[ANA Inspiration D2] Nelly Korda -11, Mirim Lee -9, Lexi Thompson, Nanna Koerstz Madsen -7, In Gee Chun, Kelly Tan -6, SY Kim, MH Lee, Kirk, Ruffels(a), C. Kim, Torres, Reid, Kang, Y. Liu, Henderson -5, MJ Lee, McDonald, Zhang(a), Ciganda, Hall -4, Yin, S (2024)

安寧하십니까? 2020年 9月 12日(土) 새벽 4時 51分입니다.

ANA靈感에서 韓國 選手들이넬리 코다(-10)를 따라가지를 못하여서 속이 傷합니다. (5:40) 넬리 코다가 11언더로 마쳤고李미림(-9)이 두 打까지 따라갔습니다, 휴...

(7:13) 現在 3오버 컷 數字에 걸린 選手들(共同 66位)은애미 올슨,아자하라 무노즈,췌인 나이트,가비 로페즈,셀리 부티에,옌진,안젤라 스탠포드의 일곱 名이고 韓國의崔운정(+5, T80)과朴희영(+8, 共同 98位)은 脫落입니다 (最終 컷은 4오버).

(午後 2時 51分) 잘 자고 일어났습니다.

(5:58) 여섯 時 前에는 絶對로 올려서는 안되겠습니다.

Korda rides hot putter in the desert to early 36-hole lead

By DOUG FERGUSON, September 11, 2020

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.(AP)— The numbers suggested a stress-free time in the desert for Nelly Korda, who had five birdies and a clean card for a 5-under 67 to build an early two-shot lead Friday in the ANA Inspiration.

All she could think about were two pars.

The only fairway she missed was on her 11th hole, the par-5 second, and she was badly out of position the entire hole until making an 18-foot par putt to escape her big mess. One hole later, after hitting a fat shot from the fairway, she again had to make a par putt from some 25 feet.

“I did not know what I was doing on those two holes,” Korda said. “I was happy those two went in.Golf is just all about momentum, so you roll one in here and there and it just makes it a lot easier.”

It only figures to get harder from here.

Korda was at 11-under 133, two shots clear of Mirim Lee, who also played bogey-free in the rising heat for a 65. Among those playing in the afternoon was Danielle Kang, a two-time winner since the restart who is projected to reach No. 1 in the world with a victory in this tradition-rich major. Kang opened with a 68 on Thursday.

Korda presents an intimidating target, however, especially with how cleanly she has been hitting the ball. She hit 13 fairways, not the most difficult task with the lush Bermuda grass cutting back how much the ball rolls. More impressive was missing only four greens, and taking 26 putts on greens already sun-baked and fast.

“Definitely very happy with my putting today, and I was superbly happy with bogey-free,” she said.

If the lead holds, it would be the first time she takes a 36-hole lead into the weekend at a major. Thursday was her first time leading a major — she opened with a 65 — and even at22, she is savvy enough to realize that it really doesn’t matter until Sunday.

Lee beat her career low at Mission Hills by four shots in her seventh appearance at this major.

“I didn’t miss a lot of shots, so I look forward to the next couple rounds,” Lee said.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen, with another bogey-free card, shot 69 and was four shots behind.

Korda picked up two birdies on the par 3s on the back nine and looked like she might give those shots back when she tugger her tee shot on No. 2. She considered taking a drop from the cart path until realizing she would be thick rough, so she hit 4-hybrid some 30 yards out to the right, leaving her no angle.

“Near dead over there,” she said. “Honestly, I was super happy with rolling that putt in. I was like, ’Just get me off this hole.”

The greens were pure in the morning, though getting the speed right was critical because they are rolling out a few extra feet, putting an even greater premium on pace.

“The thing out here is you hit a solid putt and it keeps on going,” Korda said. “You think it’s going to stop, and it just keeps on releasing, so then you’re like, ‘This is a good putt, this could possibly go in,’ and then it releases 5 to 6 feet because that’s just how it is out here. I had a lot of 5- and 6-footers for par today.”

And she made them all. That decision to change to a left-hand low grip at the Women’s Britsh Open three weeks ago at Royal Troon looks like the right move. And her confidence is soaring.

updated

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.(AP)— The numbers suggested a stress-free time in the desert for Nelly Korda, who had five birdies and a clean card Friday for a 5-under 67 to build a two-shot lead going into the hot weekend at the ANA Inspiration.

All she could think about were two pars.

The only fairway she missed was on her 11th hole, the par-5 second, and she was badly out of position the entire wayuntil making an 18-foot par putt to escape her big mess. One hole later, after hitting a fat shot from the fairway, she againhad to make a par putt from some 25 feet.

“I did not know what I was doing on those two holes,” Korda said. “I was happy those two went in. Golf is just all about momentum, so you roll one in here and there and it just makes it a lot easier.”

It only figures to get harder from here.

Korda was at 11-under 133, two shots clear of Mirim Lee, who also played bogey-free in the rising heat for a 65. Joining them in the final group is a daunting figure in these parts, Lexi Thompson, a past champion at Mission Hills who can overpower the Dinah Shore course.

Thompson made up ground quickly with three birdies in a four-hole stretch at the start of her round, including a 4-iron from 220 yards to 6 feet on the par-5 second (she missed the eagle putt) and a 9-iron from 164 yards on the par-3 fifth that led to a 15-foot birdie.

With the tee moved up on the par-5 18th, she swung for the fences and nearly pulled it into the lake, saved by the September date because the ball sinks instead of rolls in the Bermuda rough. She settled for par and a 67 to finish four shots behind, along with Nanna Koertz Madsen (69).

