics. Although I was not personally involved on golf's bid for inclusion inthe Olympic Games, I understand television companies were only interested in showing the very best golfers in the world.
In the longer term, it is our hope that the mere fact that golf is in the Olympics will lead to more government funding being made available particularly in countries where golf is a minor sport.
Should this materialise, Olympic golf has the potential to grow the game through the emergence of more public facilities around the world.

I hope this answers your question.

Best wishes DUNCAN WEIR
Director of Golf Development
The R&A
St Andrews
Fife
Scotland
KY16 9JD
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 460000
Fax: +44 (0) 1334 460007

The R&A, St Andrews - Official Site The Open Championship - Official Site -
www.bestcourseforgolf.org

I expect we'll see the top professionals in the world representing their countries. The Olympics ceased being the purview of amateur sport many years ago.

Well I agree it will be mostly made up of the pros. My belly ache is not to make the pros exempt from qualifying and open it up to all. At least that way an amateurs has the same chance as the pros of getting in.

only Pros no amateurs dereckbc as I previously stated.

if curling is a sport deserving olympics, golf definitely does