International Golf Federation | Golf Faces Uphill Struggle For Olympic Spot

Golf Faces Uphill Struggle For Olympic Spot

6/27/05

The International Golf Federation has made a formal application for golf to be included in the 2012 Olympic games after an absence of 108 years, but the path to Olympic recognition is complex and golf faces an uphill struggle for inclusion.

A decision was taken by the International Olympic Committee in 2002 to limit the number of sports in the summer games to 28. Only if one of those sports is dropped from the 2012 programme will golf have any chance of an Olympic place.

On July 8 this year the IOC members will vote on each of the 28 sports that were part of the Athens Olympics in 2004. A simple majority of more than 50 per cent of the votes is enough for a sport to retain its place in the programme for 2012. If a sport fails to obtain a majority a vacancy will exist for the possible inclusion of a new sport.

And even then golf is only one of five sports whose applications have been accepted. The others are roller sports, rugby, karate and squash. If a vacancy does exist, the Executive Board will decide whether any of the applicant sports can be considered for admission and that can only be achieved by gaining a two-thirds majority in a vote by the IOC.

“There can be no doubt,” says The R&A's Chief Executive, Peter Dawson, “that Olympic golf would give a tremendous boost to the development of the game in young golfing nations around the world.”

The proposed format for an Olympic golf event is two competitions - one for men and one for women - each consisting of 72 holes of individual stroke play, with 50 players in each field. The leading two players, from any country, who are in the top 300 of the official world rankings, would be eligible. Wild card spots would be allotted to ensure representative continental fields.

Golf is played by more than 60 million men and women on all the world's continents, and is ever increasing in number of participants. It is an extremely popular event for television viewing and offers several benefits to an Olympic Organizing Committee. No costly stadiums need to be erected as the game takes place in natural outdoor settings, and these venues already exist worldwide. Also, golf could become part of the Olympic games by adding only 100 athletes, with no qualifying heats necessary and scores are positive and verifiable, with no recourse to subjective judgements.

Developing the game of golf internationally - an invaluable and inevitable side effect of the sport's possible inclusion in the Olympics - offers several benefits. It is a game that teaches honour and integrity, as players often serve as their own referees. It teaches patience and discipline.

Golf is one of the few sports where people of all ability levels can play a fair and even match, thanks to the game's widespread handicap and multiple tee system. It has proved to be an avenue for unity and opportunity for minorities, juniors, and athletes with disabilities. It is one of the few sports that can be enjoyably played for a lifetime, therefore offering perpetual health benefits to its participants.

The game of golf developed as early as the 15th century in Scotland, and countless international competitions have been contested ever since. Golf events were played in the Olympics of 1900 and 1904.

The International Golf Federation, founded in 1958 as the World Amateur Golf Council, encourages the international development of the game and fosters friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world. It has been recognized as the international federation for golf by the IOC since 1991.

The IGF has 102 member nations and the administration is led jointly by representatives of The R&A and the USGA. Joint Chairmen are David Harrison of The R&A and Fred Ridley of the USGA. Women's Chairman is Vicky Whyte, who is Vice President of the Brazilian Golf Confederation. Joint Secretaries are Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A and David Fay, Executive Director of the USGA.