It’s been almost 105 years since golf was played at the Olympic games in 1904, when the United States and Canada were the only competing nations. Today, more than 60 million golfers in 120 countries play golf, and professional golfers represent these countries on all the major golf tours. Golf tried to make a comeback to the Olympics in 1996 but failed due to a lack of unified support from players and golf organizations. This time around the International Golf Federation represented all of golf’s major governing bodies in a successful bid with many letters from the worlds best tour professionals backing the inclusion of golf as an Olympic sport for the 2016 games in Rio.
The bid for golf to become an Olympic sport was realized in October in Copenhagen with a 63-27 vote and two abstentions. The format for the Olympic games will be a 72-hole stroke-play tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field.
“Junior golfers can now dream around the world of one day winning an Olympic gold medal that many of the greatest players in the world such as Hogan, Nicklaus, Player, and so many never realized. This has to be one of the proudest moments in my golf career and I am excited to be a part history and a golf camp that could one day develop an Olympic champion,” said JKCP’s Golf Director, Grant Griffiths
