Golf Returns to the Olympics

Although the news has been out for quite some time, just in case you haven’t heard, golf is returning to the Olympics this year. In 2009, it was agreed upon that golf should be re-instated into the event. Talk has been picking up recently since the Olympics will be starting up again as of August 5 and continue on until August 21. Before it gets started, keep reading for some information you should know before golf officially returns to the Olympics.

Olympic (Re)Debut
Golf initially made its Olympic debut in Paris in 1900, but it hasn’t been a part of the event since 1904 in St. Louis. In 1914, golf was added to a list of optional sports to be played in the Olympics, but in 1921, it was removed entirely. This will be the first time in 112 years that the sport will be making an appearance.

Past Winners
The United States did extremely well in golf in the 1900 Olympics. In the Men’s Individual category, Charles Sands from the U.S. grabbed gold followed by Walter Rutherford from Great Britain who took silver and David Robertson who took bronze for Great Britain. In the Women’s Individual category, Margaret Abbott from the United States was the first American woman ever to take a first place win in the Olympics. Pauline Whittier and Daria Pratt, both of whom were from the United States, respectively took silver and bronze. In the 1904 Olympics in the Men’s Individual category, George Lyon from Canada took gold, Henri Chandler Egan from the U.S. walked away with silver, and Burt P. McKinnie and Francis Newton – both from the U.S. – each took bronze.

Schedule
The schedule was released at the end of March for the 2016 Olympics, so you can already start planning your own schedule and viewing parties accordingly. Golf will be played on August 11, 12, 13, and 14 with a break in the schedule for the next two days. It will then resume again on the 17 and go on the 18, 19, and 20. We can imagine just how many golf fans are going to be taking time off from work just so they can make sure they don’t miss a minute of play. A full schedule of Olympic events is available here.

In the Olympics
When it comes to playing in the Olympics, there will be no tie like what happened in 1904. In the event that there is a tie, there will be a playoff(s) that will determine who walks away with what medal.

Up until now, it was earning the traditional Green Jacket after becoming a champion at The Masters that was the ultimate win in golf, but walking away with a medal in the Olympics is obviously going to be pretty high up there as well. Many golf players (and fans!) are excited to get their chance to see the sport played in such a world-wide event as the Olympics. It’s certainly going to be a historic occasion and one that many will undoubtedly watch.