2016 Rio Olympics Golf: The course

We take a look at the Reserva Marapendi Golf Course in Rio.

In less than twelve months time, golf will make its long-awaited return to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics golf will be welcomed back after a 112 year absence, with some of the best players in the world set to compete for a gold medal.

There will be 60 professional men and women taking part, despite the call from many for the sport's return to be open to amateurs only.

We decided to take a better look at what we already know about the course that the likes of Rory McIlroy will play for the very first time next August.

The course is called the Reserva Marapendi and is located in a part of Rio called Barra da Tijuca. It is just 5km away from the Olympic and Paralympic Village.

It has been well documented that the course has been constructed for the sole purpose of the Games, with Gil Hanse the architect behind the design. Protests have been held against the Olympics taking place in Rio, with the building of a golf course not having gone unnoticed.

After the Games, the course will become open to the public in order to develop the sport in Brazil. This is perhaps not so surprising given that the country does not have a player ranked inside the top 300, with Adilson da Silva the only Brazilian in the top 700.

A test event has yet to be held on the course, with that seeming likely to take place a lot closer to the beginning of the Games.

The course has a capacity for 2, 500 seated spectators and 17, 500 standing, which should allow the sport to get plenty of much-needed exposure.

The men's rounds will start on August 11th, with the women's beginning six days later.