Thu, Aug 18, 2016
The return of golf to the Olympic Games after 112 years has been hailed as huge success, with the UK’s Justin Rose winning gold in the men’s event, watched by a sell-out crowd of 15,000.
Many were witnessing golf for the very first time.
The women’s event is currently under way with the final round on Saturday.
The men’s and women’s individual events attracted as many as 120 women and men golfers to the 72-hole tournament.
Though some of the game’s top stars including Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were missing, the event has been rated a success by officials, players and spectators alike.
The golf course for Rio 2016 lies within the Reserva de Marapendi and Omega, the timekeeper for the Games, has cutting-edge technologies at the course working together to generate information.
These include a mobile scoring system recording the number of shots taken by each player and 36 laser positioning systems to identify the position of the balls and showing the data in real time.
The laser system also helps enhanced statistics such as number of putts, fairway shots and how many shots have gone in the rough.
Surrounding the course, 11 scoreboards show a leaderboard with scores and player names.
Also, four scoreboards are at ground level on four tees, all equipped with radar measurement systems. As a player tees off, information is captured and then displayed to spectators so that they can closely follow the action.
Along with the player’s name, country and current score, the scoreboard shows an immediate output of the stroke speed, estimated distance and height of the stroke.
Cheap tickets helped pull in the crowds and despite their unorthodox behaviour, golfing officials were delighted by the response.
International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson told BBC Sport that “It was quite rowdy at times out there … but it added to the atmosphere and there is nothing wrong with that. That's just what we wanted”.
And gold medallist Rose said that he believed the scenes and festive atmosphere generated at the tournament will draw those top golfers who missed out to the next Summer Olympics in 2020, which will be held in Tokyo.
-
Gold collection delights the senses
Mon, Jan 12, 2015 -
Top players get set to tee off in Abu Dhabi
Sun, Jan 11, 2015 -
Real Madrid stars to kick off Dubai café inauguration
Sun, Dec 28, 2014 -
Famous Cuban restaurant to make regional debut
Tue, Dec 16, 2014 -
IWC to crown top GCC filmmaker
Thu, Dec 11, 2014 -
Unisex luxury smartphone is ‘quintessentially English’
Tue, Dec 2, 2014 -
Lamborghini Winter collection on sale at new Dubai store
Sat, Nov 29, 2014 -
Hi-tech Bluetooth speaker rises above the rest
Mon, Nov 24, 2014 -
Curved speakers sound great!
Fri, Nov 21, 2014 -
Racy app proves a hit!
Thu, Nov 20, 2014 -
Porsche and Chopard toast Bahrain breakthrough
Thu, Nov 20, 2014 -
Exclusive gulf clubhouse opens in Dubai
Wed, Nov 19, 2014 -
Ferreti CEO to grace launch of dealer boutique in Abu Dhabi
Sat, Nov 15, 2014 -
Land Rover celebrates Arab culture at online hub
Wed, Nov 12, 2014 -
Abu Dhabi F1 nearly sold out
Mon, Nov 3, 2014