Golf in Olympics

Golf in Olympics News Update 22/11/09

Golf Direct is one of many golfing organisations that support the effort to have golf restored to the Olympic Games. For the past two years, we have fully supported the efforts of the R&A, PGA Tour, European PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, Augusta National, and USGA – all of whom have joined together through the newly formed Olympic Golf Committee of the International Golf Federation (IGF) – to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to add golf to the 2016 Summer Olympiad. 

Much was accomplished in 2008 to promote golf in the Olympics. Callaway Golf's George Fellows and other Callaway executives helped drive the awareness of the Olympic golf movement throughout the year, and our staff professionals joined with us in making it known that all of golf was united in this effort.  Phil Mickelson spoke about it during his press conference at the 2008 Masters; Johnny Miller wrote about it in the Callaway Golf Magazine; Ernie Els, Annika Sorenstam, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and others took the message out on every tour in every part of the globe.  In November 2008, the Olympic Golf Committee, led by Peter Dawson of the R&A and Ty Votaw of the PGA Tour, made a formal presentation to the International Olympic Committee Programme Commission in Lausanne, Switzerland.  The presentation prominently featured the support being given by Callaway staff professionals who were joined by other great golfers, including Tiger Woods.  In December, Callaway Staff Professional Annika Sorenstam was selected along with Jack Nicklaus to serve as a Global Ambassador on behalf of the IGF’s Olympic effort.

While much was accomplished in 2008, there is no doubt that 2009 will be the critical year.  The IGF is currently completing its official filing on behalf of golf, and the Programme Commission will make a recommendation to the IOC in the middle of the year.  It is expected that the IOC will make its decision in October during its general session in Copenhagen, Denmark.  

What can you do to help?  The simplest and best thing all of us can do is to build awareness inside and outside the golf industry.  It is important that we educate our business partners both on the supply side and on the sales side, and convert them into active advocates.  This should be an easy task since all of our business partners, everywhere in the world, will benefit if golf is included in the Olympics.  Whether it is a supplier conference, a PGA Section meeting, or a sales call, it would be helpful to have the Callaway representatives affirmatively bring up the Olympics and engage the discussion.  You can also discuss the topic with your golfing friends and acquaintances.  The more “buzz” we can build between now and the IOC vote in October, the better our chances.  Please make every effort to show your support for including golf in the 2016 Olympics.  Exposing more of the world to the game of golf through the Olympics is a goal that everyone associated with this great sport should embrace.  


Attached are some interesting talking points about golf and the Olympics.


WHY DOES GOLF BELONG IN THE OLYMPICS?

• An estimated 60 million people of all ages and genders play golf in 120 countries around the world
• Golf participation in Asia is growing at a rate of 15 percent a year, with over 7 million golfers today
• The first golf course in China was built in 1985; today there are more than 300 courses in Chin
• In Canada, approximately 20 percent of the population (6 million people) plays golf on a regular basis
• In Eastern Europe there were only 10 golf courses in 1992; today there are more than 150
• At the 2008 World Amateur Team Championships in Australia, there were teams from 70 countries and five continents
• The World Amateur Golf Rankings, based on over 750 amateur tournaments worldwide, feature over 1,000 players from 46 countries
• Professional golf is televised weekly in 216 countries, translated into 35 languages, reaching more than 500 million households
• In 2007 on the LPGA, Mexico (Ochoa) won 8 times and Norway (Pettersen) won five times
• In 2008, half of the LPGA’s members were from a country other than the U.S
• On the PGA Tour in 2008, Fiji (Singh) won 3 tournaments and the largest monetary prize amount in professional golf
• The European PGA Tour’s “Race to Dubai” in 2009 will feature 53 tournaments in 27 countries
• The Top Ten ranked male golfers come from 7 different countries:  Fiji, the U.S., Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Colombia and South Africa

• Golf is estimated to generate approximately $150 Billion for charities annually on a worldwide basis
• Charitable giving associated with the U.S. golf industry alone was estimated to be $3.5 Billion in 2005 (includes estimates of charitable group golf outings as well as activities associated with professional tours)
• Every member of the International Golf Federation, every professional tour, and every governing body contributes to junior golf and youth initiatives
• The World Golf Foundation’s First Tee Program has nearly 3 million young participants at 207 chapters in 500 facilities in five countries on three continents

• The Rules of Golf were first compiled in 1899 – about the same time as the Olympic Charter
• The Rules of Golf include not only the rules of the game, but a guide on how to behave while playing – a code of behavior and ethics
• At the Olympics, how the athletes conduct themselves before, during and after the competition is as important as the results.