“I left a few out there, but also I made a lot of good putts,” Thompson said.

Danielle Kang looked poised to join the chase, a big week because she is projected to reach No. 1 in the world with a victory. Her momentum was slowed by bugs, a brick wall and a bridge.

Kang came in too steep on a wedge from the 10th fairway and was 10 feet short of the green. She opted to use her putter, but backed off three times from bugs flying around her face. Then, she left it 7 feet short and missed the par putt. She stalked to the back of the green, clearly annoyed, and it didn’t help when she and Anna Nordqvist were put on the clock.

Kang was out of sorts, quickly walking after missed putts. On the 15th, she pulled her tee shot near a wall, and after asking if she could get relief — it was a boundary wall, so no — she hit into the wall trying to get it back to the fairway. It went only about 10 yards, and she had to scramble for bogey.

And then on the 18th, her approach ran through the green and just onto the carpet-lined bridge across Poppie’s Pond. She pitched off the bridge to 6 feet and missed the birdie putt for a 71.She was six shots back, still in the mix.

Korda, however, has looked solid. Thompson’s name on the board stands out given her power and record at Mission Hills.

Korda hit 13 fairways, not the most difficult task with the lush Bermuda grass cutting back how much the ball rolls. More impressive was missing only four greens, and taking 26 putts on greens already sun-baked and fast.

“Definitely very happy with my putting today, and I was superbly happy with bogey-free,” she said.

She picked up two birdies on the par 3s on the back nine and looked like she might give those shots back when she tugged her tee shot on No. 2. She considered taking a drop from the cart path until realizing she would be thick rough, so she hit 4-hybrid some 30 yards out to the right, leaving her no angle.

“Near dead over there,” she said. “Honestly, I was super happy with rolling that putt in. I was like, ’Just get me off this hole.”

The greens were pure in the morning, though getting the speed right was critical because they are rolling out a few extra feet, putting an even greater premium on pace.

“The thing out here is you hit a solid putt and it keeps on going,” Korda said. “You think it’s going to stop, and it just keeps on releasing, so then you’re like, ‘This is a good putt, this could possibly go in,’ and then it releases 5 to 6 feet because that’s just how it is out here. I had a lot of 5- and 6-footers for par today.”

And she made them all. That decision to change to a left-hand low grip at the Women’s Britsh Open three weeks ago at Royal Troon looks like the right move. And her confidence is soaring.

The temperatures are trending that direction, too, with a forecast of around 105 to 110 degrees for the weekend.

The weekend will includefive of the six amateurs, tying a record at this event. Leading the way was Gabriela Ruffels at 5 under, with Rose Zhang another shot back. Zhang won the U.S. Women’s Amateur last month to deny Ruffels back-to-back wins.

Sep 11, 2020; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Nelly Korda hits her tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the 2020 ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills GC.

Korda builds two-shot lead at ANA Inspiration

(Reuters)- Nelly Korda carded an impressive five-under 67 to build a two-stroke lead over Mirim Lee in the second round of the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California on Friday as she strengthened her bid for a maiden major title.

The 22-year-old American, who began the day one stroke ahead ofChun In-geeof South Korea and Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden, made five birdies and sank putts from 20 feet on the second and 25 feet on the third to remain bogey free across the round.

Korda, who fired a first-round 66 on Thursday, moved to 11-under 133 for the tournament, taking a 36-hole lead into the weekend of a major for the first time in her career.

“I did not know what I was doing on those two holes,” Korda said. “My caddie Jason just said, okay, take a deep breath right now, so I was happy those two went in.

“Golf is just about momentum, so you roll one in here and there and it just makes it a lot easier.

South Korean Lee, who began the round in 19th, made seven birdies and also remained bogey-free as she surged up the leaderboard to second.

American Lexi Thompson and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen are tied for third, four shots behind Korda.

Thompson, who has just one top-10 finish this year, said re-uniting with childhood coach Jim McLean helped her find her groove at Mission Hills CC.

“I worked with Jim for a week. He knew my swing better than anybody growing up. I thought let’s just go back to old Lexi and see him. We changed a few things,” said Thompson, who won the tournament in 2014.

The ANA Inspiration is usually played in April but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is being held without fans in attendance.

The conditions are less than ideal at Rancho Mirage, with temperatures expected to soar above 100°F(37.8°C)during the tournament.

(-11, first)Nelly Korda flips her club after missing a shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Friday Sept. 11, 2020.

Nelly Korda hits her tee shot on the 12th hole

Nelly Korda, center, watches her tee shot on the 12th hole

(-7, T3 with Nanna Koerstz Madsen)Lexi Thompson watches a shot on the fourth hole

(-2, T30 with Marina Alex, Patty Tavatanakit, Anne van Dam, Hinako Shibuno, Kristen Gillman, Carlota Ciganda, Perrine Delacour & Ally McDonald)Sung Hyun Park, of South Korea, watches her tee shot on the 12th hole

(-1, T38 with Amy Yang, Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel, Lydia Ko & Linnea Strom)Nasa Hataoka, of Japan, hits her tee shot on the 12th hole

(+1, T54 with Eun-Hee Ji, Inbee Park, Maria Fassi, Emilia Migliaccio(a), Celine Boutier, Nicole Broch Larsen & Leona Maguire)Yui Kawamoto, of Japan, watches her shot on the 11th hole

Should You Buy in a Golf Community or Outside It?

The pros and cons are many. Give careful consideration before making a purchase.

