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Conference 7.286::golf

Title:Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2129
Total number of notes:21499

1602.0. "Golf in the Olympics" by SAHQ::TROTTER () Thu Oct 22 1992 12:41

    The Atlanta Olympic Committee is proposing the addition of golf to the
    1996 Olympic games.  Each host city is allowed to propose an event to
    the normal Olympic venue of sports.  Interestingly they are proposing
    the golf event be held at Augusta National in Augusta Ga. site of the
    Master Tournament.
    
    The teams from each country would be made up of professionals and
    amatuers with both male and female teams.  I have read they would be 3
    person teams.  
    
    I question whether professional golfers would be willing to take the
    time out from their regular tours as the summer olympics is typically
    held during the middle of the American PGA, European and Asian Tours.
    They obviously would be playing for their respective countries but
    would recieve no direct compensation from the Olympics.  Here in the US
    we tend to measure the success of pro golfers by how much money they
    make during the regular tour and in fact reward the top 30 with a
    chance to make more money in the Tour Championship.
    
    Anyway I hope it is approved as it would be nice to visit Augusta
    National on something other than the Masters practice round.  Augusta
    National is normally closed to members from May to October to avoid
    damage to the course during the hot summer months.
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1602.1Golf Olympics?AKOCOA::BREENBill Breen Ako2-3 244-7984Thu Oct 22 1992 19:2018
    Considering that the Ryder Cup achieves only moderate general interest
    in the U.S. despite intense interest amongst the golfing public it
    would seem that only as an olympic sport would an international golf
    event get the general interest of Americans.  Of course the Olympic
    Tennis didn't get the player's interest although the general public
    seemed to treat winning a gold as a great feat.
    
    Is Olympic Golf a hopeless idea.  Or would it be better to try to
    expand the Ryder Cup along Davis Cup lines.  Problem is if it doesn't
    have the tag "Olympics" next to it the average American considers it
    just "Sports" and ignores it (unless you can bet on it).
    
    As someone earlier said, it has to get promoted by the big media and
    then EVERYBODY is interested - we are a Mecca for the Adv and
    Promotions business.
    
    btw speaking of olympics isn't this an election year - anybody notice
    who's running?  8:)
1602.3FWIW, I Dn't Like It...MRKTNG::VARLEYFri Oct 23 1992 12:5718
    I'm an avid golfer and sports fan. In general, if you can hit, it, kick
    it, catch it or throw it, I'll watch it or play it. BUT, I think golf
    in the Olympics is a mistake. In fact, I think anything in the Summer
    Olympics, other than pure track and field is a mistake. I know, I know,
    times have changed, money talks, etc. etc. Sure, I get a kick out of
    watching swimming, hoop, boxing etc., but if you want my real opinion,
    they shouldn't be there. I'll watch the golf, like most of us, but I
    don't like the idea, and it makes no sense to me.
    
    One other thought - Augusta National doesn't need the cash, and
    regardless of what the networks want, I'll be surprised if they hold
    Olympics there. Most of those cats just want to play golf with other
    "movers and shakers" and pat themselves on the back because they now
    have a black member - like they were actively courting members of
    difference for a long time... Hey, I'd like to play Augusta, but I'm
    not kidding myself that the members are anyy fun... End of soapbox.
    
    __Jack
1602.4Augusta has approved it.SAHQ::TROTTERMon Oct 26 1992 16:5015
    Jack Stephens current Chairman of the Augusta National club has
    endorsed the idea of Olympic golf at the Masters site.  Some local
    politicians are questioning the use of Augusta National on the grounds
    of their past membership record and the one minority member they
    currently have.
    
    I did read a comment that the site will host a Ladies tournament in
    1994 but there were no details beyond that one comment.
    
    I guess tournaments such as the World Cup could be viewed as
    International golf events and the Olympics would be yet another means
    of making money from sports.  Any event that pits the best golfers from
    the different tours and countries is worth watching.  Who knows maybe
    Iceland will come up with a golf team to rival the Jamacan bobsled
    team.
1602.5MRKTNG::VARLEYMon Oct 26 1992 17:008
    Well, if they gotta have golf in the Olympics, they might as well have
    it at a good course. Truthfully, my favorite golf events (in no
    sequence) are:
    -The Open
    -The U.S. Open
    -The Walker Cup
    
    __Jack