I have just attended my first Men’s Olympic Games Golf event at the spectacular Albatros course at Le Golf National, which is famous for hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup. It is 124 years since golf was first recognised as an Olympic Sport in the Paris Games in 1900. It was subsequently dropped due to a lack of international participants. I remember my father telling me, that it was always one of his regrets, that golf was not an Olympic sport when he was in his prime as an amateur.
When managing Seve Ballesteros in Spain in the early 2000s, I recall the campaign to get golf back on the Olympic roster. The efforts made by people such as Emma Villacieros, President of the Spanish Golf Association, George O’Grady from the European Tour and Peter Dawson from the R&A finally came to fruition in 2009, when golf was reinstated for the 2016 games in Rio. They can be very proud of this achievement, and can now witness what a special and spectacular event it has become, in such a short time.
The atmosphere in Paris evoked memories of my time playing amateur team golf for Ireland and participating in the Walker Cup, where a large contingent of national fans came out to support their country’s representatives.
Representing your country is the proudest moment for all athletes and doing so at the Olympics is the pinnacle of that experience. The players wear their country’s colours proudly without any commercial logos. They respond, wave, and touch hands with the crowds, many draped in their national flags. They thrive on that old-fashioned national pride feeling the way they did as youngsters coming up and representing their countries. It had a completely different feel and level of tension to any other golf events including the Majors.
This struck me, especially at the tennis semi-final match, which I attended with my brother Marty. We sat behind the Djokovic box. Novak’s parents, wife and daughter were waving their country flags and cheering him on constantly during the match. The emotional reaction from Novak Djokovic after winning gold for Serbia and Scottie Scheffler’s passionate response to his birdie putt on the 17th hole, along with the tears he shed during the medal presentation, truly set the Olympics apart from all others. It also demonstrated the extremely high level of pressure felt by the players playing for their countries. This was especially noticeable with Rahm and Rory on the back nine when medals were in sight.
The stadium golf course was packed with crowds that matched the Ryder Cup. There was no booze for sale anywhere. The multitudes, including many kids with their families, were impeccably behaved and respectful. Everybody was just happy to share the pleasure of being there. It was a pure joy to behold. No larger louts, no music, no ‘get in the hole’ loudmouths just old-fashioned appreciation for the game and the players representing their countries. The way it was always meant to be.
It struck me, having experienced this, that it may not be such a bad idea for the next Ryder Cup in New York, to go alcohol-free. I believe that would help to contain the new wave of radical fans who wouldn’t know how to spell the word integrity or respect for the game! I am not optimistic that this will come to pass, as the mighty dollar will win out again..!
Even though the field is limited to 60 players, the crème de la creme of world golf was battling it out. All with a different sense of purpose and desire. It was not about the money but about their country and their people. How beautifully refreshing that atmosphere was to feel at a golf event. Olympic Games Golf is now in its second edition, and the fact that it is played only once every 4 years makes it, in reality, golf’s new fifth Major.
It was also a special occasion for our family as my son Jaime was on the Irish Hockey squad and the first Carr to attend an Olympics for Ireland. Happy days.
Well done, to the proud medal winners.