NYT, By Shivani Vora, Sept. 11, 2020

When it comes to finding a golf home, prospective buyers have two ways to go: purchasing in a community with a golf club or outside it and near a golf club, which could be in a community that offers membership to nonresidents.

“For decades, golf home buyers bought most communities, but since the 2008 recession, the trend has gone the other way,” said Jason Becker, the chief executive ofGolf Life Navigators, a matchmaking site that helps people find golf memberships and homes based on their criteria.

So should you buy inside the gates or out? Here are some factors to consider before closing the sale.

Home Maintenance Costs

In a community:Buying a home within a golf community generally requires joining its homeowner’s association (H.O.A.) which, according to Mr. Becker, costs roughly $1,000-plus per quarter in many communities.

The association usually manage your home’s lawn care and pest prevention, and maintain common areas such as the clubhouse and pool. Storm preparedness is also within the purview of an H.O.A., Mr. Becker said.

The downsides may include the high price and not having a choice of who services your community’s maintenance programs (that is mandated by the H.O.A.), but the benefit is the convenience. “You don’t have to think about when you need to have your lawn mowed or care factors because the H.O.A. manages it,” Mr. Becker said.

Outside a community:When you live in a home outside a golf community, the financial advantage is that you don’t have a fixed maintenance cost and can compare prices when choosing your care providers. This could be less expensive in the long run, and you’re not forced to fund amenities you don’t use. On the other hand, you are responsible for scheduling and paying for lawn maintenance, pool cleaning and other upkeep.

Costs of Being a Member

In a community:In some communities, a home purchase includes membership to the golf club; these communities are considered “bundled” ones and an ideal option for avid but budget-conscious golfers.

More often than not, however, said Michael Timmerman, the chief market intelligence officer forClub Benchmarking, a financial analysis company for member-owned clubs (including ones in communities), home buyers have to pay an additional fee to join the golf club and use facilities such as the gym and pool. “You’re looking at an initiation fee plus annual dues that add up to thousands of dollars a year and don’t have a choice in picking your club,” he said.

Outside a community:Golf enthusiasts may end up saving money by living outside of a community, according to Mr. Timmerman, because they can choose from different clubs in the area and join the most appealing and affordable one. They also usually have the option to transfer their membership — a benefit that’s sometimes not available to buyers in communities.

Ability to Rent Your Home

Inside a community:Chris Charnas, the founder of Links Capital Advisors, a real-estate broker specializing in sales of golf courses and communities, said that many H.O.A.s don’t allow residents to rent out their homes for additional income. “They don’t want strangers living within the community, so if you’re not living in your home year-round, it’s sitting there empty, and you’re still paying expenses,” he said.

If a community allows rentals, keep in mind that the homeowner and the renter often have to follow strict protocols. For example, the owner may have to fill out a lengthy application to transfer their membership to the renter. Also, renters may only be able to play golf under “guest” policies, which, for example, could state that they’re allowed on the course only during certain hours or have to pay a fee for each round.

Outside a community:In a noncommunity golf home, you have the freedom to rent out your property, whether it’s for a longer period of several months or for a few days occasionally through a third-party rental site likeAirbnb. “If renting your home is part of your master plan, I would suggest finding a home outside the gates of a community,” Mr. Becker said.

The Noise Factor

In a community:Some noise is a given whether you live in or outside of a community, but living within the gates means that there is less likelihood of late-night partying. However, golf course maintenance vehicles during early morning hours, some of which can be loud, are common. If you’re considering a home on or hear a golf hole, make sure to ask those maintenance schedule questions so you don’t catch any surprise alarm clocks.

Outside a community:A big advantage to living outside the community when considering noise is not having to worry about course maintenance schedules. On the other hand, you are most likely to be near interstates or busy roads.

Safety

In a community:The safety factor of living in a gated environment is one of the biggest drivers for buying a home within a community. “Safety has become even more paramount for golf home buyers since Covid,” Mr. Timmerman said. Most gated clubs have a front gate security booth where all visitors check in and get a pass before they are allowed to enter. Gated communities also have security guards who regularly patrol the streets.

Outside a community:If you’re not living in a community, you’re relying on the overall safety of your neighborhood and local law enforcement for security. Many areas also have neighborhood patrol programs in which residents volunteer to drive through the streets to watch for any suspicious activity.

Sense of Community

In a community:Golf Life Navigators, who help golfers find homes and courses, conducted a recent survey of 25,000 people and found that the top reason for home buyers to live in a community is the opportunities it offers to socialize. Mr. Becker said that communities host regular events for residents including barbecues and game and movie nights. “Your social life is created for you, and outside of events, there are more organic opportunities to connect,” he said. On the other hand, a possible drawback is that you don’t fit in with the club’s overall culture.

Outside a community:While home buyers outside of communities can mingle with others through their golf clubs, they tend to miss out on the sense of belonging and close-knit feel that community residents get. “You have to work harder to connect with others as a nonresident,” Mr. Becker said.

Amenities

In a community:Mr. Charnas said that amenities are a top perk of community life. Examples vary by community but could include a pool, green spaces, tennis courts, multiple restaurants, a spa, a gym, hiking and biking trails and a kids’ center — all within walking distance of your home. “Communities offer a lot more diversions these days than just golf and attract plenty of nongolfers,” he said.

Outside a community:Amenities are more limited for a noncommunity home. “The neighborhood your house is in may have a playground or park at best,” Mr. Charnas said. On the other hand, if you’re a resident member at a community club, you may be able to access its amenities. A word of caution: before joining a community’s club, be sure to understand your financial commitment as a nonresident member; you could still be on the hook for any capital contributions.

