Golf at the Olympic Games utilizes an individual stroke-play format similar to events on the PGA and LPGA tours, as well as at all major championships. Players are positioned on the leaderboard according to their score relative to par, and the winner is the player who records the fewest amount of total strokes to complete 72 holes.

How many rounds of golf are played at the Olympics?

Both the men's and women's golf tournaments at the Olympics are comprised of four 18-hole rounds. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the men's tournament will take place from Thursday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 4. The women's tournament will follow, beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 7 and concluding on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Is there a cut in Olympic golf?

Unlike events on the PGA and LPGA tours, golf at the Olympic Games does not include a cut after 36 holes. All 60 players in both the men's and women's fields progress to the final two rounds.

Breaking ties

In the event of two or more players finishing atop the leaderboard with the same score after four rounds, those players will compete in a sudden-death playoff. If after the first playoff hole two or more players remain tied, a second playoff hole will be contested, and so-on, until a champion is crowned. 

Unique to golf at the Olympics, however, is that ties must be broken not just to determine a winner, but also - if necessary - to determine the silver and/or bronze medalists. If player X finishes in the gold-medal position with a score of 12 under, but players Y and Z finish tied for 2nd at 11 under, players Y and Z will compete in a playoff to determine who takes silver and who takes bronze.

Golf was contested in the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games but was then removed as a competition. It didn't return until 2016, when golf was contested at the Rio Games, and it might be here to stay this time. Golf was held at the 2020 Tokyo Games, is among the sports in 2024 in Paris, and will be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The 2024 venue is Le Golf National outside of Paris, France. The course is most notable for hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup, in which the Europeans defeated the U.S. team. It will be used for both the men's and women's Olympic events this year.

As the Olympic Games head to Los Angeles, California, in 2028, Riviera Country Club will be the host venue. The famed course is the annual home to what is known as the Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour event hosted by Tiger Woods. Riviera was the site of the 1995 PGA Championship and will showcase the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2031 U.S. Open.

Several basic rules govern the game of golf at all levels, from recreational games to major championships. The Olympics is no different.

• Players begin each hole from the tee box. For this shot, and only this shot, players may elevate the ball off the ground using a plastic or wooden tee.
• For subsequent shots, the ball must be played as it lies on the course. Once the player's ball reaches the putting surface (AKA the green) he/she is free to mark, pick up, clean and replace the ball.
• Each time the player advances the ball toward the hole using a club, it is recorded as one stroke. Players may only use their clubs to contact the ball.
• If a shot results in the ball going out of bounds, landing in a water hazard or being otherwise unplayable, the player incurs a penalty. 
• Players may carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in their bag during a round. Clubs can be swapped out during a tournament, but only between rounds or if a club is damaged through no fault of the player.
• A caddie may accompany a player on the course, carry the player's clubs and assist with strategy, yardage, reading of greens and club selection.
• Players play alongside each other in pairings or groupings, and tee off in order according to how the players finished the previous hole. Following the tee shots, the player farthest away from the hole hits first.