History of Golf at the Olympic Games

Before 2016, golf was part of the Olympics a hundred and twelve years before, in 1900 and 1904. Olympics was first introduced in 1896 and the early days of its game golf were made twice into the Olympics. On May 27, 1899, The Organising Committee for the 1900 Games included golf in the list of sports to be featured in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900. 

Golf at the Olympics

The first Olympic golf tournament took place at the 1900 Games with both men and women events. Albert Bond Lambert, one of the men’s golf players, finished eighth in the men’s tournament and first in the handicap tournament. Lambert and his father-in-law, who was a prominent businessman, decided to bring golf to the 1904 Olympic Games. They pressed for the inclusion of golf on the program and finally made golf to the second Olympic tournament in which women’s individual event was dropped and men’s team event added.  

The second Olympics Games were first scheduled in Chicago but later the location was changed to St. Louis. This is because the Olympic organizing committee officials decided to combine with the Louisiana Purchase exposition popularly known as St.Louis world’s fair, a large fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the U.S, and to commemorate the centennial of the Louisiana purchase. The event, with the conjunction of the Olympic games, made the games suffer. Many people participated in the contests such as mud fighting and pole climbing. Over 650 competitors represented 12 countries. Two golf events were held- men’s individual and team tournaments. The competitions took place for seven days. The 1904 golf event was much different than the 1900 golf event. 75 golfers from two nations participated and the competition was held at the Olympic Stadium at Glen Echo Country Club. George Lyon of Canada won the game by defeating American Chandler Egan in the final. 

Why Was Golf Removed from the Olympics?

Golf was supposed to be a part of the 1908 Olympic Games in London, but the British golfers boycotted the game because of a dispute. Due to a lack of entries, the event was canceled. George Leon was the only entrant in the competition, he was offered the gold medal but he refused to accept it.