Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
No but from listening to a conversation during one of the commentaries they said that if they would not have done it hockey's place could have been under threat.
No but from listening to a conversation during one of the commentaries they said that if they would not have done it hockey's place could have been under threat.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Every single sport I watched at the Olympics was the "same old dull format". Athletics - people just running round a track, jumping or throwing things. Football - 90 mins with 11 a side - same old same old. As for the marathon not even any fancy dress outfits!! Don't even get me stated on swimming - no different to every other swimming event since I watched Mark Spitz in 1972. Yawn. Yawn.
I think you are slightly missing the point. Certain sports are already suited to the Olympic format as they have knockout rounds, they are fast paced, you can tune in and get interested in a relatively short period of time. You can watch 30 minutes of swimming, see 4 or 5 gold medal races, see some tension, some sporting drama and move on. Even in the heats you see a competition where someone will be eliminated and someone will go through to the next round, there is some sporting excitement to someone who is not really into that sport. Same with athletics.
The point is not that every sport needs to change its format for the Olympics, as if it is suited to the Olympics and a television audience then why should they. But I think there is at times an arrogance about golf in that it feels it has 'too good' to change from a 72 hole stroke play format with no one getting eliminated, as if it did it would be reduced to some novelty act. Is the Ryder Cup a novelty act, the Matchplay? No one is saying it should be played on a crazy golf course, but there have been some good suggestions in this thread and others on how it can be improved as an Olympic experience for those spectating and watching. Which in turn may help to encourage more people to take it up.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Cant forget though that the pool and athletic stadium track & field are very limited in terms of number of participants able to take part in a final (8 lanes) and the same space was also needed for other events so the 'finals' couldn't cope with all the participants, making elimination a simple necessity of capacity
Until golf is established longer term and additional formats introduced the course can easily cope with the full 'reduced' field of 60 players across the entire duration
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
Prior to the tournament I also had pre conceived ideas as to what format the golf should have looked like and wasnt going to bother watching.
That soon changed when Rose was doing well, and I watched pretty much the last 2 rounds, the end was very exciting and no doubt contributed to the overall Olympic experience.
I also watched Charlie Hull too when she was near the top, because that too could have been another medal. Thats the beauty of the Olympics, it doesnt distinguish between sexes, a Gold medal is a Gold medal, so it encourages you to watch the sport, regardless who's competing.
The fact it was sold out when so much wasnt I think speaks volumes, so I cant see how on that alone anyone could argue it wasnt a success.
It's not athletics or cycling, and never will be, but that doesnt mean it shouldnt be there.
GB are now defending champions, so will be going all out in 4 years time.
Rose was clearly up for it, he'd positioned his year to compete. It could soon become an unofficial major if the rest of the players see what he went through and what he was part of get excited too. I'll happily bet on one thing, I bet there are MANY of those who didnt go, wish they had now. It wasnt just golf, it was part of the whole GB Olympics, money cant buy that experience and it only comes around every 4 years.
Pinnacle of the sport or not, thats pretty special.
That soon changed when Rose was doing well, and I watched pretty much the last 2 rounds, the end was very exciting and no doubt contributed to the overall Olympic experience.
I also watched Charlie Hull too when she was near the top, because that too could have been another medal. Thats the beauty of the Olympics, it doesnt distinguish between sexes, a Gold medal is a Gold medal, so it encourages you to watch the sport, regardless who's competing.
The fact it was sold out when so much wasnt I think speaks volumes, so I cant see how on that alone anyone could argue it wasnt a success.
It's not athletics or cycling, and never will be, but that doesnt mean it shouldnt be there.
GB are now defending champions, so will be going all out in 4 years time.
Rose was clearly up for it, he'd positioned his year to compete. It could soon become an unofficial major if the rest of the players see what he went through and what he was part of get excited too. I'll happily bet on one thing, I bet there are MANY of those who didnt go, wish they had now. It wasnt just golf, it was part of the whole GB Olympics, money cant buy that experience and it only comes around every 4 years.
Pinnacle of the sport or not, thats pretty special.
GB72
Money List Winner
Whether it was a success or not depends on who was actually watching. If the viewing audience was made up of golfers then it was not a success as the intended aim was to spread the game to a wider global audience. If those watching were more casual viewers then you can see it as a success. I suspect that most of those watching in the UK were existing golfers. There was very little coverage on the main BBC channels and you are not going to get casual viewers hunting it down on the red button.
Personally, I really enjoyed it but I think that most of that was despite the format and not because of it. It could easily have been a procession on the last day if someone had taken a commanding lead early on and that would have killed it as a spectacle for many.
Personally, I really enjoyed it but I think that most of that was despite the format and not because of it. It could easily have been a procession on the last day if someone had taken a commanding lead early on and that would have killed it as a spectacle for many.