Architectural Design

In a community:Generally, to keep the look of properties consistent, golf communities have homes that are built in one or a handful of architectural styles, leaving buyers with limited options for the exterior look of their home. If your home’s architecture is more important to you than the golf club, Mr. Becker suggested finding a property to suit your tastes first and then consider the club.

Outside a community:When you don’t live in a community, you have the freedom to choose your home’s architecture. But you are also at the mercy of your neighbors and their design preferences; a neighborhood with too many varying styles has the potential to lower the market value of your home.

Ability to Sell Your Home and Leave the Club

In a community:In the event you want to leave the club, the process isn’t always hassle-free and can be costly. You’re likely to lose your initiation fee as a nonequity member but may have to keep paying annual dues until you’ve been replaced by a new member if you have an equity position.

When selling your home, most communities have a residential real estate broker or expert who can help sell your property, but keep in mind that the financial state of a club has a big impact on property values, according to Mr. Timmerman and Mr. Becker.

Outside a community:A benefit of living outside of a golf community is avoiding any potential threats of depreciation of a golf community home. While you take a financial risk wherever you buy, the risk may be greater buying a home in a club community that could have money struggles in the future. However, whether you live in a club community or not, resigning your membership can be just as pricey.

Golf in a Remote and Breathtaking Part of the World

In Patagonia, two resorts combine the sport with the ability to live in natural beauty.

NYT, Allie Lazar, Sept. 11, 2020

An Andean condor, one of the world’s largest flying birds, occasionally sails beneath the snowy peak of the Lanín volcano, swoops through a valley and over the fairway at El Desafío Mountain Resort in Patagonia’s northwest region.

Pumas, foxes and wild boars sometimes make their way near the course too, said Alfredo Bauer, who pauses his round of golf whenever he sees animals roaming. Mr. Bauer, 64, from Buenos Aires, built his vacation home at El Desafío, a private golf and polo community about 10 miles outside San Martín de los Andes, a city in Argentina’s Neuquén Province. “It’s still so pure here,” he said. “It’s my favorite place in the world.” El Desafío and the nearby Chapelco Golf & Resort are attracting international golfers seeking to connect with nature and play on courses with stunning views.

El Desafío Mountain Resort has polo fields, a golf course and a nature reserve.

Designed by the Hall of Fame golfers Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, these courses have been integrated with the terrain and vegetation, taking a minimalist approach to highlight the pristine surroundings. Nongolfers have gravitated there too, building houses and working with landscape designers to preserve the native wildlife.

San Martín de los Andes is known as the gateway to Patagonia. It lies on the banks of Lago Lácar, one of the many glacial lakes in the district, and borders Lanín National Park, Chapelco Ski Resort and the Patagonian steppe, the largest desert in Argentina. With its many mountain rivers and streams, the region is also known for its fly-fishing.

Desafío executives said the city attracted tourists, mostly from Argentina, Brazil and Chile. They come for events like Tetra Chapelco, a tetrathlon, and the Fiesta Nacional del Montañés, a festival featuring competitive wood chopping.

Chapelco Golf & Resort, a residential and vacation development, hotel, and golfing community named after the nearby Chapelco mountain, opened for play in 2004. Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus II designed its 18-hole course, which was the first to bring the city major golf notoriety. This was the farthest south the PGA Tour Latinoamérica had ever traveled when it hosted the Neuquén Argentina Classic in 2018 and 2019, and it was selected because, according to the PGA, it’s “one of the most beautiful golf venues in Latin America.”

Across National Route 40 is El Desafío. Claudio Hirsch, its founding director, said he quit his Buenos Aires banking job in 1999 and began scouting land to buy in Patagonia. After founding Argentina’s National Parks Foundation in 2002, he came across an opportunity to purchase a 2,500-acre site on a tree-covered mountain four miles from San Martín de los Andes’ airport, which made it accessible despite its remote location. Its landscape could make “tears of joy fall from your face,” he said.

The ecological aspect was an important pillar of the development, maximizing natural areas to ensure the preservation of wildlife. “It was ambitious,” Mr. Hirsch said. “To build what we did on that mountain, it was an amazing thing.”

In 2008, the Dallas-based private equity firm Hicks Trans American Partners joined the project as developers. “We tried to develop a community that would have the best of Patagonia,” said Marcos Clutterbuck, director at El Desafío and partner at Hicks Trans American Partners. Its plans included a real estate development, a golf course, polo fields, equestrian facilities and a nature reserve.

The developers asked Mr. Norman, who had experience with mountain courses, to lead the golf course design team.

He said his vision was for every hole to have an open view of the mountains, volcano or steppe, with houses allowed on only one fairway side to not obstruct the view. Mr. Norman’s team incorporated the topography into the design and created wide corridors that all players could enjoy, but still challenging from the pro tees. “It’s worth the journey all the way to Patagonia,” Mr. Norman said of the course.

The eighth hole of El Desafío’s golf course, viewed from the green.

The partners said they believed in an eco-friendly approach, using organic liquids instead of chemical fertilizers to treat the greens. They built an irrigation system propelled by gravity, not pumps, that traveled from a reservoir at the mountaintop, to streams and then into pipes.

The first nine holes were completed in 2015, and executives hoped the final nine would be completed in five years.

Jorge Peralta of Patagonia Golf, who has organized golf tours in Argentina for 20 years, said that some of his clients returned to Patagonia to play golf because of the scenery, activities and climate. The golfing season, he said, runs through the Southern Hemisphere’s warmer months of November through March and peaks in January, when there is daylight from about 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. “Golfers are always chasing the sun,” he said.

