Will golf ever make it to the Olympics?

This seems unjustified considering that this is a sport which is the ideal combination of an individual’s efforts and team work. While a golfer plays a stroke-play event against the course, in match-play he is pitted against another player, usually his equal. And when the two combine, we are left with a successful team event.

Furthermore, it is an ideal test of a man’s integrity. His word counts and most often it’s up to the player to call a penalty on himself. Having always been considered a gentleman’s game, golf grooms youngsters to be better individuals and unknowingly upholds the purpose behind all sport, specially the Olympics – competing is more important than winning.

Sadly, amateur golf today is considered as just another stepping stone to professionalism, where the money flows in and makes up for the years of hard work. Few people realise its importance – the honour, prestige and sportsmanship it instills – inspite of numerous amateur championships played the world over.

Apart from the US and British Amateur Championships, the Walker and Curtis Cup are team events contested between the US and European men and women amateurs. Each country also has its own national tours which keep amateurs busy throughout the year. Presently, the few events which bring the world’s best together are the Nomura Cup — also called the World Cup of Golf — and the Doug Saunders golf tournaments which give scholarships for colleges in the US, a feat achieved twice by Jeev Milkha Singh.

Similarly, most Asian golfers compete on their home circuit and those close by. Harmeet Kahlon is among the few who thought it was important to represent his country at the Asian Games, doing that twice during his amateur career.

This year, for the first time golf has been included in the National Games to be hosted by Punjab. Such national acceptance is motivating for youngsters who invest time and effort in the sport. It also helps promote the sport in schools and colleges where it is often not considered one, which is usually the reason why youngsters opt for cricket, tennis or football. The Inter-School Golf Tournament which concluded recently at the Delhi Golf Course is a sign of the game’s popularity amongst young people today and a step in the right direction.

In the international arena – Severino Ballesteros and Greg Norman, the world’s best golfers, have been campaigning for golf to be accepted as an Olympic sport. Norman is one of Australia’s sportspersons who will carry the flame for a short part of its journey from Athens to Sydney where the Games will start from the September 15.

While Seve, who is given the royal status in Spain, has the power to influence most of Europe, the Great White Shark is amongst Australia’s greatest assets with investments in businesses ranging from golf courses, clothing, Greg Norman grass and power bars. For the moment we can rest assured that while such men believe in this issue, they won’t give up till they make their point.

Last weeks results:

PGA:MCI Classic – The Heritage of Golf
Winner: Stewart Cink
LPGA: Twelve Bridges LPGA Tournament
Winner: Juli Inkster
APGA:No event scheduled
PGAI: No event scheduled
Coming Up:
PGA: Shell Houston Open
EPGA: Peugeot Open de Espaoa
LPGA: Chick-fil-A Charity
APGA: Maekyung Daks Open
Senior PGA: Bruno’s Memorial Classic
Buy.Com Tour: Buy.Com South Carolina Classic
Golfer of the week: Juli Inkster

Breaking the tourament record previously set by Kelly Robbins, Hall of Famer Juli Inkster won the Twelve Bridges tournament five shots clear of her nearest rival.