Nicklaus, Player and Norman - who between them have won a total of 29 Majors - were among eight designers short-listed to build the new course which will be built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca and will host Olympic golf for the first time since St Louis in 1904. 

Gary Player Design, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Hanse Golf Design, Hawtree Ltd., Nicklaus Design, Renaissance Golf, Robert Trent Jones II and Thomson-Perret Golf Course Architects delivered their plans to a panel of judges that included officials from formed by representatives of the International Golf Federation, Rio 2016, Rio City Hall and the Rio 2016 Golf Advisory Committee (GAC).

The course will be located approximately five kilometres from the Athletes' Village and seven kilometres from the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

It will be an 18-hole golf course staging both the men's and women's Olympic golf competitions and after the Games, the course will be managed by a private operator with the chief purpose of promoting golf in Brazil and in South America

The successful candidate will be awarded the prestigious contract to develop the design of the course at a fixed price of $300,000 (£191,000/€217,000).

In an interview with the Golf Channel, Norman emphasised the big responsibility taken on by whoever gets the Rio contract.

"Whoever gets the job has to be beating the drum for the game of golf for the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for four years after that," said Norman (pictured with the Olympic Torch before Sydney 2000).

"They have to be a staunch proponent of the game of golf."

Norman said the course in Rio must be accessible so that it helps the growth of a sport in a country where are only 100 courses.

"It has to be a course built for the general public at the end of the day," he said.

"It can't be a private golf club."

On his webstite, Player said he sees the Olympic course as an opportunity to grow the game around the world.

"The Olympics will expose millions of people in non-traditional golf markets to the game, and that is great for the sport," he said.

"This facility can, and should be, a catalyst for golf in Brazil long after the Olympic competition is complete."

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