Nina Caldwell
Golf has been included in the Olympic Games on multiple occasions, with a history that dates back to the early 20th century. After featuring in the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics, the sport experienced a lengthy hiatus from the Games, only returning to the Olympic fold in 2016. The sport's Olympic status has been a topic of debate, with ongoing discussions about its format and participation within the Games.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First included in the Olympics | 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris |
| Years included in the Olympics | 1900, 1904, 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Years included as a men's individual tournament | 1900, 1904, 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Years included as a women's individual tournament | 1900, 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Years included as a men's team tournament | 1904 |
| Number of appearances in the Olympics | 5 |
| Years after which it was re-introduced to the Olympics | 2016 |
| Year of the decision to re-introduce golf to the Olympics | 2009 |
| Number of golf tournaments to be held in 1908 and 1920 that were cancelled | 1, 2 |
| Reason for the cancellation of the 1920 tournaments | Lack of entries |
| Number of golfers per nation in the men's and women's tournaments at the 2024 Olympics | 4 |
| Number of holes in the course | 18 |
| Number of rounds in most professional tournaments | 4 |
| Number of holes played in most professional tournaments | 72 |
| Country with the most gold medals | United States (5) |
| Country with the second-highest number of medals | Great Britain (3) |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's Olympic history
Golf has featured in the Olympic Games on several occasions, though its inclusion has been sporadic. The sport was first introduced at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, where it was one of 19 sports contested. Both men's and women's competitions were held, with American Margaret Ives Abbott winning the women's event and her compatriot Charles Edward Sands taking gold in the men's.
Golf returned for the 1904 Games in St. Louis, but this time there was no women's event. Instead, a team event was introduced, with regional golf associations across the United States entering teams of 10 players. This format proved to be a one-off, and the 1904 Games were the last time golf was played at the Olympics for over a century. Attempts to include golf in the 1908 and 1920 Games were unsuccessful, with the 1908 tournament cancelled just two days before it was due to start, and the 1920 tournaments failing to attract enough entries.
In 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to reinstate golf as an Olympic sport, and it returned to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016. The men's competition was won by Justin Rose of Great Britain, with Inbee Park of the Republic of Korea taking gold in the women's event. Golf has since featured at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Scottie Scheffler of the United States claimed gold.
In its modern Olympic iteration, golf competitions have consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play. However, there have been calls to introduce a match play tournament, a team tournament, or to open up the Olympic tournament to more golfers by altering the qualifying system. In April 2025, it was announced that a mixed team event would be introduced for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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The 1900 Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, were held in Paris, France, from May 14 to October 28. The Games were part of the 1900 Exposition Universelle, or World's Fair, and this contributed to the Olympics being under-promoted and poorly organised. The term "Olympic Games" was replaced by "Concours internationaux d'exercices physiques et de sport" in the official report, and the press used a variety of other names to refer to the competitions. Many athletes were unaware that they were participating in the Olympic Games, and complete records of results do not exist.
The host nation, France, fielded 72% of all athletes (720 out of 997) and won the most medals. The United States had the second-highest number of medals, with 75 athletes, and Britain came third, with 102 athletes. The standard of competition was variable, but a strong contingent of top-class American collegiate athletes ensured the track and field competitions were of the highest quality.
Golf was one of 19 sports and 21 overall disciplines contested at the 1900 Olympics, with competitions for men and women held at the Compiegne Club, one of only 25 courses in France at the time. The nine-hole course no longer exists. The men's competition was contested by amateur players over 36 holes, with American Charles Sands winning the gold medal by a single stroke over Walter Rutherford of Scotland. Sands also competed in the tennis competitions in the Olympics. The women's competition was also a nine-hole tournament and was won by Margaret Abbott of the United States, making her the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal. However, it is debated whether she deserves the title, as golf was not officially approved as an Olympic sport at the time, and many competitors were unaware they were even competing for such a title.
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The 1904 Olympics
Golf was one of the sports featured at the 1904 Olympics. It was played at the Glen Echo Country Club, the first golf course constructed west of the Mississippi River, which had opened in 1901. George Lyon of Canada won the gold medal in the men's golf tournament. However, golf was dropped from the Olympic programme after the 1904 Games, and it was not until 2016 that it was reinstated as an Olympic sport.
