Olympic Course in Rio at the Brink

[JJShanley]

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2016/11/25/afp-rio-olympic-course-weeks-removed-from-hosting-games-may.html


Hardly surprising, and I say that as someone who enjoyed the events there.  I feel very sorry for all involved, particularly those going without pay.

[BHoover]

Unfortunately, this is probably the least surprising thing I've read all day...except maybe for seeing the videos of Black Friday shopping brawls (very entertaining, by the way).

[Joel_Stewart]

Personally I'm surprised.  I assumed that Rio could support a world class public golf course just from tourism alone.

[Mike_Young]

Not being cynical but what did people really expect?  The developer was hinting all along and the country doesn't get golf tourism.  I would bet they don't even have that many sets of rental clubs and now days good, very good, rental clubs are a requirement for golf tourism in Carribean and South America.  I hear its a very good course but that is not a factor these days.  What will be interesting will be Billy Payne and his group of dudes trying to "grow the game" in these countries.....I was told just recently that the dignitary list for the Latin American Am will require 400 hotel rooms just for that list in the future.....now that's some serious politicing...Olympic golf needs to go away....it's only there because a guy who helped bring the Olympics to Atlanta became the head dude at ANGC....

[Tom_Doak]

I would guess this is more about the developer jettisoning the expensive maintenance regime imposed by the IGF.  Just don't pay 'em, and see if someone else makes up the difference ... that's the Brazilian way.  I doubt he'll really let it go to seed right in front of his condos.


But, it's unlikely to get enough play to support itself in the short to medium term.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Could this prove to have been the world's first "pop-up" golf course?

[John Kavanaugh]

If we could all just be honest for a second: The course was at best bland. A big who cares in the face of world destinations.

[Tim Leahy]

Diseased water and mosquitos didnt help tourism.

[Ronald Montesano]

I think that you're being not cynical, but astute and perspicacious. Wonder how many PhD dissertations will be written on the economics, politics and psychology of the last 15 years of Brasil?

I disagree with the second statement. Golf should be on the radar of people outside golf. Tiger Woods kept it there for 15 years, but he does not have that impact any longer. Giving it an Olympic-games presence will ensure that people discuss it at water coolers, which leads to playing a bit, which gives course operators a chance to encourage more play.

Not being cynical but what did people really expect? 


...Olympic golf needs to go away....

[Sean_A]

I think that you're being not cynical, but astute and perspicacious. Wonder how many PhD dissertations will be written on the economics, politics and psychology of the last 15 years of Brasil?

I disagree with the second statement. Golf should be on the radar of people outside golf. Tiger Woods kept it there for 15 years, but he does not have that impact any longer. Giving it an Olympic-games presence will ensure that people discuss it at water coolers, which leads to playing a bit, which gives course operators a chance to encourage more play.

Not being cynical but what did people really expect? 


...Olympic golf needs to go away....

I can fully understand this PoV.  However, first and foremost, the courses used for the Os should not be one and done deals.  We don't really want golf falling in the same trap of the past with facilities being left vacant once the Os leave town.  That is a completely irresponsible approach and flies in the face of sustainability...and makes golf look the greedy, selfish sport which only serves to match its reputation.   So...a good business case should be seriously considered prior to any new build for the Os and if at all possible, existing courses should be used. 

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

I think that you're being not cynical, but astute and perspicacious. Wonder how many PhD dissertations will be written on the economics, politics and psychology of the last 15 years of Brasil?

I disagree with the second statement. Golf should be on the radar of people outside golf. Tiger Woods kept it there for 15 years, but he does not have that impact any longer. Giving it an Olympic-games presence will ensure that people discuss it at water coolers, which leads to playing a bit, which gives course operators a chance to encourage more play.

Not being cynical but what did people really expect? 


...Olympic golf needs to go away....

I can fully understand this PoV.  However, first and foremost, the courses used for the Os should not be one and done deals.  We don't really want golf falling in the same trap of the past with facilities being left vacant once the Os leave town.  That is a completely irresponsible approach and flies in the face of sustainability...and makes golf look the greedy, selfish sport which only serves to match its reputation.   So...a good business case should be seriously considered prior to any new build for the Os and if at all possible, existing courses should be used. 

Ciao

+1
absolutely NO reason to build a new course for that Olympics.
Was a complete mess from start to finish.
GOLF was not the problem in this instance.
Golf is a great addition to this Olympics-the venue, the drama,the greed,stupidity/practicality and the politics were the problem this time.

[Thomas Dai]

.... the drama,the greed,stupidity/practicality and the politics....

Some categories for medal winning events for 2020? Add in a few Nobel prizes, perfect (sic).
Atb

[Pat Burke]

Well, Gil built a nice course that met one goal, to provide a worthy Olympic venue for competition.
Organizers and beaurocrats screwed the rest of the goals for sustainability and growth.


My reaction is, not surprised.  I was a little surprised the course ever got built in time.


