By the time 2024 rolls around, it will have been 28 years since an Olympics was held in the US. This fact is one item that will most likely add to the plus column of Boston's bid. I imagine the IOC tries to move their two events around the globe in an effort to "share" it with different countries and different regions. That doesn't mean that the US selection for 2024 (Boston) will win out, but I have to imagine that each time a US selection is rejected, the odds of a US venue increase for the NEXT selection process. They can say no to the US, but they can't do it forever.
I'll just be sure to stay on Cape Cod during the summer of 2024 is Boston get the nod. The traffic...
Well, if South Africa puts in a bid, no one else has a chance. Plus, i think the IOC considers having the winter Olympics just over the border in Vancouver a few years ago as practically being in the US, so there is that working against them as well.
I personally would really like to see the Olympics use amateur players, and I think it would be great for them to use the rolled back ball. I think it would be easier to get a bunch of amateurs eager to represent their country to try something new than a bunch of pros stuck in their ways used to having the best of everything. Also, basketball is played under the international rules at the Olympics rather than NBA rules and the USA seems to do just fine adjusting, no reason why golfers can't adjust a little bit as well, right?
Distance from Boston probably isnt an issue. Having a few sideshow sports be a distance away hasnt really been an issue before (see canoeing in Atlanta a decent distance away, same with Beijing on a couple sports). I agree TCC would be ideal with the history, and maybe the club would want to add the Olympics to their already amazing resume, but I can only see them going for a more modern course such as TPC Boston due to its known infrastructure, or renovating a local muni for a feel good story and to show a positive lasting effect from the games when most of the time it ends up being a burden on the city in the long run.
Also, I agree with the sentiment about getting out the city that summer. London was practically empty as people rented out their flats to tourists for princely sums and had a nice month vacation out in the countryside.