THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC Committee made a big mistake in bringing golf back as an Olympic sport.
Their mistake? Delaying the tournament’s return until 2016.
Golf and rugby were added as Olympic sports way back in 2009 along with women’s boxing, which will make its debut in London.
IOC members flubbed what should have been a tap-in, the opportunity to hold the 2012 tournaments at the home of golf, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Yes, St. Andrews is in Scotland not England.
But Olympic soccer events are being played right now at famous stadia like Hampden Park in Glasgow and Old Trafford in Manchester, so location, especially for what is arguably the most famous course in the world, should have been factored in.
Instead, golf will come back to that well-known golf-mecca, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, in 2016.
At a brand-new course, without a shred of history.
Alas, there’s no use crying over the bad decision by the IOC.
Olympic officials selected course designer Gil Hanse as the official designer for the 2016 course beating out seven high-profile design teams, including a Jack Nicklaus-Annika Sorenstam pairing.
Hanse told Sports Illustrated’s Gary Van Sickle that “the course may look like something from Australia’s famed Sand Belt area,” and that he doesn’t intend to plant a lot of trees.
“There are some mangrove trees on the site already, which run along the edge of a lagoon,” Hanse said.
Looking at Hanse’s sketches, water will be in play on quite a few holes and he has set the course up with the potential for an exciting finish: a short par-4 16th hole, a short par-3 17th and a reachable par-5 finishing hole.
Hanse’s design is available at tinyurl.com/RioGC2016.
He’s also designing a course at Union Bay on Vancouver Island.
The men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments will be 72-hole stroke play affairs, with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to the three lowest scorers.
Swinging Safari on tap
SunLand Women’s Golf Association will host a Swinging Safari Invitational event on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18.
The invitational is open to all lady golfers across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Friday’s event is an optional nine-hole scramble competition with a 2 p.m. shotgun start.
The main events are set for Saturday, with an 18-hole best ball partner event with a 9 a.m. shotgun start, followed by an awards luncheon.
Saturday also includes a continental breakfast before the round.
If you are a single golfer, don’t worry you can sign up and the tournament organizers will find you a partner.
Saturday-only participation is $75 a person and Friday and Saturday’s events are $90.
Cart rental is available.
To sign up or for more information, phone M.J. Anderson at 360-681-2693 or email
davemj@wavecable.com or Pennie Dickin at 360-681-2875 or email
BillPennie@aol.com.
Port Ludlow Demo Day
Manufacturer representatives from Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf and Adams Golf will be on-site for a demo day at Port Ludlow Golf Club from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
There will also be PGA Professionals on-site to give free tips and help the manufacturer representatives do club fittings.
Mention the Peninsula Daily News or my golf column and visitors will receive Port Ludlow member pricing on your order.
Any order of more than $200 will also receive a free round of golf at Port Ludlow to use at a later date.
Port Ludlow Golf Club is also hosting the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s 58th Annual Junior Boys Amateur Championship from Monday through Friday.
The championship will be conducted in two phases, Stroke Play and Match Play.
Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come out and watch the events.
Aloha tourney, luau
Cedars at Dungeness will hold an Aloha Tourney and Luau on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Cost is $100 for nonmembers, $70 for members and $57 for members with a cart lease.
Players will receive range balls, greens fees, use of cart, a tee prize, competition money and the luau meal after play.
Check-in is 11 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
Valid handicaps are needed for the low and high divisions, and if there’s only one handicap teams will be placed in the Callaway Division.
Deadline to register is Aug. 12.
Stop by the Cedars at Dungeness clubhouse or phone 360-683-6344.
JeffCo Amateur set
Golfers still have time to practice for the Jefferson County Amateur, set for Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend on Aug. 18-19.
Entry is $125 and includes tee prizes, a continental breakfast each day, range balls, two competition rounds and a practice round.
Each entry contributes $20 to a prize fund for net divisions and a gross payout.
To sign up for the Jefferson County Amateur phone Discovery Bay at 360-385-0704.
Save the date tourney
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society will hold its annual Claws and Paws Golf Tournament at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 21.
Proceeds from the tournament go toward the nearly 2,000 animals that come to the shelter each year.
For more information, phone Bill Dole at 360-452-5983 or 360-912-1824 or Donna Halsaver at 360-683-3994 or 505-299-1777.
September is a few weeks off and the Humane Society is always in need of help. If you would like to donate now, phone them at 360-457-8206.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