Looking at numerous sites that's show abandoned Olympic venues, I wonder why any country would host

[JJShanley]

Well, Gil built a nice course that met one goal, to provide a worthy Olympic venue for competition.
Organizers and beaurocrats screwed the rest of the goals for sustainability and growth.


My reaction is, not surprised.  I was a little surprised the course ever got built in time.


Looking at numerous sites that's show abandoned Olympic venues, I wonder why any country would host

I can name maybe a dozen cities that have any business hosting the summer games.

[Peter Pallotta]

Sometimes I think: God save great courses/architecture from the important people who say they "love" great courses/architecture. They tend to love it the way a rock star loves his latest super model.

Peter

[Ronald Montesano]

The other aspect of golf as Olympic event is this: many countries will not fund programs unless they are recognized by the IOC. Smallish countries had zero funding for golf before the run-up to 2016. If Os and golf divorce, these countries will revert to zero funding for golf.

Countries with any business hosting the games are the ones that can repurpose stadia. I'm curious how a 2008 Olympics in Toronto (runner-up to Beijing) would have worked out, as that city seems to continuously add buildings. Canada's previous foray into the summer games did not end well. I laugh when I recall Eric Heiden winning five gold medals on a frozen high school track in Lake Placid. The golf equivalent would have been the local municipal course.

[Kalen Braley]

Salt Lake City is perfect for the winter Olmypics.


The only venue that is under utilized per its original purpose is the skating track, but they still find plenty of other uses to keep it running.


Everything else including the ski jump and bobsled facilities get lots of use...

[Joe Zucker]

Having played the course in October, this isn't too surprising.  Based on a quick google search, it seems like their website to book tee times still isn't up.  There were no kitchen appliances or anything at all in the pro shop/snack bar area when I was there.  I was told it was coming in by December or January for the summer season, but who knows?  They did have nice rental sets though, brand new bridgestones through the bag.


In my mind, this course isn't destined to be a failure even though golf tourism isn't that big in Brazil.  At ~$250 per round, I doubt they need a full tee sheet to survive, but certainly more than the 9 golfers where were there the day I was.  The few people I talked to in the clubhouse knew nothing about golf, so that probably needs to change if they want to create an environment where golfers enjoy it.


That being said, there are hundreds of hotels in Rio.  Every one of them has a list of tours they can book for their guests.  If they got a "Olympic Golf Experience" Tour on the brochures that all of them hand out, I imagine they can get some people to show.  Provide transportation, charge $300 and make it a day of golf and I would be surprised if this wouldn't fill a few tee times a day.  Maybe this isn't enough to keep the course alive, but it would drive some traffic that is currently not there.

[JJShanley]

I think the world of Justin Rose, and the area in which Gil Hanse has his office, so I'd love this course to survive.  We'll always have Merion East, I suppose.

[Thomas Dai]

Change the name to Trump Rio and hold the Presidents Cup there!?
Atb

[Jon Wiggett]

The whole Rio Olympics was one big vanity trip for the Brazilian political elite started at a time when they believed the money would never stop flowing. There was never any belief that there would be any legacy and they planned for that hence no fixtures in the clubhouse nor any attempt to get tourists to visit after the games finished. The course is on borrowed time IMO and will probably be turned into real-estate.


Jon

[Ulrich Mayring]

It's too expensive, that's all. Make the greenfee $10 and see the locals come out in droves. Teach them golf, create a culture, raise the greenfee any time the course gets too full.

Yes, that also means employing locals for maintenance, foreigners are too expensive.

That would be the Olympic ideal - creating a course for tourist use is not.

Ulrich

[Adam Lawrence]

The whole Rio Olympics was one big vanity trip for the Brazilian political elite started at a time when they believed the money would never stop flowing. There was never any belief that there would be any legacy and they planned for that hence no fixtures in the clubhouse nor any attempt to get tourists to visit after the games finished. The course is on borrowed time IMO and will probably be turned into real-estate.

According to Gil, the course _cannot_ be turned into real estate because of its zoning. Not to say that it is going to remain golf, only that it can't be developed as things stand.

[George Pazin]

+1
absolutely NO reason to build a new course for that Olympics.
Was a complete mess from start to finish.
GOLF was not the problem in this instance.
Golf is a great addition to this Olympics-the venue, the drama,the greed,stupidity/practicality and the politics were the problem this time.

That's what happens when people play with other people's money...

[MClutterbuck]

I would guess this is more about the developer jettisoning the expensive maintenance regime imposed by the IGF.  Just don't pay 'em, and see if someone else makes up the difference ... that's the Brazilian way.  I doubt he'll really let it go to seed right in front of his condos.


But, it's unlikely to get enough play to support itself in the short to medium term.

Spending that amount on that course is plain stupid. The owners should have trained a local team, including a superintendet. 15 local guys and a good consultant is all that you need, not a foreign company taking fees and causing inefficient tax consequences.