Changing room chat: Olympian task for big names of golf

A CONTEST is to be held to decide who designs the course in Rio de Janeiro on which golf will make its return to the Olympics after a gap of 112 years.

Some of the biggest names in the sport are likely to be involved. Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam have spoken about working together, as have Greg Norman and Lorena Ochoa.

The successful candidate or candidates, who will be announced just before Christmas, will be awarded the contract to develop the design of the course at a fixed price of $300,000 (£190,000). Participants in the contest will be asked to design a project that, amongst other things, meets International Golf Federation specifications, is capable of becoming an international centre of excellence for the sport, will benefit the local community and respects the environment.

The course is to be built at Reserva de Marapendi, about five kilometres from the athletes’ village.

After the Games, the course will be managed by a private operator with the chief purpose of promoting golf in Brazil and in South America.