Rio Olympic course in trouble

Well that certainly didn't take long.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rio-olympic-golf-course-eerily-empty-three-months-200641105--

AFP By Sebastian Smith

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Just three months after the Olympics ended, Rio's beautiful but controversial golf course is eerily quiet with birds' squawks far louder than the whack of balls.

Built specially for the 2016 Games on what had been a nature reserve next to the beach in western Rio, the links-style course was meant to convert Brazilians to a sport they barely know and put the city on the international golfing map.

But the $19 million facility created by star US designer Gil Hanse risks turning into a white elephant instead. A payment dispute could even lead to the imminent exit of the company responsible for upkeep, raising questions over the course's survival.

Just three people were hitting balls at the driving range during a visit by AFP this week. The main course was closed for maintenance, but only a trickle of players can be expected even when it's open, employees said.

The clubhouse was not only empty but almost entirely unfurnished. In the cafe, which has no chairs, a solitary waiter and a second man there to collect green fees waited in silence for customers.

A course that merely weeks ago hosted some of the world's best golfers has no pro-shop or a pro. There is no website. Even getting there can be tricky: there are no road signs indicating the entrance.

Perhaps encouraged by the lack of human activity, the Olympic course's wild inhabitants seem happy.

Birds and butterflies flitted through the rough. A capybara -- a squat, heavy-set rodent that grows to the size of a dog -- waddled next to one of the water hazards.

- 'Soft opening' -

Unlike Rio de Janeiro's two existing private golf courses the Olympic site, run by the Brazilian Golf Confederation, is open to the public.

But few Brazilians play the game and green fees are high: $74-$82 per person for residents, and $192 for foreigner visitors.

With so few locals playing and no plan in place for attracting foreigners, funding is already a problem.

Neil Cleverly, the Briton who built the course and now manages the upkeep, says the company he works for, Progolf, has not been paid for two months.

"What happens when we run out of gas or diesel? We've been close," Cleverly said. "None of us know if there'll be a job for us in December."

A source close to the company who asked not to be identified said Progolf has been given no contract by the confederation and, having been forced to foot the $82,000 monthly maintenance operation out of its own pocket, is set to pull out.

Maybe "next month," the source said.

If that happens, the confederation would quickly have to find expert replacements before damage set in.

Without maintenance, "the golf course will die," the source said. "It could take four weeks, three weeks."

Paulo Pacheco, president of the golf confederation, said in emailed comments that Progolf is replaceable and that Rio will eventually have "one of the best and most iconic courses in the world."

According to Pacheco, an average of 40 people a day play. However, two employees interviewed at the course said that usually fewer come.

The confederation chief conceded that use of the course is "quite modest."

However, "this was the plan. We're having a soft opening to give time to carry out the investments."

- 'Frustration' -

"It's so frustrating for us to get as far as we did. A lot of people said you're never going to do it," he said, recalling the challenge of building in Brazil.

"I'm disappointed and it's mixed up with a lot of frustration."

There was also dismay among the handful of Brazilian retirees who'd come to practice.

"The course is spectacular," Roberto Maueler, 61, said, but "people are really worried."

"We have a movement of golfers trying to pressure the authorities and the confederation to keep the course going," he said.

Luiz Villaboim, 64, also praised the course but criticized the lack of even basic features. "It seems that nothing has been done for the course since the Olympics," he said.

Pacheco asked for patience, promising a restaurant in 120 days and a worldwide marketing campaign. "We're starting from zero and it's a huge project," he said.

I knew it....

The Brazilian way of laissez faire

Well everyone knew this was inevitable.

Former Olympic host cities have abandoned Olympic venues all over the place....

Apparently only 18 people in Brazil play golf anyway...

Probably make a fine wildlife sanctuary.

Almost as useless as the World Cup stadium they built in the middle of the Amazon. Time to give major competitions back to countries with the existing infrastructure.

Not a surprise at all.

Almost as useless as the World Cup stadium they built in the middle of the Amazon. Time to give major competitions back to countries with the existing infrastructure.

jeez..how boring would that be, but golf in the olympics was always a dud. Should be scrapped. The only thing that made it fun...it was in Brazil

I'm sure the IOC has a few bucks laying around...

History is littered with events held in places they probably shouldn't have been, add this to the list

Not surprised. The IOC really needs to rethink having the Olympics in cities that need all new infrastructure in order to host. They always just end up in shambles. What a waste of resources.

I'm sure the IOC has a few bucks laying around...

Yeah in personal Swiss bank accounts for the committee members.

#notsurprised

wow, this is shocking, smh. least everyone can be happy they inspired millions of kids to play the game of golf.

Totally expected, and right on schedule. Anyone that couldn't see this coming is...well, pretty ignorant.