U
User62651
Guest
For me, as a bit of McIlroy type cynic, it was better than I expected, I'm ok with 72 strokeplay as it keeps all competitors involved for 4 days so if you do go and watch you can see plenty players as opposed to only a few with knockout matchplay. I did tune in a few times and agree you can't really re-invent the wheel, golf is golf, its not an 'exciting' sport but it is 'absorbing'!
Also given the next one is in an established golfing country I expect big big crowds which will make a difference, I also expect the tv camerawork to be much better in Japan than Brazil.
Rio did get the course about right, tough enough track but put pins where they could be got at for plenty birdies.
Also given the next one is in an established golfing country I expect big big crowds which will make a difference, I also expect the tv camerawork to be much better in Japan than Brazil.
Rio did get the course about right, tough enough track but put pins where they could be got at for plenty birdies.
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D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Every single sport I watched at the Olympics was the "same old dull format". Athletics - people just running round a track, jumping or throwing things. Football - 90 mins with 11 a side - same old same old. As for the marathon not even any fancy dress outfits!! Don't even get me stated on swimming - no different to every other swimming event since I watched Mark Spitz in 1972. Yawn. Yawn.
All the sports you mention have the Olympics as the pinnacle of their sport - there is nothing above them bar football
Rugby for example used the shorter sharper version ,
All those sports also have formats already that fit into the Olympics - none of them have 5 plus hours of action from one group
A format for me that would work would be the way the World Matchplay is - round robin groups then into KO - the same as a lot of the sports there
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Unfortunately I cannot see many 8-10 yr old girls finding Inbee Park the slightest bit inspirational. In fact I fear she would be one rather big turn-off.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
Rugby 7's is a game in it's own right. They didnt just create a shorter version for the Olympics. It's been going since the 1880's!
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I didn't say they created it for the Olympics ?
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
Nor did I imply you did.
U
User62651
Guest
To be fair to Inbee I didn't see any other of the female or male golfers 'showing emotion' or interacting with the crowd with the exception of the 4 hole in ones. She's focussed and keeping her emotions on an even keel, normal stuff for golfers these days unfortunately. I blame David Duval for the emotionless clones we have to watch on the course these days.
Thank god for the odd character coming through like Beef.
pokerjoke
Money List Winner
I believe this to be incorrect.
Imo her win will have a massive effect on the womens game all over the world.
Obviously in South Korea the interest will continue to grow and other Asian countries will want to compete so will also plough money into the game.
Purses will get better and that money will spread to other countries so they can attract the top players.
This will then attract players into the game in this country as more money is there to be won making it more attractive and able to compete with other sports if it doesn't already.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Another article on Womans Golf in the Olympics
http://ladieseuropeantour.com/?p=36839
http://ladieseuropeantour.com/?p=36839
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
As others have said I suspect it depends on where you live. In Asia it will no doubt help to tilt the axis for female golf excellence even further that way, in the west where we could possibly live in a more personality/celebrity driven culture, as you say, not sure her personality will engage many youngsters. Not her fault of course as she is just there to win golf tournaments, not to appear on Parky.
I fear the golf will be considered by many, especially non-golfers as just another golf event and I think a four round stroke play event lacks any real intensity that perhaps a knockout event would generate. I would think, given the huge interest in the Far East, especially Japan, that it will still be on the olympic schedule in four years time, in whatever format the committee deem
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
IT IS ALREADY IN THE BLOODY OLYMPICS IN TOKYO, I HAVE POSTED THAT ABOUT 6 TIMES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT THREADS, THEY GOT IN FOR 2 OLYMPICS. BUT THEY ARE DECIDING NEXT AUTUMN IF IT WILL CONTINUE AFTER THAT!!!!
Sorry, I've calmed down now, caps lock off.
BTatHome
Tour Winner
matchplay might be exciting for a golfer, but I can't see how it can possibly be exciting for a viewer with little previous interest. 2 players walking a course for hours will not be riveting TV as most of it will be commentators chatting away to keep people amused until they get to their ball.
IT IS ALREADY IN THE BLOODY OLYMPICS IN TOKYO, I HAVE POSTED THAT ABOUT 6 TIMES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT THREADS, THEY GOT IN FOR 2 OLYMPICS. BUT THEY ARE DECIDING NEXT AUTUMN IF IT WILL CONTINUE AFTER THAT!!!!
Sorry, I've calmed down now, caps lock off.
I think I've got the point now ta
And29
Head Pro
Will have to wait and see if gets the nod for Tokyo
Just hope that BBC. Can get some decent commentary
they have four years to sack the boreoffs from RIO
Just hope that BBC. Can get some decent commentary
they have four years to sack the boreoffs from RIO