The lots at El Desafío were placed so as to not disturb the natural habitat. While each buyer chose an architect, the houses are largely modern in design and built primarily with stone and wood siding. There are 240 lots, about two-thirds of which are sold, Mr. Clutterbuck said. Lots start at half an acre, from about $60,000 to $130,000, depending on size.

These Andes golfing communities do not appeal only to lovers of the sport.

“This place is paradise,” said Alicia Sujoy, an architect from Buenos Aires, who vacationed at Chapelco Golf in 2009. Captivated by the area’s wildness, she bought land at El Desafío in 2012. By 2013, she celebrated Christmas in her new home there.

“Here you can find solitude,” she said.

A home designed by Alicia Sujoy at El Desafío.

She spends winters and summers there in the 4,062-square-foot sustainable solar-power house she designed using local materials. It has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the mountains, volcano and steppe. She does not play golf, but the course is her favorite walk, and she takes advantage of the private 1,500-acre reserve, which remains untouched from construction, and, executives said, is reachable only by foot, bike or horseback.

Ms. Sujoy spends most days in her garden, where, under the counsel of the landscape designer Karina Querejeta, she had hundreds of nonnative ponderosa pines removed and planted about 300 indigenous trees. Ms. Querejeta, who has lived in the region her whole life, has clients with houses at El Desafío and Chapelco Golf, and often favors rugged gardens that can support the stress of wind, sun and snow.

“We need strong plants: tough, rustic and resistant, but with color,” she said. “Perfect for Patagonia.”

In a recent phone interview from his Buenos Aires home, Mr. Bauer, who, like other Argentines, has been barred from travel by the government because of the coronavirus pandemic, said he was “absolutely desperate” to return to El Desafío and, more specifically, its fifth hole, which is tucked into the mountain. His house is directly above the green, an ideal space to work during the pandemic.

“The moment this travel ban is lifted, I’m getting in my car and driving to Patagonia,” he said.

A condor flying over San Martín de los Andes, Argentina, with the Lanín volcano in the background.

Dream Homes for Golfers and Wine Lovers

Communities that are tailored to bons vivants looking for world-class chipping and sipping in beautiful settings.

NYT, By Nora Walsh, Sept. 11, 2020

If your idea of a dream home includes a combination of golf, nature, quality architecture and fine wine, there are master-planned communities around the world offering the best of all four.

“Some of the top golf clubs in the world also have some of the finest wine cellars,” said Greg Nathan, chief business officer of the National Golf Foundation.

Perhaps the combination shouldn’t be a surprise: The British Open’s coveted trophy is in the shape of a claret jug after all — traditionally used to serve Bordeaux wine in the 19th century. And top golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, David Frost and Luke Donald all have their own wine labels, said Paul T. Stringer, president of Nicklaus Design.

Here is a selection of lifestyle-driven communities tailored tobons vivantslooking for world-class chipping and sipping in breathtaking settings.

Italy

Set in the Tuscan hills where the Medici family used to holiday, Toscana Resort Castelfalfi offers a taste of la dolce vita. The fertile 2,700-acre retreat is a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, lakes and woodlands centered on a medieval village of stone structures outfitted with modern amenities.

“Unlike other golf-driven communities, this doesn’t have a suburban feel,” said Marco Boni, a homeowner who lives in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Toscana Resort Castelfalfi is centered on a medieval village of stone structures.

Six sites for villas overlooking the golf course start at 1.7 million euros(about $2 million)for a 2,580-square-foot property. New constructions (a rarity in Tuscany) must adhere to strict green-building codes. For those looking for a fixer-upper, 14 additional farmhouse ruins, some dating to the 15th century, are scattered throughout the property and are available for restoration. Refurbishment (conducted through the resort) costs about €740 per square foot. (Homeowners’ resort fees start at €4,000 per year.)

Two hillside golf courses span about 32,000 square feet across varied terrain. Designed by Wilfried Moroder and Rainer Preissmann, the 18-hole Mountain Course tests veteran golfers while the nine-hole Lake Course caters to beginners.

“If I didn’t play golf, I’d walk the course every day because the views are so visually arresting,” said Tim Wade, a homeowner who lives in London.

To enjoy the literal fruits of Tuscany, homeowners can adopt a row of grape vines or an olive grove to receive personalized bottles of wine or extra-virgin olive oil refined at the on-site organic winery. Homeowners also have exclusive access to wine tours, tastings and discounts on the resort’s various wine labels.

South Africa

The 2,265-acre Val de Vie estate is in the heart of the vineyard-lined Paarl-Franschhoek Valley in South Africa’s Western Cape.

The Val de Vie estate is a residential development in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley in the country’s Western Cape wine region. The estate has an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Pearl Valley, the residential development’s 18-hole golf course, was designed by Jack Nicklaus and has been consistently ranked a top course byGolf Digestmagazine.

“It’s such a memorable course because the layout is challenging and the mountain backdrops are magnificent,” said Hein Koegelenberg, a resident of Val de Vie and owner of the on-site winery, L’Huguenot Cellar, which produces the estate’s five signature wines. Residents can also create their own wine blends at the winery; prices start at $700 per barrel.

The houses in Val de Vie feature French Provençal or Cape Vernacular styles with prices ranging from $250,000 for an entry-level 1,990-square-foot home to $5 million for a 15,000-square-foot house.

While a barrel of wine will go a long way toward pleasing adults, Val de Vie also places ahuge focus on family entertainment, said Mr. Koegelenberg, citing a list of kid-friendly facilities, including junior golf, tennis and equestrian academies, cricket, soccer, batting cages, polo fields, a wildlife camp and 26 miles of trails.

