Intro:

Future of Rio's Olympic golf course is unclear after defendants and prosecutor fail in compromise.

Script:

The future of the golf course under construction for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 was unclear on Wednesday after the city of Rio and the course developer failed to agree to changes proposed.

Rio judge Eduardo Klausner said he would rule on the fate of the course unless the defendants and a public prosecutor returned with a compromise.

The judge said work could continue on the unfinished course, but new ground could not be broken on a course that is being carved out of a nature reserve.

The public prosecutor, who alleges the city and the developer have violated environmental laws, asked the developer to give up a large area of land being earmarked for luxury apartments.

Delays to the construction of the golf course go back five years and have brought attention back on the preparations for Rio 2016 after a quiet summer out of the headlines.

Disputes also remain as to what happens post Olympics. The golf course is set to be a public course , but the city has not said how it will be managed .

Calls have been made for it to be a centre of teaching golf in Brazil, which has few players & little tradition.

What is certain is the return of golf at the Olympics after a 112-year absence has been anything other than on tee-time so far.