Golf Course Designer Gil Hanse Says Olympic Course In Rio 'Finally Finished'

The Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro "is finally finished," according to Ryan Lavner of GOLF CHANNEL. Course designer Gil Hanse said Monday that construction on the 2016 Olympics course "is done and that 'we’re now in full grow-in mode.'" Hanse: "By all accounts it’s going well. We’re still hopeful -- the project has obviously had a lot of setbacks here and there along the way, so I can’t expect that it’s going to be completely smooth going forward." Despite lawsuits and delays because of land and environmental concerns, Hanse reported that "those issues are 'all behind us' and that 'it’s full steam ahead.'" Hanse said that "the last tees were sprigged in early December and that only the driving range needs to be grassed." Golf course superintendent Neil Cleverly "has taken over the project" (GOLF CHANNEL, 1/12).