The Olympics

[bobfoster]

I hate to say it, but I think golf in the Olympics is really stupid. It just makes no sense to me. There's all manner of weirdness and lawsuits about who gets to play. And the format is really strange. And it will not even remotely be a test of the best. Someone will win a "Gold Medal". 

 

Will it matter at all? 

 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Olympics. Just don't see how golf has any place there. 

Edited July 23, 2024 by bobfoster

[golferdude54]

Rio was a really bad choice for reintroducing golf into the Olympics after not having been in it since 1904. Tokyo, if the pandemic never happened, would've been a great venue to bring it back.

 

This strikes me as a "Bryson isn't playing in it so this tournament sucks" kind of vibe, given how strong he played in the majors this year other than the Open Championship but not being fairly ranked by OWGR/Olympic Golf Rankings due to his LIV association.

 

 

Edited July 23, 2024 by golferdude54

[iBanesto]

2 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I hate to say it, but I think golf in the Olympics is really stupid. It just makes no sense to me. There's all manner of weirdness and lawsuits about who gets to play. And the format is really strange. And it will not even remotely be a test of the best. Someone will win a "Gold Medal". 

 

Will it matter at all? 

 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Olympics. Just don't see how golf has any place there. 

 

I heard an argument saying if the Olympic gold is not the pinnacle achievement of a sport, then the sport should not be in the games.

 

E.g. golf, tennis.

 

[MattyO1984]

We are away on holiday when the Olympic Golf is on. I honestly, will 100% not go away on holiday when The Masters or The Open is on. I would probably go away when the US Open and PGA are on but would be annoyed at missing them. I am not going to be bothered at all missing the Olympic Golf. 

[Damo75]

Why is the format strange?  72 holes of strokeplay?

[andor]

There's an opportunity to do something a bit different there, other than another generic 72 hole stroke play event.

 

Stableford anyone?

 

[bobfoster]

3 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

I heard an argument saying if the Olympic gold is not the pinnacle achievement of a sport, then the sport should not be in the games.

 

E.g. golf, tennis.

 

That is exactly what I think. (As someone that is into both golf and tennis.)

[SnowbirdTom]

I skip the Olympics in it's entirety.  Not interested in the whole which country won the most medals thingie because too many athletes aren't actually competing under their native country's flag anyways.

[dropkicked]

Break dancing is an olympic competition.......

 

The games are a joke.

 

 

[Carson33]

4 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

I heard an argument saying if the Olympic gold is not the pinnacle achievement of a sport, then the sport should not be in the games.

 

E.g. golf, tennis.

 

This is a good perspective. I just find it strange to think of a golfer as an “Olympic Athlete”.

[Ghostwedge]

Pretty much lost me with the Pro's playing any Olympic sport. Many of these athletes had their  chance when amateurs. 

[bcjim]

34 minutes ago, Ghostwedge said:

Pretty much lost me with the Pro's playing any Olympic sport. Many of these athletes had their  chance when amateurs. 

Team sports,  sure.  Should be Ams.  Things like T&F would be a joke though with only ams and there would be no way to police it anyway. Even when they were "amateurs" they were getting appearance money and the like for big competitions. And now with nil, there are no ams of any kind. You'd have HS kids. 

[PJE]

It would be a lot more interesting if it was a team competition with elimination matches over two weeks. Essentially like the NCAA basketball tournament. 
And, I’d say amateurs only. 
 

[Ferguson]

I do not support sending professionals.

 

Send the best college players and provide them a life experience.   

[gvogel]

Olympics should be for sports that we rarely get engaged with - track and field, swimming, white water canoeing, rowing and yachting.  Golf and tennis already have 4 majors each year.  I'm OK with badminton, and I think that squash should be included.  Break dancing?  Have the Olympic Committee lost their minds?

 

I will not be paying any attention to Olympic golf, and I was surprised to learn that Xander won gold last time.  i didn't watch.

[bscinstnct]

8 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I hate to say it, but I think golf in the Olympics is really stupid. It just makes no sense to me. There's all manner of weirdness and lawsuits about who gets to play. And the format is really strange. And it will not even remotely be a test of the best. Someone will win a "Gold Medal". 

 

Will it matter at all? 

 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Olympics. Just don't see how golf has any place there. 

 

 

It won’t “matter” much but, even with all the criticism, the Olympics is very cool and the athletes especially have an awesome time. The experience for them being immersed in the middle of such a huge gathering of top athletes in so many sports is really a lifetime experience 
 

Of The guys that are going, Xander, Scheff, Wyndham, and Collin, 

 

I’m sure  Xander and CM are stoked to go. CM is young and loves food so him and his gal will have a blast. Xander too. 
 

Hope the same for SS and WC. 

[tiderider]

it's a bloated, wasteful event that most cities now don't want to bid on (summer version) ... it's always been at least a bit corrupt with its process, though since it's getting harder to have someone host the summer version, not sure how stable/dependable the corruption is ... they won't do anything about doping ... the affordability for the public, especially the local population, is non-existent ... they're adding idiotic events like golf, flag football and breakdancing ... judges can be overtly corrupt and biased (see boxing) ... it's a joke and a five-ring circus ... 

[bscinstnct]

18 minutes ago, tiderider said:

it's a bloated, wasteful event that most cities now don't want to bid on (summer version) ... it's always been at least a bit corrupt with its process, though since it's getting harder to have someone host the summer version, not sure how stable/dependable the corruption is ... they won't do anything about doping ... the affordability for the public, especially the local population, is non-existent ... they're adding idiotic events like golf, flag football and breakdancing ... judges can be overtly corrupt and biased (see boxing) ... it's a joke and a five-ring circus ... 

