WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES BID ONLY A MONTH AWAY, the question that is on the minds of Chicagoan's is, will we actually get the olympic games. Could they be coming here in just seven years.

Chicago is one of the four cities left in the world that has a chance. The winner will be announced on October 2nd, if it's the windy city,  then the mad scramble to make it all happen will begin.

Venues and housing will get built, and of course political issues about contracts and money will arise like never before, with so much at stake. Hey it's Chicago, of course those things will happen.

One other thing that will be happening in the olympic games by the time 2016 rolls around, is the sport of golf. At least in the Chicago area that's one venue that doesn't have to be built, because all the contenders to host olympic golf are already in place, just waiting to hear if they will be the host club.

There are several contenders for the honor of hosting the Olympic golf competition, if indeed Chicago is awarded the bid. At this point in time the list looks like this. 1. Olympia Fields C.C. 2. Cog Hill G.C. 3.Harborside G.L. 4. Medinah C.C. 5. Conway Farms G.C. 6. Chicago Highlands C.C. with any other interested clubs, just that , interested.

Last Monday Olympia Fields (OFCC) seemed to confirm not only it's commitment to the games, but it's position as the front runner to host the golf competition. The club held it's third annual, Chicago Corporate Golf Challenge. That was designed to help raise money to support , Chicago's bid to get the Olympics. Over 30 former Olympians were in attendance, headed by gymnast Bart Connor.  They played as celebrity golfers in an event, that raised over $100,000 for World Sports Chicago and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Olympia Fields is expected to get the 2015 US Amateur from the USGA, even though no formal announcement has been made. Would the club try and host both the US Amateur, and the Olympic Golf Competition, in just a one year time span. OFCC Club President Michael Mazurczak, says Olympia Fields can do just that.

"Our club remains committed to amateur golf, "Mazurczak said. "The membership will stand behind both events and we feel we are a perfect site for the Olympic golf competition." Mazurczak went on to add that, "Olympia Fields is the only club that has been doing active fund raising, to help bring the 2016 games to Chicago", and that the club stays in close contact with those helping Chicago assemble the bid. In addition Olympia Fields could bring both spectators and other officials from downtown, right to the front door of the club, by using the train like they did during the 2003 US Open. 

Cog Hill Owner Frank Jemsek says he would, welcome the Olympic games to his courses in Lemont. "I have been speaking with everyone I can to let people know we are interested," Jemsek said. "I just hope I have been speaking to the right people."

Jemsek said the professional golfers who play in the BMW championship, or have played in the Western Open would have a home course advantage. Players would know the course and that would be helpful in an event like this. We have the parking and everything an Olympic golf event would need, and plenty of practice in putting on a major golf event. However Jemsek admitted that, any PGA Tour/Western Golf Association event that Cog Hill might be hosting in 2016, would have to find another home that year if Cog Hill
hosted the olympics.

"When we hosted the 1997 Western Open and the USGA Amateur in the same year, we had course four closed to our regular customers for about five weeks," Jemsek said. " Because of that some left and never came back, we don't want to do that again."

Cog Hill and the Jemsek family received a boost from the number one player in the world Tiger Woods. Woods speaking at his pre-tournament press conference at the BMW Championship was asked if Cog Hill would be the perfect olympic venue. "I think it would be great," Woods said. "I think you have to have it on a public venue. I don't think you could have it at a country club. I think it would have to be at a public venue because of what the nature of the olympics are all about. Certainly this golf course is stand-alone in public venues here in Chicago. I don't know another golf course that could rival this one as far as difficulty, on a public course."

During an exclusive interview with Golfers on Golf. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem shared his views on olympic golf in the 2016 olympics, should golf get the final votes needed in Coppenhagen in a few weeks. 

"In the big picture, golf in the olympics changes the tradjectory of growth for golf. Especially in Asia, eastern europe and probably
some in South America. These are area's where sport is defined by olympic participation, goverments get involved and support
developement of world class players in those sports that can compete. That would be the case for golf, and so long term it's a very
positive thing."

As for the venue Finchem added, "We can play golf in any of the cities in 2016 that are being considered. But Chicago probably has the best golf of any city in the world, So it would fun to have a couple of years to figure where we would play. This isn't a bad place right here at Cog Hill, but there are so many great golf courses in Chicago. So it would be a double pleasue for the olympics to come back to the United States, come to Chicago and have golf in the games for the first time since 1904 in this city which is so golf orientated." 

One question that remains unanswered is. Would the Chicago 2016 committee and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley attempt to keep the games in the city, closer to other venues. If so, that would leave Harborside G.L. sitting pretty.

"Absolutely we would be interested in the Olympic games," says Tony Ianello the Executive Director of Chicago's Port Authority which
operates Harborside. "Who wouldn't want to host an event like that." Ianello feels Harborsides two courses could both be used."The way some holes intermingle, and with both courses sharing a large and connected green, it would make network media coverage of the event much easier."

Ianello say's that, no discussions have been had between the Port Authority, with either the city ,or the Chicago 2016 Olympic Games committee, but would welcome them at anytime. Ianello promises to be watching, when the announcement is made in October.

One club expected to be in the mix is Medinah C.C., because they have the facilities to hold it ,and their past record of hosting major golf events. One source close to club, says Medinah would "probably be approached" to host the games should Chicago receive the bid, but with hosting the Ryder Cup in 2012, and possibly getting another PGA Championship in 2018, hosting the olympics in 2016 might be too much for the club to take on. In fact several Medinah members have indicated that they don't think the club would host the olympics.

North suburban Lake Forest is home to Conway Farms C.C., and most recently the Western Amateur. Conway Farms has hosted several USGA and NCAA amateur golf events, and would defenitely be interested in hosting the olympic golf competition if asked, says club General Manager Todd Marsh. "We have a first class championship golf course," Marsh said. "We have reached out to the committee and told them of our interest." What could hold Conway Farms back is that ,they don't have two courses if it's decided that the men and women will play separate courses. In addition, the clubhouse is not as big as the other properties already mentioned.

A lack of two courses is not stopping John Baxter, the managing partner of the new Chicago Highlands C.C. from throwing his hat into the ring. Baxter disagrees with the theory that you need two courses to hold the event. "Pinehurst is holding two US Opens in two weeks come 2014," Baxter said." Some olympic events already have the men or women playing in week one, with others playing in week two. Golf could be run the same way. There is no reason the men and women can't play on alternating days either."

Chicago Highlands C.C. is not yet open. However the club is expecting to start play in 2010, and will be in full swing by 2016. Chicago Highlands is located on some of the, if not the highest elevated property in Cook County. The course has breath taking views of the Chicago skyline, with the building formerly known as the Sears Tower and now called the Willis Tower, used to line up your shot  to the green on one hole. From a convience factor, the proxiemity to the Tri-State tollway and other expressways might make Chicago Highland's the most accessible course, for the large crowds expected, to be able get to. In fact the course is close to the Oak Brook area,. Which is where most of the players who have played in the Western Open or BMW Championship stay, when in town for those events making transportation easier for them.

Chicago Highlands an Arthur Hills designed links style course, might also have the best elevated spectator views around the course, especially for people wishing to see play on more than one hole at time.  Since Chicago Highlands has obviously not hosted a golf event before, Baxter says the club could simply be known as an olympic venue course.

Chicago will know on October 2nd if it's getting the olympic games.  If it does get the bid, the fun for area golf fans begins shortly thereafter, when the list clubs competing to host the golf competition heats up.