THE INCLUSION of golf in the London Olympic Games of 2012 would have given the sport a major boost across the world—in particular in countries where it is still in its infancy—it has been claimed by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews.

Reflecting on the failure of golf to be included in the sporting extravaganza in the capital, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson, conceded that it could now be some time before it is eventually incorporated into the games.

Golf will not be included in the London Olympics after the International Olympic Committee voted against adding it to the list of 26 sports that will participate.

Commenting on the disappointing decision, Mr Dawson said, “There can be no doubt that Olympic golf would have given a tremendous boost to the development of the game in emerging golfing nations around the world.

“But we have to accept that we must now find other ways to fund the game in these countries and that golf will remain outside the Olympic movement for the foreseeable future.”

The International Golf Federation (IGF) had applied to the IOC to feature golf in its programme for 2012, but it was one of five applicant sports—the others were karate, roller sports, rugby, and squash—that all failed to gain Olympic recognition.

As part of a review of the Olympic programme, members of the IOC voted for each of the 28 sports on the current programme of the summer games.

Baseball and softball did not gain the necessary majority of more than 50% and have been dropped from the line-up for 2012.

The elimination of the two sports left room for the members of the IOC to add two of the five sports under consideration. But in a further vote, none of the five received the two-thirds majority required for inclusion.

Mr Dawson, while saying that the future of golf in the Olympics now remains uncertain, revealed that the IGF had received a letter from the president of the IOC Jacques Rogge.

In it, he wrote, “The IOC expresses its sympathy to your federation for the dedication and commitment you have shown to be included in the Olympic programme.

“The IOC will work with you in the future in order to ensure that the Olympic programme remains the most attractive event by offering the opportunity for new sports to be added.”

All five of the sports under consideration this year, as well as baseball and softball, will be put to a vote again, after the Beijing Olympics in 2008, for possible inclusion in 2016.

The R&A sees the format for an Olympic golf event of being two competitions—one each for men and women—each consisting of 72 holes of individual strokeplay, with 50 players in each field.

The leading two players, from any country, who are in the top 300 of the official world rankings, would be eligible. Wild card spots would be allotted to ensure representative continental fields.

The International Golf Federation, founded in 1958 as the World Amateur Golf Council, encourages the international development of the game and fosters friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world. It has been recognised as the international federation for golf by the IOC since 1991.

Golf was last played in the Olympic Games of 1900 and 1904.