Inclusion of golf in the list of Olympic sports becomes more intriguing. In October 2009, at its next session in Copenhagen, IOC will both name a host of summer Olympics in 2016 and decide on a possible Olympic status of some sports that have submitted an application. IOC has to choose two sports that will be included in a program of the games from the following list: roller skating, baseball, softball, rugby, squash, karate and golf. Experts believe that golf is already among favourites of the «race».

An informal meeting of representatives from major international golf organizations with IOC president Jacques Rogge is an important step for promotion of golf to the Olympic program. The meeting was in May 2008 and its participants are very happy with the results.

One of them, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, said: «It was important that the IOC saw the game was united, which I think they were impressed with. We like to think we’re what they want because we’re a sport that’s universal». Indeed, «the delegation» from the world of golf was very international. In addition to Finchem, this important meeting was attended by European Tour chief George O'Grady, LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens, USGA executive director David Fay and Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson.

Noteworthy is that Chicago, along with Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro, competes among cities-candidates for holding Olympic Games in 2016. And that city is a cradle of true glory for a legendary golfer of our time Tiger Woods. It was in Chicago, where Tiger won twice in PGA Championship and four times in PGA Tour. So the two candidates with Olympic aspirations, an American city and «an international sport», create a very comfortable and logical pair!

Today, when Olympic prospects of golf become realistic, it is time to remind its history. Once, at the dawn of Olympic Games, golf already belonged to the Pantheon, which may soon include it again. Golf was played in two Olympics in succession, in 1900 and 1904. The first was held in Paris, the second – in St. Louis. However, it is necessary to note that in those days logistics of the games was not perfect, structure and concept of sport events were not clear and because of that some competing people had no idea that they took part in Olympic Games.

This is especially true for the Olympics in 1900. In that year, just in time of the Olympics, golf competitions were held in Compiègne, a town in the north of France, 60 miles from Paris. However, many historians are not against benefiting from «co-incidents». The point is that not only gentlemen, but also ladies played in those golf tournaments. And if to take exactly those competitions as an Olympic début of golf, it was the first time when women competed in the official program of Olympic Games! It is an important fact.

In 1904 the number of golfers at the Olympics increased more than by three times: 74 players. All of them were representatives of the USA and Canada. The competitions were very diverse in format, including even such «a novelty» as a tournament on putting under electric lights! Minimum two tournaments testified Olympic scale.

Olympics 1908 took place in London. It seemed, golf would make a sensation «between native walls» in Britain!.. Medals were cast already but …golf was deleted from a program of the games (sic!) because of organizational and God knows what conflicts between the Olympic Committee and the Royal & Ancient.

There were attempts to revive the Olympic golf in 1920 (unsuccessfully) and in 1936 (post-Olympic event in golf) but there were no specific effect of those efforts.

So if golf again becomes an Olympic sport in 2016, it will be not just «a news» but a unique restoration of rights. And even more: at that time we can expect that our country gets a solid status in the world of golf. We know that those Olympics will be after the football championship, which Ukraine and Poland will host. But also there will be an opening of international golf in Ukraine in such a grand year in the life of our country. In 2012 and, perhaps, just in the time of Euro-2012, Kiev Golf Club is preparing to host a prestigious tournament of European Tour on a championship Chamberlain Course.

That would be symbolic!..

References: GOLFIKA, Golf’09, www.olympic.org

On the photos:

1. Postcard from the post-Olympic event in 1936
2. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem
3. Ladies' Tour on Olympics 1900
4. Charles Sands driving, Olympics 1900