Thomson Perrett a finalist for Olympic Golf Course in Rio

Thomson Perrett has been selected as one of 8 short-listed architectural companies to design the golf course which will host the golf event in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games.

The announcement follows a worldwide competition launched by the Rio 2016 Olympic Committee. The “Request For Proposal” sought the leading golf course architecture companies in the world to propose and design what will likely be the highest profile golf project in the world.

Submissions were examined by a jury formed by representatives of the International Golf Federation, Rio 2016™, Rio City Hall and the Rio2016 Golf Advisory Committee. In December, the Rio Olympics Organising Committee officially announced that eight companies had progressed to Phase 2 of the competition. Thomson Perrett was selected along with Gary Player Design, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Hanse Golf Design, Hawtree Ltd., Nicklaus Design, Renaissance Golf and Robert Trent Jones II.

Following the announcement, Thomson Perrett Managing Director Ross Perrett –whom you may recognize from thearchitecture columns here in Inside Golf– flew to Rio De Janeiro to participate in the next stage. This was Ross’ third trip to Brazil in 5 months’ time, having travelled to Brazil with the Victorian Government in July and with Thomson Perrett’s local representative in November.

Thomson Perrett’s team for the Olympic course will be led by Managing Director Ross Perrett and his partner Peter Thomson, who is a five-time British Open winner. They will be supported by their multi-disciplinary in-house team including Senior Golf Course Architects Justin Trott and Warren Duncan, Architects Bernie Hogan and Lindsay Calvert, Irrigation designer Paul Jones, CAD specialist Gary Prendegast and Agronomist Doug Robinson.  Also joining Thomson Perrett’s team is 7-time ladies Major winner Karrie Webb.

Company principles Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett were understandably excited to be in the running for this highly prestigious project.

“It is very satisfying to be chosen amongst the top 8 golf course architects in the world for this project,” said

Thomson, a Five-time British Open winner with more than 40 years experience in golf design.

“This is great recognition for the international work our company has done all around the world,” added Perrett, who himself has over 25 years experience in some of the world’s toughest golfing landscapes. “It is fantastic to be involved. The Olympics will be great for golf in general and a huge launching pad for golf in Brazil.  It is very exciting and we look forward to the next stage.”

Thomson Perrett has long been considered one of the world’s premier golf course design companies, and have established a reputation for high quality private, resort and integrated residential and golf developments. Based in Melbourne, their experience spans 250 projects in over 30 countries. They have also recently expanded with the establishment of Thomson Perrett and Lobb in London to service Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

(This article was published in Inside Golf magazine – http://www.insidegolf.com.au/feature-articles/golf-architecture/thomson-perrett-a-finalist-for-olympic-golf-course-in-rio/)