Olympic Golf: Are More Formats Needed for 2020?

Golf is arguably the most versatile sport in the world. Should this be showcased in the Olympics in the future?

Most Olympic events tend to have different variations of their sport. With its early success, is there a need for a greater variety of formats for future Olympic golf events?

For example, having a par-3 tournament would be perfect. Par-3’s are arguably the toughest holes in golf due to their demand for pure accuracy. So, having a par-3 contest on sports’ biggest stage give golfers a chance to test and showcase their iron skills.

Even better, something like a par-3 event could help bring more interest into the game from sports fans all over the world. Par-3 courses are affordable, fast to play, and require only a few clubs.

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A long drive contest could also be added, as who doesn’t love the joys of a perfectly hit tee shot? The World Long Drive Championship has already built quite a fanbase over the years.

Thanks in large part to a partnership with NBC/Golf Channel, Long Drive has received a decent amount of attention. The only flaw with Long Drive in the Olympics is that it’s not likely to be made up of the guys from World Long Drive.

However, the professional tours have produced some very powerful hitters. The PGA Championship shows off the true strength of the PGA Tour pros with their long drive contest.

Imagine having guys like Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson duking it out in a test of a power? It would make for great drama, depending on how seriously the players end up taking it. With medals involved, I doubt that would be an issue either.

A putting contest is another option. Sure, to some, it might be the least exciting aspect of the game, but the putter is the scoring club. There’s a lot of excitement when a player can nail a 30+ foot putt. With a format like this in Olympic competition, it would be the ultimate test of the most important club in the bag.

Finally, a team event would not only seem to be the most realistic potential addition, but it would make the most sense as well. Sure, the Ryder Cup is the best team event in golf, but there’s nothing wrong with expanding the team aspect of the sport.

Sports fans love team play in any event. There’s a ton of rooting interests in team play and alternate shot is the ultimate team event in golf. Watching the players exchange high fives while playing for medals for their country would be a lot of fun.

I always say that golf is the most versatile sport in the world.

It’s the only sport where you can create numerous games with certain clubs. You can grab a wedge and have a pitching contest or pull out a driver and have a power competition. You can also play the game nearly anywhere. Sure, the course is where most of the joy of golf comes from, but you can basically play it on anything.

If you played golf in the streets, for example, you’d become your own Pete Dye and design your course. That’s the pure versatility of the game, and that’s what needs to be showcased in the Olympics while golf is still there.

I understand that golf just made its comeback at the Games, so I might be jumping the gun a bit. But, as mentioned, who knows how long it will last?

Next: Olympic Golf: What Changes Need To Be Made For 2020?

The golf was great in Rio, but in case golf once again drifts off into the Olympic wilderness, let’s make the best of it, and showcase all that this great sport truly has to offer.

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