This August, 120 of the world’s finest male and female golfers will tee it up at Le Golf National, Paris, to compete for Olympic Gold. It’s a once-every-four-years chance for players to represent their country and stand atop an Olympic podium.
Both men’s and women’s events have been growing steadily in importance and stature since the sport’s return to the Olympic schedule in 2016. Much like it has in tennis, the significance of Olympic Gold has increased in the minds of both the golf-viewing public and the players themselves.
Nelly Korda and Xander Schauffele, two recent Major winners, go into the tournaments in Paris as defending champions but a host of star players from across the globe will be hoping to deny them the chance to pick up second Golds. It’s set to be a thrilling couple of weeks.
GOLF’S OLYMPIC HISTORY
At the Paris Olympics of 1900, Charles Sands of the USA won the first men’s Olympic golf tournament with scores of 82 and 85. Incredibly, there was also a separate handicap event won by another American, Albert Lambert. The 10-handicapper only entered because he happened to be in the city on a business trip!
1900 was the first Olympic Games that included women, and there was a women’s golf tournament. But few (if any) of those competing in the event realised its significance. Margaret Abbott from the USA was visiting Paris with her mother and both entered a nine-hole golf event that they believed to be the Ladies’ Championship of Paris. Margaret won but it wasn’t until after her death that it came to light that she had, in fact, been America’s first ever female Olympic champion.
There was a men’s tournament at the St Louis Olympics of 1904 but then golf disappeared off the schedule from 1908 following a dispute between the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the Olympic committee concerning player eligibility.
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A GRAND ESTATE
Goodwood in West Sussex may be steeped in ancestral history, but about 20 years ago it elected to take its golf offering down a very different route...
The Tees Valley
Jeremy Ellwood potters about along the famous north-east river for a couple of days, basing himself at Rockliffe Hall, one of England's finest golf hotels
The Western Cape
Along with its stunning scenery, vineyards and welcoming climate, this region is home to a wealth of fine courses
Murcar Links
The 20-mile stretch of coastline northwards from Aberdeen is home to no fewer than four links in the Golf Monthly Top 100.
How to play the chip-and-run
The chip-and-run is one of the most useful shots in anyone’s short-game arsenal but most golfers don’t use it enough.
Is your angle of attack correct?
You can add serious distance to your drives if you get the upward angle of attack into impact correct
LEARN FROM THE BEST!
Star players' signature shots... and how you can play them
Confessions of a golf club fitter
Is everything always as it seems in the customfitting bay? We ask someone in the know how you can avoid some of the more unscrupulous practices
Dining at the TOP TABLE
Aaron Rai's Wyndham Championship victory has elevated his career to a new level. But, as he tells David Facey, he's taking nothing for granted...
Is golf too expensive?
The cost of membership, greens fees, gear and more can give our game a bad rap. Is that fair or are there more affordable ways to play? Michael Weston investigates...