About 80 of the 1,700 lots are currently available. Homes feature French Provençal or Cape Vernacular styles with prices ranging from $250,000 for an entry-level 1,990-square-foot house to $5 million for a 15,000-square-foot home. Construction rates are about $100 per square foot, and monthly fees start at $225.

New Zealand

Near Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is Jack’s Point, a 3,138-acre lakeside development at the base of the Remarkables mountain range.

Jack’s Point is a 3,138-acre lakeside development at the base of the Remarkables mountain range. The development is near the wine-growing region of Gibbston.

Thirteen hundred lots ranging from 3,230 square feet to more than 12 acres have prices from 350,000 to 3 million New Zealand dollars (about $231,000 to $2 million), with construction costs starting at about 325 New Zealand dollars per square foot. (Homeowners’ association fees start at 3,500 New Zealand dollars per year.)

Thirty-six home sites with alpine and lake views are in The Preserve, a neighborhood fringing the 18-hole golf course designed by the project’s developer, John Darby.

Jack’s Point has 1,300 lots ranging in price from about $231,000 to $2 million.

“Our house is low-slung and built with local schist stone, dark-stained timber and a flat roof covered with pebbles to blend into the natural landscape,” said Jude Roberts, a full-time resident whose sun-drenched four-bedroom home overlooks the vista.

The developer said residents were attracted to Jack’s Point for its four distinct seasons and recreational facilities, which include tennis, water sports, 15.5 miles of trails, local golf courses and ski resorts.

Oenophiles can taste the terroir at Gibbston, a nearby wine-growing region famous for its pinot noir and home to dozens of wineries and wine cellars.

Argentina

Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael, Mendoza, has luxury vineyard living on a 4,138-acre estate planted with heritage vines, olive groves and fruit orchards at the foot of the Sierra Pintada mountains.

Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael, Mendoza, is a 4,138-acre estate planted with heritage vines, olive groves and fruit orchards at the foot of the Sierra Pintada mountains.

The region’s sunny climate is ideal for producing the estate’s signature bonarda and malbec wines, as well as playing its nine-hole golf course designed by Ricardo Jurado Jr., the grandson of the Argentine golf legend José Jurado.

More than 100 vineyard lots, some showcasing Spanish Revival homes, overlook the golf course. (Another nine holes with adjacent lots are in the works.) Home sites range from 21,527 square feet ($105,000) to almost seven acres ($785,000), with construction costs around $80 per square foot. Homeowners’ association fees run about $350 per month.

“I quickly realized I could get much more for my money in Mendoza compared to Napa, Tuscany or Provence,” said John Raffaeli, a homeowner and wine entrepreneur.

Algodon Wine Estates is in a region of Argentina with a sunny climate that is ideal for producing the estate’s signature bonarda and malbec wines.

At the on-site winery, homeowners can create their own private-label in collaboration with the winemaker Mauro Nosenzo. Rates start at $2,900 and include the cost of labor, a new French-oak barrel and about 290 bottles of wine.

Further north in the province of Salta is La Estancia de Cafayate, a 1,360-acre residential vineyard estate in the Calchaqui Valley, a premier wine region known for its Torrontes.

The 400-lot development, featuring an 18-hole Bob Cupp-designed golf course, will debut 17 vineyard homes with rustic touches like terra-cotta roofs, wrought iron and verandas with typical Argentine grills. Prices start at $290,000 plus homeowner association fees.

“Cafayate is a quaint boutique-winery town — think Napa 50 years ago,” said David Galland, a homeowner and minority partner in La Estancia de Cafayate.

Canada

Predator Ridge, a 1,200-acre residential community featuring over 700 homes and fitness and wellness amenities in the lush Okanagan countryside of British Columbia, has attracted Canadians from across the country — in part because of its amenities, Rob Davidson, Predator Ridge’s vice president of product and planning, said.

Residents of the Predator Ridge community in British Columbia don’t have to drive more than 15 minutes to reach the wineries surrounding the Okanagan Valley wine region.

“People buy our community before they buy a home,” Mr. Davidson said. “We have over a thousand community events every year that residents can participate in, from fitness classes to wine-pairing dinners, cooking classes and trail walks.”

Predator Ridge has 36 holes of championship golf, including the par-72 Ridge course designed by Doug Carrick that stretches 7,000 yards across rolling hills. The similarly sized Predator course features a par-71 Les Furber layout.

Predator Ridge has community events that include fitness classes, wine-pairing dinners, cooking classes and trail walks.

Homes in the Commonage neighborhood overlooking the Predator course have modern-ranch architecture, outdoor living areas and low-impact landscaping. Lots start at 270,000 Canadian dollars (about$202,550) for 7,405 square feet, with construction costs around 265 Canadian dollars per square foot. Homeowners’ association fees are about 200 Canadian dollars per month.

Wine lovers don’t have to drive more than 15 minutes along scenic back roads to sip varietals like pinot gris and pinot noir at a handful of more than 180 wineries peppering the surrounding Okanagan Valley wine region.

Toscana Resort Castelfalfi in the Tuscan hills of Italy is a 2,700-acre retreat that includes vineyards, olive groves, lakes and woodlands. Homeowners can adopt a row of grape vines or an olive grove to receive personalized bottles of wine or olive oil refined at the on-site organic winery.

Live on a Golf Course? Don’t Forget to Duck

Errant balls have a way of finding gardens, porches and backsides. Some homeowners sue, others shrug.

