| We all know that the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | | | | new golf courses are under development across |
| will host the 2016 Olympics which is a great | | | | the entire country, one of them is financed by |
| upcoming event for football players that like this | | | | Donald Trump himself, and designed by the |
| sport. Ronaldo and Pele are idols to many | | | | famous Jack Nickalus. |
| Brazilians but who knows, Tiger Woods might | | | | The media eyes have turned their attention to |
| become one of their heroes too. Although not | | | | this brand new hobby that Brazilians have, and the |
| many people know this, golf is in fact one of the | | | | Golf Digest is now published in Brazil's language |
| fastest growing sports in a country where people | | | | which is of course, Portuguese. Even more than |
| talk mainly about football/soccer. The tendency in | | | | that, some of the newspapers in the country |
| golf is that people of all ages now start practicing | | | | have added golf columns. Also, for the very first |
| this, in comparison to a few decades ago when | | | | time in Brazil, a local cable channel is broadcasting |
| golf was considered to be played only by the elite | | | | the world-wide known PGA Tour. Some of the |
| of the country. | | | | officials estimate that the golf business is worth |
| The president of the Brazilian Golf Confederation, | | | | about $150 million dollars. |
| Alvaro Almeida, recently stated that this sport in | | | | Homero Setti, a golf store owner in a Sao Paolo |
| Brazil is developing at a very fast rate and the | | | | shopping mall stated that Brazilians are beginning |
| situation is just amazing. He also said that this | | | | to show their interest in this sport, more want to |
| situation is a direct consequence to the many | | | | know about it and how it is played. Even famous |
| efforts the confederation made in order to bring | | | | people like Kaka, Ronaldo, Rubens Barrichello |
| golf not only to those who have a lot of money | | | | (Formula One driver) and the three times French |
| but to all people belonging to various social classes | | | | Open winner, Gustavo Kuerten. Almeida stated |
| that are looking for an affordable way to relax | | | | that this ever increasing popularity of golf is also |
| (except football/soccer of course). | | | | influenced by the fact that many important |
| This growth of popularity golf has been benefiting | | | | people, like the ones listed above, started |
| from started 5 years ago, but in comparison to | | | | practicing this hobby and when people see that |
| Europe or United States of America, there is still a | | | | their idols are practicing golf; they easily start to |
| lot of catching up to do. Back in 2000, only 6,000 | | | | get interested in golf. |
| people played golf on a regular basis and in 2010, | | | | All things considered, Brazil has a lot to offer to |
| this number has grown tremendously to 25,000. | | | | golf enthusiasts with lots of golf courses, shops |
| Brazil has now 30% more golf courses, 40% | | | | and the entire base needed for this relaxing sport |
| more driving ranges and three times the number | | | | that keeps getting popular and popular in this |
| of golf stores in comparison to the situation found | | | | country where soccer is still considered number |
| five years ago. Even more, about 40 projects for | | | | one. |