I think a summer Olympics in Hawaii would be great.

They've already got plenty of hotel rooms and good airports.

Bermuda might work.

Considering how every host nation tends to lose their collective asses financially....maybe find a permanent home. Kinda like the UN for sports.

But that would eliminate a lot of bribery and the IOC would never go for it....

Its on very prime real eastate. Wouldnt be surprised if some investors come to save the day...as long as they can develop a lot of condos on it as well.

No way that was the plan all along ; )

Want to feel depressed?

Google image search "Olympic venues then and now"

It looks like a scene from "Life After People"....

Want to feel depressed?

 

Google image search "Olympic venues then and now"

 

It looks like a scene from "Life After People"....

Perfect post. A picture is worth a thousand words. The Olympics is a political and economic event masquerading as a world wide sporting contest. The IOC is a front organization that only serves to enrich its members by exploiting the hopes, dreams, and resources of citizens of economically desperate countries. The IOC's mission statement is a farce and they have no noble intent. The only question is, when will the world come to its senses and stop feeding the beast? Sadly, not until world chaos interrupts this sad spectacle of human exploitation.

You mean the olympics didn't grow the game in poor countries going through recessions? That's unbelievable

I think a summer Olympics in Hawaii would be great.

 

They've already got plenty of hotel rooms and good airports.

 

Bermuda might work.

 

Considering how every host nation tends to lose their collective asses financially....maybe find a permanent home. Kinda like the UN for sports.

 

But that would eliminate a lot of bribery and the IOC would never go for it....

I have seen some people make the case for a permanent home. That as you say probably makes the most sense.

As long as there are corrupt top-heavy countries and dictatorships looking to host for vanity purposes the IOC will be fine though. And there still seems to be enough.

LA in 1984 wasn't any indication...

I think a summer Olympics in Hawaii would be great.

 

They've already got plenty of hotel rooms and good airports.

 

Bermuda might work.

 

Considering how every host nation tends to lose their collective asses financially....maybe find a permanent home. Kinda like the UN for sports.

 

But that would eliminate a lot of bribery and the IOC would never go for it....

I don't think Hawaii is nearly big enough for a summer games. The entire population of Bermuda wouldn't fill an Olympic-sized stadium.

I like the idea of a rota; e.g.

LA/Sydney/Berlin/Beijing for summer

Vancouver/Nagano/Albertville for winter

But now the golf channel can intro the winners as" Olympic Gold Medalist."........so far it is proceeding just about exactly the way a high

percentage of us thought it would.....so sad and such a waste

I think a summer Olympics in Hawaii would be great.

 

They've already got plenty of hotel rooms and good airports.

 

Bermuda might work.

 

Considering how every host nation tends to lose their collective asses financially....maybe find a permanent home. Kinda like the UN for sports.

 

But that would eliminate a lot of bribery and the IOC would never go for it....

 

I don't think Hawaii is nearly big enough for a summer games. The entire population of Bermuda wouldn't fill an Olympic-sized stadium.

 

I like the idea of a rota; e.g.

LA/Sydney/Berlin/Beijing for summer

Vancouver/Nagano/Albertville for winter

You could fill the stadiums with the people flying in to attend...provided you can house the tourists.

I've a ton of friends in Atlanta and most of them left town for the Olympics.

Now that Fidel has kicked the bucket.....Havana can host.

I think a summer Olympics in Hawaii would be great.

 

They've already got plenty of hotel rooms and good airports.

 

Bermuda might work.

 

Considering how every host nation tends to lose their collective asses financially....maybe find a permanent home. Kinda like the UN for sports.

 

But that would eliminate a lot of bribery and the IOC would never go for it....

 

I don't think Hawaii is nearly big enough for a summer games. The entire population of Bermuda wouldn't fill an Olympic-sized stadium.

 

I like the idea of a rota; e.g.

LA/Sydney/Berlin/Beijing for summer

Vancouver/Nagano/Albertville for winter

 

You could fill the stadiums with the people flying in to attend...provided you can house the tourists.

 

I've a ton of friends in Atlanta and most of them left town for the Olympics.

 

Now that Fidel has kicked the bucket.....Havana can host.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick_the_bucket

Athens should be made the permanent home with every country contributing to the event costs.

Done

Blame Rory.

I'm sure the IOC has a few bucks laying around...

Yes, in the pockets of their executives.

Athens should be made the permanent home with every country contributing to the event costs.

Done

How would that make the IOC rich? If it increased their salaries they would jump on it.

what a shocker.... I feel bad for Hanse ( spelling) to put that much work into something you know isnt going to live ....games should never again be held in a third world place.... just hurts the games overall i think... it has become a farse and the public knows it.. the IOC are dining on the golden goose as we speak