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In the early days of the Olympic Games, golf made it twice into the Olympic Program, in 1900 and 1904. There were golf tournaments planned in 1908 and 1920, and an exhibition in 1936, but no official Olympic golf tournament was held for over 100 years. After a long wait, golf made it back onto the Olympic program for the 2016 Games, and it looks like it is there to stay. See more about Golf at the Olympics.

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In 1900, there was a men's and women's individual event. The men men played two rounds (36 holes), summing the scores. The women played half a round (9 holes).

In 1904, men only competed, in the men's individual and the men's team event. They played a match play tournament rather than the stroke play of the previous Games. In 1904, there were several other golf events as part of the program, including a putting event, although only the two men's events were classified as Olympic.

Results

Men 1900

1. Charles Sands USA
2. Walter Rutherford GBR
3. David Robertson GBR

Women 1900

1. Margaret Abbott USA
2. Pauline 'Polly' Whittier
3. USA Daria Pratt USA

Men 1904

1. George Lyon CAN
2. Chandler Egan USA
3. Burt McKinne USA

Men's Team 1904

1. 1904 United States (Western Golf Association)
2. United States (Trans Mississippi Golf Association)
3. United States (United States Golf Association)

Olympic Golf Trivia

• In the 1900 Golf Tournament, it was the first time in the Olympics that women competed in any event.
• The winner of the women's golf tournament in 1900, Margaret Abbott, became the first American woman to win a gold medal.
• In 1904 George Lyon accepted his silver trophy after walking down the path to the ceremony on his hands.
• Chandler Egan won silver in both the singles and team events in 1904.

Other Olympic Golf Tournaments ...

In 1908 London, golf was a popular sport in England. Organizers planned a 108-hole stroke play event at three courses: Royal St. George's, Prince's GC, and Cinqueports GC. However, due to a dispute between the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the Olympic organizing committee over eligibility, all the British entrants withdrew and the tournament was canceled due to a lack of entries. Unfortunately, the gold medalist George Lyon of Canada was already on his way to London.

In 1912 Stockholm, there was lack of interest in a golf tournament in the Scandinavian country.

In 1920 Antwerp, a golf event was scheduled to be held at the Golf Club of Cappelen but due to a lack of entries it was canceled.

In 1936 Berlin, a golf tournament was contested at Baden-Baden, Germany as an exhibition just prior to the Olympics.

References

• GOLF AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES by Bill Mallon

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Related Pages

• About Golf at the Summer Olympics
• Golf Olympic Demonstration Sport (1936)
• More Discontinued Events