Well Being

in more than a century – Rio has more reasons than ever to embrace the game

Olympian Challenge – Now Rio has more reasons to love golf

1 THE OLYMPIC COURSE Where is it? 25 miles west of Rio.

The expense involved in building a venue for the first Olympic golf tournament since 1904 was widely criticized, not least by Rio’s existing clubs, which wanted to stage it themselves. Environmentalists reacted because part of the course is in the Reserva de Marapendi nature park, but the project was greenlighted on the understanding that it would become Rio’s first public golf course, a boost for a game that has been restricted to those who can afford private members’clubs.

The layout occupies gently undulating land near the ocean in the suburb of Barra da Tijuca, home to the Olympic Park, the main stadium and the athletes’village. Its 15 competition venues include swimming, cycling, tennis and athletics. The golf course has been designed by American Gil Hanse, known for, among others, the courses at Castle Stuart on the Moray Firth in Scotland and the Trump International Golf Club, Dubai.

The land has been reclaimed, with two large artificial lakes as the centerpiece for fairways, greens and thick rough, but the real challenge lies in the stiff and steady, south Atlantic winds.

Avenida das Americas, Barra da Tijuca; rio2016.com To be announced.

18 holes, par 71, 6,522m (7,133 yds); golf academy, driving range, practice area, putting green.