Trevor Ng
Golf is an Olympic sport, but it hasn't always been. Golf was first included in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris and also featured in the 1904 Olympics. However, it was dropped after 1904 and didn't become a fixture again until 2016, when it was reintroduced for the Rio Games. The sport's inclusion in the Olympics has been controversial, with some arguing that it is only included to boost TV viewer numbers and please sponsors. Others see it as an opportunity to introduce golf to a new audience and build its prestige as a competitive sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is golf an Olympic sport? | Yes |
| When did golf become an Olympic sport? | 1900 |
| When was golf most recently an Olympic sport? | 2024 |
| When will golf next be an Olympic sport? | 2028 |
| Who won the men's gold medal in golf at the 2024 Olympics? | Scottie Scheffler (USA) |
| Who won the women's gold medal in golf at the 2024 Olympics? | Nelly Korda (USA) |
| What is the governing body for golf at the Olympics? | International Golf Federation |
| How many players per nation can compete in the men's and women's tournaments? | 4 |
| How many rounds are there in a golf tournament? | 4 |
| How many holes are played in a round? | 18 |
| How many holes are played in a tournament? | 72 |
| What is the scoring system? | Stroke play |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's Olympic history
Golf has had a sporadic history as an Olympic sport. While it was one of the first modern sports to set out its rules in 1744, it was only featured in Olympic programming twice before 2016—in 1900 and 1904. In 1900, Margaret Ives Abbott won the women's event, and fellow American Charles Edward Sands won the men's. However, in 1904, the women's event was replaced by a team event, and the sport was dropped after those St. Louis Games.
In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to reintroduce golf to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016. Since its reinstatement, Olympic golf competitions have consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play. Great Britain's Justin Rose won the men's title in 2016, and the Republic of Korea's Inbee Park claimed the women's gold.
There have been calls for the governing body of golf at the Olympics, the International Golf Federation (IGF), and the IOC to consider adding a match play tournament, a team tournament, and/or opening up the Olympic tournament to more golfers. In April 2025, it was announced that a new mixed team event would be added to golf for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
At Paris 2024, a maximum of four players per nation competed in each of the men's and women's golf tournaments, held at Le Golf National in Guyancourt. Scottie Scheffler took home the gold medal for the US at the 2024 Summer Games.
While some people argue that golf is an important Olympic sport, others believe it is only included to boost TV viewer numbers and please sponsors. However, supporters of Olympic golf argue that it is a relevant and influential event that has introduced the sport to a new audience.
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Rules and gameplay
Golf is played on a course consisting of a series of holes, usually 18. Each hole has a tee, which is the starting position, and a hole, which is the target. The aim is to hit the ball from the tee into the hole in as few strokes, or shots, as possible. Each stroke is made by hitting the ball with a golf club.
There are various types of golf clubs, including irons, woods, drivers, wedges, chippers, and putters. Each type of club is designed for different types of shots and situations. Golfers can carry a maximum of 14 clubs in their bag during a round. They can swap out clubs during a tournament, but only between rounds or if a club is damaged through no fault of their own.
The course features different obstacles and hazards, such as bunkers (or sand traps), rough terrain, trees, and water hazards. Each hole has a par score, which is the number of shots a skilled golfer should take to complete it. The shortest holes are par-3s, followed by par-4s, and then par-5s. Completing a hole in fewer strokes than the par score is called playing "under par". For example, completing a hole in one stroke less than par is called a "birdie", two strokes less is an "eagle", and three strokes less is a rare "albatross" or "double eagle".
Golfers start each hole from the tee box and are only allowed to elevate the ball off the ground using a tee for the first stroke. For subsequent strokes, the ball must be played as it lies, and golfers are not allowed to alter the environment to improve their chances of playing the ball out of a difficult situation. If a ball ends up out of bounds or in a hazard, the player incurs a penalty.
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Famous golfers at the Olympics
Golf was first introduced at the Summer Olympics in 1900 and was also contested at the 1904 Games. However, the sport was briefly removed from the Olympics schedule and made a comeback in 2016. Since then, it has been a part of the Summer Olympics. The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature 60 of the world's top golfers, including four American stars, vying for the sport's fifth-ever Olympic men's individual gold medal. The tournament will be held at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France.
Some of the famous golfers representing Team USA include reigning gold medallist and two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, and 2023 U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark. The U.S. boasts the world's top two golfers, with Scheffler ranked No. 1 and Schauffele ranked No. 2.
Rory McIlroy of Ireland is ranked third in the world, followed by Ludvig Åberg of Sweden at No. 4. Viktor Hovland of Norway is ranked seventh, and Jon Rahm of Spain is ranked tenth. These golfers are all expected to put up a strong competition at the Paris Olympics.
Nelly Korda, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic golf champion, and her U.S. teammate Rose Zhang, are also notable names in women's golf at the Olympics. They entered the final round of the women's Olympic golf tournament at Le Golf National with strong medal prospects.
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Golf's relevance as an Olympic sport
Golf has been recognised as an Olympic sport since 1900, when it first featured in the Summer Olympic Games. It was also contested at the 1904 Games, but then dropped from the programme until its reintroduction in 2016.
Since its reintroduction, Olympic golf competitions have consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play. The format is similar to events on the PGA and LPGA Tours, with 72 holes played over four days. The International Golf Federation is the governing body for golf at the Olympic Games, with qualification based primarily upon the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Women's World Golf Rankings.
Some people argue that golf is not relevant as an Olympic sport, suggesting that it is only included to boost TV viewer numbers and please sponsors. They believe that it should be an amateur event, rather than trying to compete with the majors in the professional game. However, others highlight the fact that the Olympics provides a unique opportunity to introduce golf to a new audience, with the potential to increase participation and grow the sport.
The inclusion of golf in the Olympics has also been defended on the basis that it is a prestigious event, and that Olympic medals will gain significance over time. The Olympics provide a platform for the world's best golfers to showcase their talent and represent their nations, adding to the relevance and importance of golf as an Olympic sport.
Furthermore, the addition of a mixed team event for the 2028 Summer Olympics will bring a new dimension to golf's presence at the Games, potentially increasing its relevance and appeal to a wider audience.
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Mixed team events
Golf was first recognised as a sport in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and was also contested in the 1904 Summer Olympics. However, it was dropped after the 1904 Games. In 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to reinstate golf to the Olympic programme for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Since its reintroduction, Olympic golf competitions have consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play.
There have been calls for the International Golf Federation (IGF) and the IOC to consider adding a match play tournament, a team tournament, and/or opening up the Olympic tournament to more golfers. In April 2025, it was announced that a new mixed team event will be added to golf for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The event will be contested between 16 pairs drawn from those who have qualified for the Olympic tournaments, and will consist of alternate shot and four-ball rounds.
The inclusion of golf in the Olympics has been a subject of debate. Some argue that it is a sport included only to boost TV viewer numbers and please sponsors. Others believe that it is a great opportunity to introduce golf to a new audience and gain new players. While some golfers may not consider an Olympic medal to be of high importance, others think that its prestige will grow over time, just like the Masters.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is an Olympic sport.
Golf was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1900 and was also played in 1904. However, it was dropped after the 1904 Games and only reinstated in 2016.
Olympic golf competitions consist of men's and women's individual stroke play. Each tournament is played over 72 holes across four days.
Notable Olympic golfers include Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Nelly Korda.
Opinions vary on the impact of Olympic golf. Some believe it has helped introduce golf to a wider audience and brought in new players, while others argue that it is not a significant event compared to other golf tournaments.
