Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Gil Hanse Reviews His Olympic Golf Course on Golf Advisor

Hanse Provides Details on Challenges Awaiting Golfers From Around the World Prior to the Start of Golf Competition at the Rio Olympics, Beginning Thursday, Aug. 11

(ORLANDO, Fla.) - Golf Advisor unveiled an exclusive review of the new Olympic Golf Course by the architect, himself, Gil Hanse, as golf fans around the world wait in anticipation of the sport’s return to the Olympics this Thursday, Aug. 11, for the first time in 112 years.

“This is a unique opportunity for Golf Advisor, to have our first ‘guest reviewer’ provide intimate knowledge about what is sure to be the most important golf course on the planet for the biggest sporting event in the world – but one that also will be open to the public once the Rio Olympics are over,” said Golf Advisor Managing Editor Brandon Tucker.

Having recently surpassed 500,000 reviews, Golf Advisor is the world’s leading golf course ratings and review website. Hanse’s review includes his thoughts about how the course was designed to challenge the world’s best pros, but also with the goal of creating a strong legacy for public golf in Brazil long after the Rio Olympics are completed. Featured on the site’s home page, the review also includes a hole-by-hole breakdown of the Olympic Golf Course, taken from notes written by Hanse and highlighted by a series of videos, hosted by Golf Channel’s Frank Nobilo.

“Windswept and sandy, the course has the look and feel of the natural environment that was indigenous to the Barra section of Rio de Janeiro. We meticulously restored this habitat while building the course and we hope it looks and feels like it has always been there.” – Olympic Golf Course Architect Gil Hanse

Hanse and his design team were picked to build the Olympic Golf Course over other big names in golf course design, such as Nicklaus, Norman and Player.  He began construction in January 2013 and the course recently was announced ready for the world stage.  Golf Channel’s Golf Central Live From the Olympics coverage began Monday, Aug. 8, with the men’s golf competition teeing off at 6:30 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Momentum for Golf Advisor has been mounting recently, with July as the site’s best month ever in all key growth metrics, including page views, unique visitors and visits. More than 240,000 golfers have taken time to share their opinions since the site’s January 2014 launch, which have helped their fellow golfers around the world make more informed decisions about where and why to play. The number of reviews have increased by more than 27 percent year over year. Unlike reviews in various golf publications, which normally are done by industry insiders, Golf Advisor reviews are totally consumer driven—by golfers, for golfers.

Read the review HERE.

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