With golf being added to the Olympic Roster in 2016, I’m wondering about the implications of the recent spate of news about draconian corporate sponsorship rules at the London Olympics. Here’s a sample of the madness:

Games boss Sebation Coe warned anyone wearing a Pepsi T-shirt is likely to be booted out because it would upset sponsors Coca-Cola.

And he only said spectators in Nike trainers “could probably” be allowed in although Adidas are also backing the event.

Coe defended the draconian move and said it was to protect corporate sponsors who have paid a fortune to be involved.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2012/07/21/london-olympics-lord-coe-s-astonishing-sponsors-outburst-86908-23910798/

They’re also banning cell phones and other devices that could possibly provide an internet hotspot so one of their sponsors can sell daily internet access. Police officers have been told to put their snacks in clear bags so that non-sponsor logos would not be seen. The Nike logos at the Manchester stadium have been painted over.

Corporate sponsorship is everything for top level golf, with players on the “staff” of major manufacturers, and wearing clothing that looks like billboards. So what happens if, say, Nike decides to sponsor the 2016 Olympics. Will players be forced to hide the TaylorMade, Callaway and Titleist logos on their equipment?

Golf as an Olympic Sport is still a couple of years off, but many current US Olympians love the game. Some, such as Kristian Ipsen (diving), say the game helps them in pursuit of their own primary sports.

Kristian Ipsen, diving

Mary Whipple, rowing

Matt Emmons, shooting

Alex Morgan, soccer

It was with great fanfare a couple of weeks ago that Gil Hanse was announced as the designer of the course being built in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics. His design and willingness to live on site gave him the edge over more well-known celebrity designers such as Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.

Now it appears that it all may have been too much, too soon. There’s a dispute over ownership of the land the Olympic course is supposed to be built upon.

The timeline for resolving the dispute is unclear. It could come quickly, or drag on for months. The worst case scenario is that it drags out, with the result being that the course has to be relocated. If that happens, Hanse will have to draw up completely new plans. That’ll threaten the readiness of the course for pre-Olympic test events.

Not good.