Golf To Become an Olympic Sport?

[I Heart Gambling Online]

They already have ping pong, er, table tennis, so why not give a real sport a try? According to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, golf should be an Olympic sport.

"While there remain questions to be answered and issues to be resolved, I believe the time is now right to move forward," Finchem said via a blog posting on the tour's Web site. "The LPGA and the European Tour have previously indicated their support for Olympic golf. Also, the R&A, the USGA and the PGA of America are evaluating the possibility of Olympic golf.

"While golf is a developed sport in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and some other countries, it is only a minor sport in many countries, including some of the larger developing countries, like China and India. If golf were an Olympic sport, the profile and importance of the game would increase, generating additional interest in people playing golf and also generating funding from both national Olympic committees and individual governments for the development of golf and young golfers."

Finchem went on to note that schedules would have to be adjusted in order to accomodate the players who want to participate and that the earliest he sees golf becoming an Olympic sport is 2016.

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- Bodog Beat

[Mike0715]

What have been the conditions for other sports to be entered into the Olympics? I remember when I was a teenager, the debate about America's "Dream Team" for basketball...if pros could enter. They did and they won...if I remember well.

So where does that leave golfers? It seems to me it's not popular in some countries simply due to the money to invest in it. So who gets to play? In the U.S. they play for money or charity...who will qualify?

Just curious...I'd love to watch it be part of the Olympics, it's a great sport. But those are my questions for now.

[Cutler]

I can definitely see it being an Olympic sport. I have some of the same questions as Mike though. I think golf has great potential to be part of the Olympics, and that will definitely increase it's popularity, which isn't a bad thing.

[Mike0715]

I would love to see it become "anyone's game" rather than being available to only those who have a certain economic advantage. A friend in college was learning because it was what people with money and influence do. Which is senseless to me...where does that get fun?

If it can have a wider exposure it can be appreciated and find new talent from many more people, from different walks of life.

[Cutler]

I too hate that golf is seen as something that only the rich can play. I just wish that more people could play, and I really wish that it was viewed more widely as a sport. I just know too many people that don't even consider golf to be a sport.