olympic-golf-course

The Olympic Golf Course in Rio just hosted its first event, ahead of the game’s reintroduction to the Olympics this August. Five men and four women, all Brazilian professionals, took part in a test event designed to see how the course handles quality players and shots. 

Miriam Nagl was the best-performing woman of the day, shooting a 4-under par 67, while former European and PGA Tour member Alexandre Rocha registered the best men’s score of the day, a 3-under par 68. 

But the day was about the course more than the players. Here’s what some of the first players to experience the Gil Hanse design thought of it…

“I heard there is going to be a lot more wind in August”

“You have a lot of chances for birdies,” Nagl told Golf Channel. “It’s in really good condition; the greens are rolling superb. Off the tee, the course is maybe not as difficult as some links courses, but I heard there is going to be a lot more wind in August.”

“It could be a nightmare”

“They get this place a little bit firmer and a little bit drier, and it’s a nightmare,” says Rocha. “It puts such a premium on distance control and iron play. It’s not terribly difficult off the tee, if I’m honest, but having said that, I played on a day with not much wind. If it gets to blow 15-20 miles per hour around here, it could be a nightmare.” 

“The greens are absolutely perfect”

“I think the course is in amazing condition right now,” says Daniel Stapff, who shot 2-under. “In the beginning, with the trouble we had to start building the course, we were a little afraid of it not being ready, but today we could see the course was in absolutely perfect condition to host any kind of tournament. The greens are absolutely perfect and the course has 18 great holes.”

The men’s Olympic golf tournament is scheduled for 11-14 August. 

The women’s Olympic golf tournament is scheduled for 17-20 August. 

What do you think of the Olympic Golf Course?

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