Rio Olympic course in trouble

[VNutz]

That's what they get for out-corrupting Chicago. ;)

[ExProGoingBack]

The IOC is out for themselves. Use others money to put on the games ... build infrastructure.... take the revenues... then see ya. Why nobody brings this to a higher level of attention is beyond me.

[CMCSGolf]

I was down there in October and played the course. It is fantastic and in gorgeous shape. However, I also talked with the GM and he didn't know much about golf. Obviously the Olympics has a terrible track record, but there is no reason this course can't succeed as a tourist destination. I know no one goes to Rio for golf, but people would be willing to pay a couple hundred for a one off round and the experience.

 

That being said, the clubhouse had no appliances of kitchen equipment. The pro show was literally a guy with a folding table and a calculator. They thing having 50 rounds booked for a week is good. They just have no concept of what a course should be. If it was run by Billy Casper Golf or Kemper sports, this would not happen. It is not inevitable that the course will fail, purely a management issue. Will it grow the game in Brazil, probably not. But it can certainly be profitable...

[Medic]

I was down there in October and played the course. It is fantastic and in gorgeous shape. However, I also talked with the GM and he didn't know much about golf. Obviously the Olympics has a terrible track record, but there is no reason this course can't succeed as a tourist destination. I know no one goes to Rio for golf, but people would be willing to pay a couple hundred for a one off round and the experience.

 

That being said, the clubhouse had no appliances of kitchen equipment. The pro show was literally a guy with a folding table and a calculator. They thing having 50 rounds booked for a week is good. They just have no concept of what a course should be. If it was run by Billy Casper Golf or Kemper sports, this would not happen. It is not inevitable that the course will fail, purely a management issue. Will it grow the game in Brazil, probably not. But it can certainly be profitable...

 

Got to ask - what about the security there? Have read online and off that Rio has a MAJOR issue with crime and it is especially dangerous for tourist who accidentally wonder into the wrong areas.

[minteq]

I was down there in October and played the course. It is fantastic and in gorgeous shape. However, I also talked with the GM and he didn't know much about golf. Obviously the Olympics has a terrible track record, but there is no reason this course can't succeed as a tourist destination. I know no one goes to Rio for golf, but people would be willing to pay a couple hundred for a one off round and the experience.

 

That being said, the clubhouse had no appliances of kitchen equipment. The pro show was literally a guy with a folding table and a calculator. They thing having 50 rounds booked for a week is good. They just have no concept of what a course should be. If it was run by Billy Casper Golf or Kemper sports, this would not happen. It is not inevitable that the course will fail, purely a management issue. Will it grow the game in Brazil, probably not. But it can certainly be profitable...

 

Got to ask - what about the security there? Have read online and off that Rio has a MAJOR issue with crime and it is especially dangerous for tourist who accidentally wonder into the wrong areas.

 

Having been there dozens of times, and the last time the day before the Olympics, I can answer this, Barra area where the golf course is safer than most of Rio. I have never had an issues there in my 12+ years of going there. That being said, you don't walk around the alleys in downtown Rio after midnight, and try and not be out by your self or draw attention you might have money.

 

It is a very friendly country, very welcoming, I have had great experiences there, and cannot wait to visit it again. I have been all over the country and have had positive experiences. Has there been some bad things happen, sure, but nothing worse than you would find in NYC or LA.

[GeorgeHWB]

Gil Hanse has got to be sick that he gave up years of his life for that course. And when he was announced as the course architect it was such a big deal. The other big boy designers were jealous. These days they are surely glad they dodged a bullet.

[CMCSGolf]

I was down there in October and played the course. It is fantastic and in gorgeous shape. However, I also talked with the GM and he didn't know much about golf. Obviously the Olympics has a terrible track record, but there is no reason this course can't succeed as a tourist destination. I know no one goes to Rio for golf, but people would be willing to pay a couple hundred for a one off round and the experience.

 

That being said, the clubhouse had no appliances of kitchen equipment. The pro show was literally a guy with a folding table and a calculator. They thing having 50 rounds booked for a week is good. They just have no concept of what a course should be. If it was run by Billy Casper Golf or Kemper sports, this would not happen. It is not inevitable that the course will fail, purely a management issue. Will it grow the game in Brazil, probably not. But it can certainly be profitable...

 

Got to ask - what about the security there? Have read online and off that Rio has a MAJOR issue with crime and it is especially dangerous for tourist who accidentally wonder into the wrong areas.

 

Having been there dozens of times, and the last time the day before the Olympics, I can answer this, Barra area where the golf course is safer than most of Rio. I have never had an issues there in my 12+ years of going there. That being said, you don't walk around the alleys in downtown Rio after midnight, and try and not be out by your self or draw attention you might have money.

 

It is a very friendly country, very welcoming, I have had great experiences there, and cannot wait to visit it again. I have been all over the country and have had positive experiences. Has there been some bad things happen, sure, but nothing worse than you would find in NYC or LA.

 

I would agree with this. I was there for 8 days and never felt unsafe. If you stay in the tourist areas on the beaches it is well lit and very crowded. I took an Uber down to the course and it was easy and safe. In the parts of town I was in, it didn't feel any less safe than a US city.

[Jsjones]

Gil Hanse has got to be sick that he gave up years of his life for that course. And when he was announced as the course architect it was such a big deal. The other big boy designers were jealous. These days they are surely glad they dodged a bullet.

He got his money and recognition leading up to the Olympics. He may be personally disappointed, but can't blame the architect for the course failing in this situation. I'm 99.9% sure he knows this too. He probably could care less acfually

[GeorgeHWB]

Gil Hanse has got to be sick that he gave up years of his life for that course. And when he was announced as the course architect it was such a big deal. The other big boy designers were jealous. These days they are surely glad they dodged a bullet.

He got his money and recognition leading up to the Olympics. He may be personally disappointed, but can't blame the architect for the course failing in this situation. I'm 99.9% sure he knows this too. He probably could care less acfually

 

No one is blaming Gil Hanse for the pending closure. Simply put, no architect wants to see one of their courses go under. And certainly not one so fast when Gil invested so much of his time for this course. He moved to Brazil to oversee the construction.

 

You think he couldn't care less? Wow.

[Jsjones]

Gil Hanse has got to be sick that he gave up years of his life for that course. And when he was announced as the course architect it was such a big deal. The other big boy designers were jealous. These days they are surely glad they dodged a bullet.

He got his money and recognition leading up to the Olympics. He may be personally disappointed, but can't blame the architect for the course failing in this situation. I'm 99.9% sure he knows this too. He probably could care less acfually

 

No one is blaming Gil Hanse for the pending closure. Simply put, no architect wants to see one of their courses go under. And certainly not one so fast when Gil invested so much of his time for this course. He moved to Brazil to oversee the construction.

 

You think he couldn't care less? Wow.

cause he was paid a lot of money to do so. And the great thing is he accomplished what he set out to do. Made an awesome course that didn't disappoint for the Olympics. I understand this was one of his babies and I understand your point of view, but if you're a successful business person you take that course as a huge win for him. The Olympics was played on his course and it went great. Remember, the course wasn't the story, the Olympics was. And he designed the course for it. Do you see my point of view?

[GeorgeHWB]

Do you see my point of view?

 

No I don't at all. Golf course architects don't view their courses as disposable. They want to last well into the future. They want them to host majors 100 years from now and to be relevant. I can guarantee to you Gil Hanse is gutted by these developments.

[rangersgoalie]

That's what they get for out-corrupting Chicago. ;)

 

This is an amazing statement when you look at it.

Can you imagine being able to out weasel Chicago, and the amount of BS Rio must have?

[Jsjones]

Do you see my point of view?

 

No I don't at all. Golf course architects don't view their courses as disposable. They want to last well into the future. They want them to host majors 100 years from now and to be relevant. I can guarantee to you Gil Hanse is gutted by these developments.

 

You can ask him next time you talk to him then. Until then keep thinking you are the only correct opinion on an Internet forum ??

[bogeyk]

I'm sure money is a large part of Hanse's motivation for designing any course, but at the end of the he is an artist and craftsman. I highly doubt he just shrugs his shoulders and thinks "who cares I got paid" at the thought of one of his courses being shuttered or even poorly maintained.

[rangersgoalie]

Do you see my point of view?

 

No I don't at all. Golf course architects don't view their courses as disposable. They want to last well into the future. They want them to host majors 100 years from now and to be relevant. I can guarantee to you Gil Hanse is gutted by these developments.

 

You can ask him next time you talk to him then. Until then keep thinking you are the only correct opinion on an Internet forum ??

 

Without causing a furor, I know one of the guys who did some work for Gil in Rio, from presentations in the selection, to press info.

And Gil is definitely affected by the news. Not surprised I'm sure after dealing with the politics he dealt with, but nobody wants to see their creation wasted away

[elwhippy]

So Golf is still an Olympic event? This was always going to happen. Dig it up and build houses for the poor people stuck in the Favelas....

[augustgolf]

Do you see my point of view?

 

No I don't at all. Golf course architects don't view their courses as disposable. They want to last well into the future. They want them to host majors 100 years from now and to be relevant. I can guarantee to you Gil Hanse is gutted by these developments.

 

Saddened.....yes.....

 

Gutted.....doubt it.

 

1/3 of all Nicklaus courses that were built a few years ago were in financial trouble within 2-3 years of their being built. I doubt that Jack lost a minute of sleep, and I believe that Hanse will be much the same whether the course makes it or not.

[Santiago Golf]

So Golf is still an Olympic event? This was always going to happen. Dig it up and build houses for the poor people stuck in the Favelas....

It will event again in 2020 and it up for re-election for 2024 and 2028 in near future.

[DatSliceDoe]

Bump for new photo: amazing how wasteful the IOC can be.

 

http://www.realclearlife.com/sports/rio-summer-olympic-venues-abandoned-disrepair/

 

[Lakeeffectgolf]

A waste of time, resources and money. I would rather win my local sunday morning skins game than a IOC medal.

[GeorgeHWB]

Another article:

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4241412/Brazil-s-12-billion-Olympic-legacy-lies-ruins.html

 

Unemployment in the Brazilian capital has doubled since the Games, while GDP has fallen by 8.4 per cent.

Public employees have had their wages and pensions cut by 30 per cent as the state grapples with the economic crisis.

 

Yay Olympics!

[MtlJeff]

The craziest thing is that no one could've predicted this.

[RoryGenius]

Some things are more important than money, an Olympic medal being one of them.

[Medic]

Another article:

 

http://www.dailymail...lies-ruins.html

 

Unemployment in the Brazilian capital has doubled since the Games, while GDP has fallen by 8.4 per cent.

Public employees have had their wages and pensions cut by 30 per cent as the state grapples with the economic crisis.

 

Yay Olympics!

 

Sad. Would have liked to have seen some recent images of the course. Cannot imagine how quickly it is going downhill.

[heavy_hitter]

This is what happens when a government is run by Left Wing Economics. Brazil is a welfare state and everything leans on a crumbling, dysfunctional, corrupt government ran by liberals.

[MarkFromTheUK]

Shocked. SHOCKED.

 

Every olympics should be held in the U.K. from now on, as we do it best.

[MtlJeff]

This is what happens when a government is run by Left Wing Economics. Brazil is a welfare state and everything leans on a crumbling, dysfunctional, corrupt government ran by liberals.

 

You know nothing of Brazil, what hurts them most is that 35% of their GDP every year gets eaten by Anacondas.

[VNutz]

This is what happens when a government is run by Left Wing Economics. Brazil is a welfare state and everything leans on a crumbling, dysfunctional, corrupt government ran by liberals.

 

You know nothing of Brazil, what hurts them most is that 35% of their GDP every year gets eaten by Anacondas.

 

They must got buns

[Medic]

This isn't that much different than a lot of courses here in Florida that are closing down. For many it's a slow and tedious death. First they are cutting staff. First to go are the ones keeping the course looking and playing good. Then the pro shop staff members are cut to the bone.

 

Then you start to notice that the course isn't being maintained any longer. Bunkers overgrown with grass and weeds. Fairways with bare spots and crab grass. Rough filled with various weeds. Ball washers empty and/or broken.

 

At some point carts start to show signs of wear. A lack of maintenance shows.

 

Prices drop. Then drop some more.

 

And then they close.

 

And this is in an environment where there are people playing, there is money to be spent, and the weather is almost always perfect.

 

I have often asked myself how in the world courses could possibly hope to survive in less than ideal areas where play isn't as popular when they are dying in a state where the game should thrive. The answer is fairly straightforward and simple. There were too many built and even in a popular golf area there isn't enough play to fill that many courses.

And so it is in Brazil. Even one course may be one too many in an area where poverty prohibits playing a game of luxury and expense. Surely the IOC could have predicted and foreseen this inevitable outcome.

[ChillyDipper]

This is what happens when a government is run by Left Wing Economics. Brazil is a welfare state and everything leans on a crumbling, dysfunctional, corrupt government ran by liberals.

 

You know nothing of Brazil, what hurts them most is that 35% of their GDP every year gets eaten by Anacondas.

 

Simpsons reference?