Brazil, Not Only For Soccer, But Golf
We all know the host of 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro of Brazil is a city full of football players and fans. Pele and Ronaldo are heroes to generations of Brazilian sports fans. Tiger Woods may be next.
Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in this soccer-mad country. Brazilians of all ages, incomes and social classes are taking up the sport, which previously was played only by the country’s elite.
“The sport has grown at a very fast rate, it is amazing what has been happening,” said Alvaro Almeida, president of the Brazilian Golf Confederation. “And that’s the result of a push to make golf accessible to everybody, not only to those who have a lot of money.”
Its growth has been startling in the past five years — although still modest compared with the United States and Europe. About 25,000 Brazilians play golf on a regular basis — up from just 6,000 in 2000.
Brazil has 30 percent more golf courses, 40 percent more driving ranges and three times the number of golf stores it had five years ago. More than 30 projects for new golf courses are underway across the country — including one financed by Donald Trump and designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Media exposure also has grown sharply in this nation of 186 million people.
The magazine Golf Digest now is being published in Portuguese, Brazil’s language. Some Brazilian newspapers have added golf columnists. And for the first time, the PGA Tour is being broadcast live to Brazil on a local cable channel.
Golf officials estimate the sport today represents a $150 million market in Brazil.
“Clearly, Brazilians are beginning to show interest in the game,” said Homero Setti, who recently opened a golf store in a posh Sao Paulo shopping mall. “More and more people want to find out about the sport, and want to find out what it’s like to play it.”
Golf already has captivated World Cup winners Ronaldo and Kaka, Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello and three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten. They are among a growing corps of celebrities frequently shown chipping and putting on courses across Brazil.
“This has been crucial for the growth of golf in Brazil,” Almeida said. “When people see their idols playing golf, they begin to get interested in the game, too.”
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Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in this soccer-mad country. Brazilians of all ages, incomes and social classes are taking up the sport, which previously was played only by the country’s elite.
“The sport has grown at a very fast rate, it is amazing what has been happening,” said Alvaro Almeida, president of the Brazilian Golf Confederation. “And that’s the result of a push to make golf accessible to everybody, not only to those who have a lot of money.”
Its growth has been startling in the past five years — although still modest compared with the United States and Europe. About 25,000 Brazilians play golf on a regular basis — up from just 6,000 in 2000.
Brazil has 30 percent more golf courses, 40 percent more driving ranges and three times the number of golf stores it had five years ago. More than 30 projects for new golf courses are underway across the country — including one financed by Donald Trump and designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Media exposure also has grown sharply in this nation of 186 million people.
The magazine Golf Digest now is being published in Portuguese, Brazil’s language. Some Brazilian newspapers have added golf columnists. And for the first time, the PGA Tour is being broadcast live to Brazil on a local cable channel.
Golf officials estimate the sport today represents a $150 million market in Brazil.
“Clearly, Brazilians are beginning to show interest in the game,” said Homero Setti, who recently opened a golf store in a posh Sao Paulo shopping mall. “More and more people want to find out about the sport, and want to find out what it’s like to play it.”
Golf already has captivated World Cup winners Ronaldo and Kaka, Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello and three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten. They are among a growing corps of celebrities frequently shown chipping and putting on courses across Brazil.
“This has been crucial for the growth of golf in Brazil,” Almeida said. “When people see their idols playing golf, they begin to get interested in the game, too.”
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