Olympic Golf Challenges

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Golf is back as an Olympic event for the first time in 112 years. The event has drawn global attention, but the athletes are expected to face a number of challenges at Rio's golf courses. Here’s more.

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Olympic golf venues in Rio are in the form of links, built in coastal areas. There are only 79 bunkers, but they are filled with a special kind of sand. Each hole has bunkers filled with three different kinds of sand to confuse the athletes.

[Soundbite] Neil Cleverly(Olympic Golf Course Superintendent)

Gusty ocean winds remain the biggest challenge.

[Soundbite] Neil Cleverly(Olympic Golf Course Superintendent)

Analysts predict that Korean golfers could enjoy an advantage thanks to a Korean grass variety used in the fairways. The greens are rapid and curvy, requiring precise iron shots and short game skills. The four Korean female golfers, each with a different playing style, are expected to face various challenges on Rio's golf courses.