Alright, so the other day I got this wild hair to check out the Olympic Golf Course in Rio. You know, the one they built for the 2016 Olympics? Yeah, that one. I’d heard some buzz about it and figured, why not? It was designed by this guy, Gil Hanse. Heard he’s pretty big in the golf course design world, him and his partner Jim Wagner got the gig for this course.
First off, getting there was a bit of a trek, but man, was it worth it. The place is huge. I mean, sprawling. And pretty darn new, you know? They really put some thought into this place, it’s clear from the get-go.
I grabbed my clubs and hit the driving range first. Gotta loosen up those muscles, right? The range itself was pretty standard, nothing too fancy, but it did the job. Got my swing dialed in, or at least I thought I did. We’ll come back to that.
Then I hopped in a cart and headed out to the first tee. Let me tell you, this course is challenging. It’s not for the faint of heart. Or for someone who’s just picked up a club for the first time. I consider myself a decent golfer, but this place definitely put me to the test.
The layout is interesting. Lots of bunkers. Lots and lots of bunkers. Like, seriously, they’re everywhere. And the wind? Don’t even get me started on the wind. It was like playing in a wind tunnel some of the time. I managed to hit the fairways, but that didn’t guarantee a good score!
- First hole, a par 4, started off okay, managed to bogey it.
- Second hole, also a par 4, double bogey. The wind really picked up here.
- Third hole, a par 3, managed to get a par! Felt like a major victory.
I kept at it, hole after hole. Some good shots, some bad shots, a few that I’d rather just forget about entirely. Lost a few balls in the rough, found a few in the bunkers. You know, the usual golf stuff.
By the end of the round, I was exhausted. Physically and mentally. This course will do that to you. My score? Let’s just say it wasn’t my best. But hey, I played the Olympic Golf Course in Rio! That’s something, right?
Overall, it was a great experience. I’d say, if you’re ever in Rio and you’re a golfer, you gotta check this place out. Just be prepared for a challenge, and maybe bring a few extra balls. You’ll probably need them. It’s a must play, just like what I saw in some reviews online before – I can now agree with that, no doubt.
It was a pretty cool day. I’d do it again, for sure. Maybe next time I’ll actually break 100. A guy can dream, can’t he?