By Paul Sullivan, Sept. 11, 2020

Quaker Ridge GC is a secluded private club in Scarsdale, N.Y. It was designed by A.W. Tillinghast, the architect of the neighboring Winged Foot GC, which hosts this year’s United States Open Championship.

Golfers who know great courses debate whether Quaker Ridge, which opened in 1916, seven years before its better-known cousin, is the superior course. But one area that sets Quaker Ridge apart is its second hole. A slight dogleg right with out of bounds on the right, it’s ranked by course raters as the fifth-toughest hole on the course.

But it may rank first in the metropolitan region for angry, litigious neighbors who don’t want balls hitting their property. The house on the right, where poorly struck shots have landed, has been the subject of litigation and mitigation for about 10 years.

The house is now hidden behind gigantic, mature trees moved there from other parts of the course after the owner sued. They serve to barricade the house, as does a net the club had installed. (The owner is not a member.)

Still, balls fly into the yard. So now, to keep better track of the balls, players are handed an oddly numbered ball — 21, 55, 73 — and the number is recorded in a ledger by a marshal. When the hole is done, players put the numbered balls in a bin on the third tee and resume using their own ball.

Mr. Wiant said his shots have landed in the yards of neighbors’ homes along the course or, less commonly, on a roof.

To some who live on courses, balls screaming into the begonias are the cost of living there. Others may not see it that way. Even some golfers who prize living on a course can become irritated when an errant shot causes damage. One way to avoid the problem is to consider the location of the property carefully.

When Jane Edwards and Lou Neudorff moved from New York to the Bay Creek Resort & Club in Cape Charles, Va., they identified some home sites with obvious problems.

“One of the lots we looked at was 50 yards from the tee box, to the right, with no trees in front of it,” Mr. Neudorff said. “I said, we can’t buy this lot, I know what will happen.”

Golf is one area in the United States that has boomed economically during the pandemic, with people working from home instead of commuting.

In June, almost eight million more rounds were played than in the previous June, a 13.9 percent increase, according to the National Golf Foundation. In golf-focused states, where living on a course is highly desirable, those rounds increased even more, the foundation found: Arizona was up 29 percent, Florida up 25 percent, Georgia up 24 percent and Texas up 23 percent.

Alas, frequency of play is not correlated with accuracy of shots.

While the foundation does not track errant shots, it does track the level of interest. That, too, has increased, withsome 15 million people who had never played golf saying they were more interested in playing. And some of those novices could reasonably be linked to errant shots.

Mr. Wiant always has an alibi, in case the ball goes astray.

James Wiant, 65, who lives at Spanish Wells CC in Bonita Springs, Fla., did not take up golf until he retired several years ago from Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee and doughnut company. Mr. Wiant said he was an avid, if occasionally errant, golfer.

He’s had run-ins. On Christmas morning a few years ago, Mr. Wiant said, he was rooting around in someone’s plantings for his ball. From inside, he heard a man yelling at him and becoming incensed as he approached the door. By the time the owner reached the door he was cursing like a sailor.

“I look up and see this guy coming through the door,” Mr. Wiant said. “He’s probably 89 years old and has a walker he’s pushing in front of him. I got my ball and ran away, saying Merry Christmas.”

But his most enduring memory is hitting not one, but two, neon-colored golf balls onto the roof of a house on the course. They clattered around and got stuck where the roof met the metal supports of the screened-in pool.

“All of my friends made fun of me,” Mr. Wiant said. “Right after Hurricane Irma I went by to see if they were blown away. I thought they’d be gone for sure. But they survived.”

He had a well-rehearsed alibi: “I’ve never met the owner of the house, and I refuse to. If anyone asks if it was me, I’ll deny it. I’ll say, who plays neon golf balls?”

Golfers would prefer to be in the fairway, not on someone’s porch. But errant shots can come from any direction.

The right side of any course is a reliable danger zone, with beginner and intermediate golfers lazily hitting balls off to the right. It’s the high slice that rises and keeps going right until it falls way off line. Beware 150 to 200 yards from the tee box. But someone who buys a house, say, 100 yards from the tee box on the left could also be in danger: This is the preserve of the duck hook.

If there is amused bafflement at the sight of a slice rising high above the trees and landing where the golfer will never see it again, the duck hook engenders no such mirth. It’s a hard-racing, soul-crushing shot often followed by expletives.

The slice may splash harmlessly into a pool or come to rest in a yard. But the duck hook is a fiercer beast, with its low, hard trajectory that can tear through screens and bruise the legs and backsides of a homeowner in the garden.

John Gracik, a retired insurance adjuster who lives 100 yards from the tee on the 16th hole at The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Fla., thought he was safe on the left. But he has had broken windows, a damaged pool screen and dozens of golf balls to prove that hooks happen, too.

“It gets kind of expensive,” Mr. Gracik, 68, said. “But there’s not much you can do about it. We kind of accept it.”

Ms. Edwards and Mr. Neudorff of Cape Charles, Fla., eventually fell in love with a lot at Bay Creek about 140 to 200 yards from a set of tee boxes. They took comfort in the stand of trees between their lot and the cart path, but their builder knew better. “He was a golfer, and he reassured me that he would site our house on our lot to alleviate fears of golf balls whizzing in,” Ms. Edwards said.

He accomplished this by building the house at the very front of their property line, which left a larger backyard. “We have berms and trees that give us privacy,” she said, “and beds that give those errant golf balls more space. He understood the situation.”

Still, Ms. Edwards said she found balls in her flower pots, while Mr. Neudorff collects at least a half a dozen new balls from his yard each week.

