Increasing golf's presence in the Olympics on the agenda for 2028 and beyond

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — As golf makes its third appearance in the Olympics since being returned to the competition program at the 2016 Rio Games, Antony Scanlon, executive director of the International Golf Federation, can point to an array of numbers to show how much the game has benefitted from being in the world’s most important sports event. But the biggest number might be three.

Sure, awarding six medals is great, having 38 different countries represented in the men’s and women’s competitions is impressive, the estimated 30,000 fans at Le Golf National and a TV audience expected to be greater than the 250 million viewers in 2021 are all admirable. But specifically, Scanlon and the IGF are particularly excited about the idea of adding a third event to the golf schedule at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The plan would be for a mixed team event of 36 holes featuring both alternate shot and best-ball rounds. The event would take place in between the men’s and women’s individual 72-hole stroke-play events and feature 16 teams assembled from the two 60-player fields.

The International Olympic Committee is reviewing the proposal, and Scanlon has been in discussions with the IOC this week. It’s worth noting that while golf currently awards only a total of six medals (gold, silver, bronze in the two events), judo awards 45, fencing awards 36, equestrian awards 18 and skateboard awards 12.

“Certainly, the mixed team event is something the athletes we're speaking to are excited about,” Scanlon said. “We've got great support from the organizing committee in L.A., and we'd love to slot it in just after the men's event.

“But I think the opportunity to win another medal, the opportunity for us to showcase it with a mixed team event is fantastic and that will attract a wider audience and a different audience, I think.”

For Scanlon, the idea of success with respect to the Olympics starts with golf simply being on the Olympic program. “I think we’ve definitely arrived,” he said. “Firstly, we’re on the program. We're one of 28 sports that are in the Olympic Charter. We're the same as athletics [track and field]. We’re the same as aquatics or gymnastics.

“I think as our athletes are getting younger, they're growing up around golf being part of the Olympic Games, and it’s this evolution in the game to thinking about participating and representing your country. It's now one of their list of must-do things.”

He’s hoping that list includes another opportunity to medal.