When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
...the word contest probably an unfortunate choice in that it cheapens things a bit, but I'll let you decide after reading the announcement. This is essentially as was reported in Golf World recently, again, without the "contest" word mentioned and sadly, it appears not period for the public to see the finalist entries.
The Solheim Cup finish was positively brilliant, as Brian Keogh recounts. But it wouldn't be a team match if there wasn't a controversy and I have to say, I like the rule in place that forced the U.S. to lose a full point when Cristie Kerr's wrist injury prevented her from playing Karen Stupples.
In the most recent Golf World, I penned an update and explanation about where the Olympic golf design derby stands after Danny Ocean Nick Faldo proposed his all-star major champions idea.
I also suggest that as with design competitions for museums or stadiums, it would be productive to see who the finalists are and what their vision is for the site.
Now about the site, CNN's Shane O'Donoghue looks at the course architect selection process and suggests a possible ownership dispute surrounding the venue for golf in Rio 2016:
I just wish I could be there the first time Sir Nick Faldo tries to talk strategy with an associate of Tom Fazio (Lord knows the great man wouldn't leave the country!) and he gets a bunch of nonsense about framing. But alas, the chances of Nick Faldo-Tom Fazio (or 18 major champions and Tom Fazio, with egos coordinated by the ego himself) doesn't stand much chance.An Around The Rings report checks in with the IGF's Ty Votaw who confirms that the timing is getting tight for selecting an architect and building a course in time for a 2015 test run prior to the '16 games. Votaw told Around The Rings, “We'll have an architect selected by the end of the year barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
And in response to Greg Norman's criticism that the Olympic course is cutting the timing a little too close for comfort:
Votaw added that the process is “probably taking a little longer than we anticipated. I would agree with Greg's assessment in terms of the time frame, and we conveyed that same information to him, which is why we agree with him.”
Steve Elling with excerpts of Nick Faldo's letter to the International Golf Federation pitching a mass collaboration of some of the biggest do-nothings on the planet: player-architects.
Though short on specifics as to how this boondoggle would work (since many of these people couldn't find one of their projects with a GPS device), it sounds as if Sir Nick is suggesting the Olympic course design consist of a collaboration of many appearance fee specialists.
"What a tremendous, ongoing, global and historic story we could write for our sport as a truly international team of men's and women's champions create the venue for golf's return to the Olympics in 2016. Certainly some of the most-respected course designers in the world come from a global pool of the most-recognized champions.
"It is understood that the complexity of the site and the demands of the Olympic event would necessitate a unified and experienced process architecturally; as they say, egos should be checked at the door, but please imagine the worldwide interest and appeal this Olympic course as the truest collaboration of men's and women's champions -- from every continent.
As long as we can see a reality show out of it, I'm in!
"Consider for yourself, the major-champion designers from the continents of Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Asia.
Oh let's not.
The announcement of this collaboration alone would generate true and positive worldwide interest and press in a truly Olympic story."
Until you actually all try to coordinate your site visits, assuming some of the lugs (Faldo not included) even know what a site visit entails!
Let's hope Larry Olmsted's solution to the Olympic Golf Course design commission puzzle is not adopted. Then again, it would make a fantastic documentary and study of clashing egos!
Now that Rio has selected a site for the Olympic golf course, Around The Rings interviews the head of golf's IGF, Antony Scanlon about the state of golf's effort for 2016. Lots of safe answers, starting with this question about the choice of Rio as an unfortunate moment for golf.Thanks to reader Rob for this ATR report (subscription required) that Rio Olympic officials made it official: the 2016 course to be used for the first Olympic golf competition since 1904 will be a new one on a site in the city. This hasn't been much of a secret, but still the first official acknowledgement from the organizers of the direction and location.
Organizers also chose the occasion to announce the stage for golf’s first Olympic tournament since 1904, a new course rather than one of the two private 18-hole courses already in existence in Rio.
“Now the masterplan of the different sports competitions is finalized, so we know where every sport will be for the Games in 2016,” Felli told ATR.
“We believe the course is going to be a key legacy for Rio as it’s going to be in the middle of the Barra zone like most of the Olympic Village.”
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
