Rio 2016 Organising Commitee announces Gil Hanse as Olympic golf course designer – Golf News
Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has finally announced Gil Hanse, an American architect, as the winning designer for the Olympic Golf Course for 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
There were a total of eight golf course designers shortlisted on December 2, 2011.
They were: Hawtree Ltd., Nicklaus Design, Renaissance Golf, Hanse Golf Design, Robert Trent Jones II, Thomson-Perret Golf Course Architects, Gary Player Design and Greg Norman Golf Course Design.
The Organising Committee reached Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday and after inspecting the sites for the golf course, the organizers named Hanse Golf Design, on Wednesday, to build the first ever Olympic golf course since 1904.
The announcement was made at the site of the golf course located in the neighbourhood of the Barra da Tijuca, which will host most of the Olympic events.
According to the organizing committee, the Hanse Golf Design’s proposal included a golf academy in its design that will help in promoting the sport of golf in Brazil.
Moreover, it will cater both the elite as well as amateur players, which was the main legacy objective to be met.
"I am still a little bit stunned by the whole thing," Hanse said. "We are obviously very honoured, very humbled by the selection. It was a thrill just to be in the competition with these great designers".
He added, "I'm excited that the selection panel felt that our efforts were the ones that best matched the criteria set by organizers".
"It is an amazing honour, but obviously there is a lot of responsibility that comes with it. We are excited to take on the challenge, ready to do a great job for Rio," he continued.
He concluded, "We are proud to be able to build the golf course which will perhaps host the most important competition in golf in a long time".
The game of golf was reinstated in the Olympics in 2009, and will be a guaranteed part of the 2020 Games.
However, the success of golf in the 2016 Games will decide the future of the sport in Olympics, as the voting for adding or removing it is due in 2017.
Therefore, the supporters of golf to be a part of the Olympics are trying their best to attract as many players to the sport as they can.
Tags: