Nina Caldwell
Golf is one of the biggest draws of the Olympics. After a century-long absence, the sport returned to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and has been a fixture ever since. The Olympic Golf Competition consists of 72 holes (no cut) of individual stroke play for both men and women, with four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days. The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) are calculated every Monday following the completion of the previous week's tournaments from around the world. The top 15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Olympic Golf Ranking Calculation | Calculated every Monday after the completion of the previous week's tournaments from around the world. Updated on the IGF website every Tuesday. |
| Ranking Tournaments | Points are awarded to athletes based on their final positions in each event, with performances in events with stronger fields earning more points. |
| Ranking Points | Points accumulate over a two-year "rolling" period. |
| Ranking Order | The OGR is ordered according to the average points that athletes manage to accumulate over the applicable two-year period. |
| Number of Players | The Olympic field is restricted to 60 players for each of the men's and women's competitions. |
| Eligibility | The top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. |
| Player Limit | Following the top 15, a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15. |
| Venue | Le Golf National, Guyancourt, France. |
| Course Details | Par 72, stretches to 6,649 from the black tees. |
| Competition Format | An individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. |
| Winner | The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal. |
| Basic Rules | Each time the player advances the ball toward the hole using a club, it is recorded as one stroke. Players may only use their clubs to contact the ball. |
| Maximum Clubs | Players may carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in their bag during a round. |
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What You'll Learn
Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR)
The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) are calculated and published regularly, using results from the previous week's golf tournaments worldwide. The OGR is based on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and the Women's World Golf Ranking, with the top 15 men and women qualifying for the Olympics. No country can have more than four players in the top 15.
Following the top 15, a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not have two or more players in the top 15 can qualify. This continues until the field limit of 59 athletes is reached. One spot is reserved for the host country, and each continent is guaranteed at least one athlete in the men's and women's events. If an athlete from a continent without representation is in the top 15, the next highest-ranked athlete from that continent will take the reserved spot.
The OGR is calculated based on a points system, with points awarded according to final positions in ranking tournaments. The number of points awarded depends on the strength of the field, following a points distribution schedule approved by the IGF. These points accumulate over a two-year rolling period, and the OGR is ordered according to the average points accumulated in that time.
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. Each player starts from the tee box, with the plastic or wooden tee allowing them to elevate the ball for the first shot of each hole. The player whose ball is on the green can mark, pick up, clean, and replace it. Each stroke is counted, and only clubs can be used to contact the ball. Players may carry a maximum of 14 clubs, which can be swapped between rounds or if a club is damaged through no fault of their own. If a player's ball goes out of bounds or into a hazard, they incur a penalty.
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Eligibility and qualification
The International Golf Federation (IGF) is the governing body for golf in the Olympics and is responsible for determining eligibility and qualification criteria. The IGF uses the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to create the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR), which serve as the basis for qualification. The OGR takes into account players' performances in applicable ranking tournaments around the world, with points awarded based on their final positions. These rankings are calculated and updated weekly, considering players' average points accumulated over a two-year rolling period.
For the Olympic Golf competition, the top 15 world-ranked players in both the men's and women's categories are eligible, with a maximum of four players from any given country. Beyond the top 15, countries that do not have two or more players among the top 15 can have up to two eligible players each. This process continues until the field limit of 60 players for each gender is reached.
Each of the five continents represented in the Olympic Movement is guaranteed at least one athlete in both the men's and women's events. If a continent does not have an athlete automatically qualified, the highest-ranked athlete from that continent will be allocated a spot. This ensures global representation and diversity in the Olympic Golf competition.
The Olympic Golf competition follows an individual stroke play format, with 72 holes played over four consecutive days. Both men and women compete in this format, with the golfer accumulating the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds winning the gold medal. The second- and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals, respectively.
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Rules and regulations
Golf at the Olympics is governed by several rules and regulations, which are overseen by the International Golf Federation (IGF). The IGF, founded in 1958, works closely with national golf organisations to regulate the rules and promote the development of the sport worldwide.
The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) are calculated based on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and the Women's World Golf Rankings, with updates made every Tuesday following the completion of the previous week's tournaments. The top 15 world-ranked players in each category are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from any given country. Beyond the top 15, a maximum of two players from each country without representation in the top 15 can qualify, until a field limit of 60 players is reached.
The Olympic golf competition follows an individual stroke play format, consisting of 72 holes played over four consecutive days. Each player's score is recorded as the number of strokes taken to advance the ball from the tee box to the hole. Players are only allowed to use their clubs to make contact with the ball and are restricted to carrying a maximum of 14 golf clubs in their bag, which can be swapped out between rounds or if a club is damaged through no fault of their own.
The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal, with silver and bronze medals awarded to the second and third-place finishers, respectively.
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Format and schedule
The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) are calculated every Monday, following the completion of the previous week's tournaments worldwide. The rankings are updated on the IGF website every Tuesday. Points are awarded based on athletes' final positions in each event, with performances in events with stronger fields earning more points. These points accumulate over a two-year "rolling" period, and the OGR is ordered according to the average points accumulated in this period.
The top 15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a maximum of four players from any given country. Beyond the top 15, a maximum of two eligible players from each country without two or more players in the top 15 can qualify. This continues until 59 athletes are reached, including continental places. One spot is reserved for the host country, and each continent is guaranteed at least one athlete in the men's and women's events.
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. There is no cut, and the golfer with the lowest cumulative score after the four rounds wins the gold medal. The second and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals.
The 2024 Olympic Golf competition began with the men's tournament from August 1 to 4, followed by the women's tournament from August 7 to 10. Both events were held at Le Golf National, located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, approximately 26 km outside Paris, France.
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Venues and courses
Golf was first featured in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and again in 1904, before taking a 112-year hiatus and returning in 2016. The 2024 venue for Olympic golf is Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, which is located roughly 18 miles outside of Paris. The course is owned by the French Golf Federation and is part of a luxury hotel that also houses the 18-hole Aigle course and the nine-hole L’Oiselet course. All of the courses are accessible to the public.
Le Golf National has a rich history in the sport, having hosted the DP World Tour's Open de France, the oldest national open in Continental Europe, and the 2018 Ryder Cup, where Europe defeated the U.S. team. The Albatros course at Le Golf National, which opened in 1990, is the site of the 2024 Olympic golf tournaments. Co-designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert von Hagge, the course features a rolling layout with 45 feet of elevation change and a stadium-style configuration that can accommodate 30,000 spectators.
The Albatros course is known for its tight design that favours precision over power, presenting a challenging test for golfers. Nick Faldo, who played at the course during the 1991 Open de France, described the layout as "tough but fair." The course has consistently ranked among the toughest on the DP World Tour.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf was played at the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games, but then took a 112-year hiatus before returning in 2016. It has been played at every Olympic Games since.
Qualification for the Olympics is based on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for men and the Rolex Women's Rankings or Women's World Golf Rankings for women. The top 15 golfers of each gender automatically qualify, with a maximum of four from any one country. The remaining spots are filled based on world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15. One spot is reserved for the host country.
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal. The second- and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals. Unlike the PGA and LPGA Tours, there is no cut after 36 holes—all 60 players progress to the final two rounds.
The 2024 Olympic golf competition was held at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, about 25-26km outside of Paris.
