GOLF: A Rio de Janeiro judge on Wednesday denied a request from prosecutors to halt construction of the Olympic golf course because of environmental concerns, curtailing fears the venue would not be ready in time for test events.

Judge Eduardo Antonio Klausner said there was "no new fact justifying ... a halt in the implementation of the golf course for the Olympics".

He said changes made by the city and the course developer partially addressed prosecutors' demands to protect the local environment.

It wasn't clear if state prosecutors would seek to appeal Wednesday's ruling, but legal challenges were expected to continue.

In a 27-page legal brief made public last week, prosecutors had termed "laughable" proposals by the city and the course developer to modify the layout to reduce the environmental impact.

The judge ruled that by changing one of the holes, the developers did enough to preserve the local vegetation. He said relocation of the 12th hole made way for a 32-metre wildlife corridor to keep vegetation intact. He also said the type of grass being used on the course did not endanger the vegetation already in place in the area.

Prosecutors initially said they wanted a wildlife corridor of about 400 metres to make sure the local environment was properly preserved.

The course, estimated by local media to be about 70 per cent completed, is being cut out of a nature reserve in western Rio near the main cluster of Olympic venues and is part of a complex of luxury apartments selling for up to $US7 million ($A7.6 million).

Prosecutors have argued the environment must be the primary concern - not the Olympics or the real estate development.

In their brief filed last week, they alleged the environmental licensing process for the course was riddled with errors and asked the judge to suspend the licence.
The defendants - the city of Rio and the course developer - have insisted any legal impediments to construction could harm the Olympics, Rio and the city's international reputation.

Construction staff have been working on the course and putting down grass for months, hoping to have it finished as the South American summer growing season begins. Officials said the course needed two full growing seasons to be playable at top level.

Test events were initially scheduled for late 2015 and early 2016.

AP