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Golf's return to the Olympics in 2016
Golf has had a somewhat turbulent history with the Olympics. It was first recognised as featuring in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900, and also appeared in the 1904 Olympics. However, after cancellations and a lack of entries, it was dropped from the Olympic programme after the 1904 Games.
Over a century later, in 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to reinstate golf for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This decision was influenced by the rapid expansion and globalisation of the sport, as well as a persuasive presentation by a group of golf ambassadors, including professional golfers Pádraig Harrington, Michelle Wie, Suzann Pettersen, and Matteo Manassero.
The new Olympic Golf Course was built at the Reserva de Marapendi in the Barra da Tijuca zone, with Hanse Golf Course Design chosen for the project. The course featured 72 holes (four rounds of 18 holes) and was designed with sustainability in mind, including the use of salt-tolerant grass due to water quality concerns.
The 2016 Olympic golf tournaments took place in August and included men's and women's individual events, with 60 players in each tournament. Qualification was based on world rankings, with a limit of four golfers per country. The men's tournament was won by Justin Rose of Great Britain, who secured his country's first gold medal in golf in 112 years. Inbee Park of the Republic of Korea claimed the gold in the women's event.
The return of golf to the Olympics was considered a success, and the sport continued to feature in the 2020 Tokyo Games. A mixed team event is also set to be introduced at the 2028 Summer Olympics, showcasing the ongoing evolution of Olympic golf competitions.
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Medal tables and notable winners
Golf has been included in the Olympics on five occasions—1900, 1904, 2016, 2020 (held in 2021), and 2024. The United States has been the most successful nation in Olympic golf, with 13 medals, including five golds.
1900 Paris Olympics
The first Olympic golf tournament took place in Paris in 1900 and included men's and women's individual events. Charles Sands of the USA won the gold medal in the men's tournament, with Walter Rutherford of Great Britain taking silver, and David Robertson of Great Britain winning bronze. In the women's event, Margaret Abbott of the USA won gold, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Pauline Whittier of the USA took silver, and Daria Pratt of the USA won bronze.
1904 St. Louis Olympics
The second Olympic golf tournament was held in St. Louis in 1904 and featured men's individual and team events. George Lyon of Canada won the individual gold medal. H. Chandler Egan of the USA took silver, and Burt McKinnie of the USA and Francis Newton of the USA both won bronze medals. The team event was the first and only time a golf team competition was held at the Olympics. It was won by the Western Golf Association, a team of 10 players from various regional golf associations across the United States.
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after a 112-year absence. The men's tournament was won by Justin Rose of Great Britain, with Sweden's Henrik Stenson taking silver, and American Matt Kuchar winning bronze. In the women's event, South Korea's Inbee Park took gold with a score of 16-under par, five shots ahead of New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who won silver. China's Shanshan Feng won the bronze medal.
2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021)
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, American Xander Schauffele won the gold medal in the men's tournament with a score of 18-under par. Slovakia's Rory Sabbatini took silver, and Chinese Taipei's C. T. Pan won bronze in a seven-man sudden-death playoff. In the women's event, American Nelly Korda won gold, with New Zealand's Lydia Ko taking silver, and Japan's Mone Inami winning bronze.
2024 Paris Olympics
Golf will be included in the Olympics for the fifth time when the Games are held in Paris in 2024. There has been discussion about introducing a mixed team event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf was first introduced as an Olympic sport during the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. It was also contested at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis. After a hiatus of over a century, golf was reinstated for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
No, golf was only part of the Olympic programme in 1900 and 1904. It was then dropped from the Games until its reintroduction in 2016.
There were attempts to include golf in the 1908 and 1920 Olympic Games, but a tournament never materialised. A dispute between representatives of England and Scotland over the format in 1904 may have contributed to this, as it led to a boycott from British golfers.
Yes, golf has been featured in every Summer Olympic Games since its reintroduction, including Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), and Paris 2024.
Olympic golf competitions consist of men's and women's individual stroke play. There have been calls to include match play and team tournaments, and this will be introduced for the 2028 Summer Olympics, with a new mixed team event.