 

 

All true!

 

But I don’t care about any of that 🤣

 

When I put on the 📺 I see tons

 of athletes that have devoted and sacrificed it all to be there. And stuff you’d never see/watch except at the Olympics. 
 

They are dialed in, giving it all they got, and are in “kill mode”

 

That’s what it’s all about in sports. 

[Fairways_and_Greens]

9 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I hate to say it, but I think golf in the Olympics is really stupid. It just makes no sense to me. There's all manner of weirdness and lawsuits about who gets to play. And the format is really strange. And it will not even remotely be a test of the best. Someone will win a "Gold Medal". 

 

Will it matter at all? 

 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Olympics. Just don't see how golf has any place there. 

Would love it if they made it a 2-man team competition. 

[Dave230]

9 hours ago, bobfoster said:

I hate to say it, but I think golf in the Olympics is really stupid. It just makes no sense to me. There's all manner of weirdness and lawsuits about who gets to play. And the format is really strange. And it will not even remotely be a test of the best. Someone will win a "Gold Medal". 

 

Will it matter at all? 

 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Olympics. Just don't see how golf has any place there. 

It means quite a bit more to smaller countries, it doesn't matter that much if an American golfer wins one of America's 100 medals at the Games.

 

It does matter if Rory McIlroy or Shane Lowry win Ireland's 12th gold medal in their history.

 

If Joaquin Niemann wins for Chile, that's the 3rd gold medal in their history.

[Dave230]

4 hours ago, andor said:

There's an opportunity to do something a bit different there, other than another generic 72 hole stroke play event.

 

Stableford anyone?

 

Definitely a missed chance to have a team event, not only because Lowry and McIlroy would rip it up for Ireland.

[subrew]

5 hours ago, andor said:

There's an opportunity to do something a bit different there, other than another generic 72 hole stroke play event.

 

Stableford anyone?

 

 

Four person team, two men, two women.  MM, FF, and MF better ball and four ball, plus some singles matches.  Do it like the LPGA International Crown, with 8 countries represented (or 12 or 16 etc..)

Edited July 23, 2024 by subrew

[Lobby]

Bunch of curmudgeons here

 

I would be thrilled to represent my country at the Olympics. And I’m very happy for all the athletes who’ve been selected   What an honor!

 

Now I wait for someone to start a more positive thread on Olympics golf

[Titleist99]

Just to add a little levity to the proceeding.... I can make a case that golf is the most important sport in the Olympics seeing as how 90% of the athletes will refer to our game once their Olympic career is over.

 

Most will look back and regret not getting a lesson from Xander or Scottie ......  🙂

[billyspan]

50 minutes ago, Fairways_and_Greens said:

Would love it if they made it a 2-man team competition. 

Would LOVE true alternate-shot...

[bscinstnct]

55 minutes ago, Lobby said:

Bunch of curmudgeons here

 

I would be thrilled to represent my country at the Olympics. And I’m very happy for all the athletes who’ve been selected   What an honor!

 

Now I wait for someone to start a more positive thread on Olympics golf

 

“positive thread”

 

On wrx, thats the epitome of an oxymoron 

 

🤣🍻

[bladehunter]

I agree OP.  It’s a garbage event really. More doping than not.  And depending on who your world position  is , you can get away with it. 
 

im against sending professionals in golf.  If they’re going to have golf it should be ams that have played in qualifiers to earn it. Not ams whose parents pay for them to be world travelers and amateurs in name only.  Give the small guy a shot too.  Run it like the us am . Local qualifiers . Etc. I’d watch that.  I won’t worry about watching Wyndham Clark.  🤣.  I’d rather eat paint in the hot sun.  

[mshills]

2 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

All true!

 

But I don’t care about any of that 🤣

 

When I put on the 📺 I see tons

 of athletes that have devoted and sacrificed it all to be there. And stuff you’d never see/watch except at the Olympics. 
 

They are dialed in, giving it all they got, and are in “kill mode”

 

That’s what it’s all about in sports. 

Agree 100%! 
 

What I find silly is the addition of sports for which an Olympic medal is not the pinnacle of the sport AND there is already robust international competition. Golf, tennis, soccer (I love all three sports and played them at a reasonable level earlier in life) are the most obvious ones that don’t fit. Basketball I’m fine with because the international team competition is distinct enough from the NBA that the Olympics are still interesting. 
 

Wrestling, track & field, swimming, weight lifting, gymnastics, water polo….that’s where it’s at! Team USA could have an historic Olympics in wrestling!

[Hawkeye77]

2 hours ago, Lobby said:

Bunch of curmudgeons here

 

I would be thrilled to represent my country at the Olympics. And I’m very happy for all the athletes who’ve been selected   What an honor!

 

Now I wait for someone to start a more positive thread on Olympics golf

“End Golf In The Olympics” would be a positive thread title but seems redundant with this one going. 
 

When I read above about break dancing I thought someone was just joking about what I used to call the toilet paper gymnastics event - LOL, no ….. “Breaking” is in there. Ballroom dancing, cheerleading and dance team squads next? What a joke. 
 

Oh, and go Spencer Lee!

[mshills]

43 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Oh, and go Spencer Lee!

Murrysville’s finest! Awesome seeing him back healthy and having fun again since his body isn’t killing him. 
 

Team USA has a legitimate chance at 3 or even 4 golds (Lee, Dake, Snyder, Brooks IMO.) Not predicting that will happen (that would be silly), but such a remarkable feat really could happen this year.