Organizers Plant First Grass On 2016 Rio Olympic Golf Course

Rio organizers began what they called "the final step of work on the 2016 Olympic golf course Tuesday, planting grass on the first of 18 holes," according to Nick Zaccardi of NBC. The "predicted timeline of grass growth is 11 months." Rio 2016 Director of Sport and Paralympic Integration Agberto Guimarães said, "The planting of grass is the last construction activity for each hole on the course, following the completion of the earthworks, irrigation and finishing." Int'l Golf Federation President Peter Dawson said that work on the course "has sped up in the last two months." Still, "holding a proposed test event one year before the Olympics is improbable." The Rio Olympic Opening Ceremony is Aug. 5, 2016 (NBC, 5/21).