The statue of Christ the Redeemer towers over Rio de JaneiroFelipe Dana
The Organizing Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil has launched an international contest to determine who will get the right to design the golf course which will be used when the sport makes its Olympic re-entry in five years time.
The course will be built at Reserva de Marapendi, in Barra da Tijuca which is already home to most of the venues being used for the 2016 Games. It will be an 18-hole facility which will stage both the men's and women's event and will be situated approximately five kilometres from the Athletes Village.
The winning bid will have to demonstrate that its design meets International Golf Federation specifications and will provide a legacy to Rio in the future development of the sport and players from Brazil.
Those submitting bids will also have to make sure the project does not exceed US$300,000 in costs, which is the hard cap put on the design by organizers.
Successful candidates will be unveiled on November 8 with the winning bid selected on December 23rd.
As many as 15 groups and individuals have expressed an interest in designing the golf course including some legendary names associated with the sport - Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman and Lorena Ochoa, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Nick Faldo.
Canada is the defending champion in Olympic golf with George S. Lyon of Toronto winning the gold medal the last time the sport was contested at the 1904 Games in St. Louis.