There is a lot of discussion about having golf included in the Olympics. It would be interesting to see what ISG members have to say. What would be the format ? Will this put the PGA noses out of joint ?

There’s alot of sports that should not be in. I still don’t know why tennis every got included.

Tennis probably has as much of a right to be there as golf.

Tennis, golf and soccer have a strong history of international competition outside the Olympics. For players in those sports an Olympic gold would be insignficant compared to other tournaments, and as such there is no need for them to be in the Olympics.

Silly sports that should be excluded because they are silly:
Synchronised swimming, synchronised diving, beach volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics.

I’m with Muntz here.

It’s got to be interesting to watch too I feel. I think long-drive would be popular in the olympics, but not golf. Imagine teeing off in the track and field stadium after the javelin dudes with a hundred thousand spectators and billions tuned in.

Beach volleyball has a good following, even if it’s for slightly different reasons so it’s cool. But judo? – I’ve been in martial arts all my life, including jiu-jitsu, and I find it unwatchable. And now they’re trying to get karate in too…

Muntz
Of the three sports you mention, why is golf the only one omitted.?
Just being selected in an Olympic team, rather than winning an Olympic gold, would be significant to any sports person, regardless of their status, my daughter is an Olympian. Once an Olympian, you are an Olympian for life and you are invited to attend certain functions a year. I believe golfers should be given the opportunity to enjoy such privileges

may explain why federer got kicked out !

motivation lacking ??

how about snooker
or lawn bowling
or 12 pin bowling
or grand pix
on n on n on

Welcome to ISG KG, now can you please explain your picture?

Of the three sports you mention, why is golf the only one omitted.?

Maybe the long competition format is a problem. Maybe a modified format of teams matchplay would actually be an interesting solution.

But I still think that being an Olympian would be relatively unimportant for most golfers compared to winning a major.

Now judo – does that not seem like another silly sport? At Olympic level it seems like “random grappling whilst adjusting your terry toweling dressing gown”. How they award points is a bit of a mystery.

Muntz
Thank you for welcoming me on board – the picture ? being silly !

I also watched the Judo and was quickly bored with the format.

Back to golf .. it is probably an opportune time to look at a new format that will work.

As golf is at a all time low ( 2008 Sweeney report just released) maybe a new format with input from marketing gurus rather than golfers, may be just what the game needs right now.
New formats have worked for Cricket: one day cricket , then 20/20

The Olympics would be the vehicle to trial it

Welcome to ISG KG, now can you please explain your picture?

Of the three sports you mention, why is golf the only one omitted.?

Maybe the long competition format is a problem. Maybe a modified format of teams matchplay would actually be an interesting solution.

But I still think that being an Olympian would be relatively unimportant for most golfers compared to winning a major.

Now judo – does that not seem like another silly sport? At Olympic level it seems like “random grappling whilst adjusting your terry toweling dressing gown”. How they award points is a bit of a mystery.

Reverse every natural instinct you have and do just the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing. – BEN HOGAN, POWER GOLF

I think that is very ignorant if you dont understand the scoring system look it up on the net rather than calling it silly. I’m sure you wouldn’t say it to there faces though.

So my wife does not know how the scoring system and rules of golf, does that give her the right to call golf silly ?

is lawn bowling silly ?

just like putting without the stick ….

I think that is very ignorant if you dont understand the scoring system look it up on the net rather than calling it silly. I’m sure you wouldn’t say it to there faces though.

I’m hardly the only one who’s mystified by judo

Most sports you can pick up the general idea without having to consult a rule book, i.e golf, get the ball in the hole with the least number of shots possible, avoid the water along the way…

is lawn bowling silly ?

not really, it has a long history and you get to wear sensible shoes

how about Kung fu ?

long history n very popular
esp in hollywood

it seems like “random grappling whilst adjusting your terry toweling dressing gown”.

Can someone explain why boxers need to be amateur, but they accept pro’s in other sports like tennis, cycling etc. Doesn’t make sense.

Pro boxers want to kill each other, which sorta goes against the friendly spirit of the olympics.

Beach volleyball is great for the views..
Womens beach volleyball that is..

My vote for women’s oil wrestling.

All sports have some value to them even if I don’t think much of them, they all get kids of the street.

Back to golf, if they added it it would have to be matchplay I think and only for amateurs, as I think all olympic sports should be. Maybe they could have qualifiers prior to the olympics so they can whittle the numbers down.

So Federer gets ko’d from Beijing – what is he doing now? Preparing for Flushing Meadow – along with all the other multimillionaires…
$70m men playing in the basketball…
Pity that the Olys have lost their amateur connections.
Would like to see some sort of control of the big pros using the Olys as just another tournament – I think it devalues that particular aspect of the Games.
Therefore, I would love Golf to be included, but nobody above world ranking xxx (150?). That would test and encourage the national depth of squad. Golf in Olys would introduce it to many more nations and the format could simply be a four-round stroke even that provides individual and team medals.
But keep the big pros out of it.
Avoids the scheduling problems that Brett Ogle raied on his program last week – majors, fedex playoffs, Ryder Cup etc
Cheers

Or maybe it could be like an amateur only event, kinda like the eisenhower?

It should be amateur only, that is what the Olympics should be…get rid of all professionals from all sports.

judo scoring is easy. weak takedowns are 1 point. big ones anywhere from some number to some number, maybe 20 max

its a decent sport, and participated in by the whole world

each country gets to add sports when they get the olympics. we added taekwondo and maybe beach volleyball

obviously we wanted to show off our beaches, and taekwondo is good to watch

synchronised diving is amazing, i cant believe people dont like it. rythmic gymnastics is incredible also

golf should be there, maybe as a tournament, maybe an ‘eventing style’ ie long drive, short iron closest to pin etc

kung fu competing is pretty weird because it isnt a fight sport, more like gymnastics

baseball is no longer in after this year, so go figure. most popular sport in the world behind soccer and basketball i think

It should be amateur only, that is what the Olympics should be…get rid of all professionals from all sports.

http://www.bunburygolfclub….

Is Michael Phelps an amateur?

$350k sponsorship from Speedo, a mill when he hit 7 golds.

The olympics is the pinnacle of sports. Either let everyone compete or delete the sport I say.

Forgive me, I thought this thread was about golf at the Olympics, not about minority sports in general.

To answer the initial question, I think the Olympics needs golf more than Golf needs the Olympics. If it were to be included I think it should be for amateur contestants.