Buying an existing house can be trickier because any half-savvy real estate agent may not point out the flaws. Mr. Gracik said it never occurred to him that he was buying in the line of fire.

“The real estate people are pretty smart,” he said. “We walked in the front door and looked straight through, out the back, and you could see the pool, the lake and the trees on the other side. We sort of got blinded because it was such a pretty view.”

Mr. Wiant, the occasional house hitter, lives in a house behind a par-3 hole and has never been hit by an errant shot.

“The good golfers will not hit my house because they’re using irons,” he said. “The bad golfers can’t make it over the water in front of the green, and if they can’t make it over the water they can’t hit my house.”

It’s all about position, whether lining up a shot or choosing a house on a course that’s out of the line of fire.

Beyond choosing a location carefully, homeowners have little recourse if balls come flying into their yards. In many states, there’s an assumption of risk in living there.

Like many things in the good life, a bit of perspective can go a long way. Ms. Edwards said her gardening was mostly a safe avocation. But there was that time a man hit a shot close to where she was tending her flowers.

“I heard a golf cart approach and heard a guy get out,” she said. “Then I heard this long strain of horrible language. He saw me and was so embarrassed. He turned to me and said, ‘Oh, ma’am, I’m so sorry. You have a beautiful garden.’”

It all pales in comparison to one of Mr. Gracik’s neighbors in Lakeland, who came home to find an alligator in his pool. It had crawled out of a pond on the course, walked through the screen and slid from the lanai into the water.

“That’s a little scary,” Mr. Gracik said. “I’ve only had one golf ball in my pool in seven years.”

James Wiant at Spanish Wells CC in Bonita Springs, Fla., where he also lives, early this month.

Snow Golf? In Switzerland, Where the Greens Are White

What started as a lark has become a bona fide sport that’s not only drawn golf enthusiasts but has begun to lure second home buyers.

By Adam H. Graham, Sept. 11, 2020

For years, golf has been associated with lush greens, bluebird skies and a Whitman’s sampler of riotous plaids and checks. But few know the sport has also quietly embraced winter whites, particularly in ski-crazy Switzerland.

In 2021,the Engadin Snow Golf Cupwill enter its 42nd year in Switzerland’s Engadine Valley, home to St. Moritz, and its famed diamond dust skies and scenic alpine golf courses dating to 1889. What started as a lark in one of Switzerland’s sunniest winter sports destinations, has become a bona fide sport that’s not only drawn golf enthusiasts but has begun to lure second home buyers seeking winter recreational activities adjacent to the snowy piste.

Winter golfing might sound odd, but the alps of southern Switzerland are especially sunny and offer a refuge for golfers from northern European countries who may not feel like hauling their nine irons on a plane for a few rounds farther afield. What’s more, snow golf offers an active but less-risky alternative to skiing. This has all led to a surge in popularity in predictable places like Germany, Austria, Canada and the United States (including popular golf destinations like Colorado, California, Wisconsin and North Carolina) but also off-the-golf-radar spots like Argentina, Greenland and Finland.

It has also drawn enthusiasts to buy nearby property. “Winter golf is just one of many offerings that make Switzerland’s Engadine Valley attractive for second home buyers, and a few have even bought here solely because of that,” said Ramun Ratti, the managing director at Engadine Golf Course, home to two 18-hole courses; it will host the Snow Golf Cup in January. “But snow golf is and will probably always be niche.”

Winter golfing might sound odd, but the alps of southern Switzerland are especially sunny.

While images of winter golf on frozen lakes can be found as far back as 17th-century Dutch paintings, it’s believed by some that modern snow golf started with St. Moritz’s former resort manager, Peter Kasper, who took up the idea of converting the putting greens to whites in 1904, which turned into reality with the first tournament in 1979, held on a frozen Lake St. Moritz. (The tournament moved in 1996, and today nine holes are played in a snow field in Surlej near Silvaplana Lake.)

There are, of course, significant differences with regular golf. The “whites” need a lot of manual grooming to make the surface around the hole compact, and the balls are orange and the golf holes three times bigger than regulation size. But the trade-off is something special, enthusiasts say.

“Winter golf is an amazing experience,” said Caroline Rominger, a professional golfer and Engadine native. “It can be quite cold, but when the sun comes out, we often play without jackets.”

The Alps play host to another tournament, the Barnes Winter GC, which is entering its fourth year in 2021. The annual host of the event rotates between four different alpine resorts: Courchevel, Megève, and Val d’Isére, in France; and Crans-Montana, in Switzerland’s Canton Valais, host of the Omega European Masters and one of eight golf courses in the canton.

The Bürgenstock Alpine Spa.

As the popularity of snow golf tournaments has grown, so has demand for nearby real estate.

Switzerland has had a wave of new golf residences, resorts and courses open in recent years, including Bürgenstock, a resort complex of hotels and residences perched above turquoise Lake Lucerne and once home to Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. In 2017, its scenic nine-hole course offering views of mountains like Eiger, Jungfrau, Pilatus and Titlis, reopened. Andermatt’s network of high-altitude residences and a 18-hole course just below the Gotthard Pass opened in 2016, while Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the spa resort, reopened in 2019 with three hotels and seven restaurants, including two with two Michelin stars each.

The next generation of Switzerland’s golf communities includes Golf Resort La Gruyère, scheduled to reopen in 2023 after a major refurbishment. Not all courses offer snow golf, but demand is growing and having fun is the goal.

“Snow golf is not about scores,” said Eveline Fasser Testa, a regular player who lives in St. Moritz. “The chance that you’ll find your ball in the deep snow is unlikely. It’s more about the experience of playing golf in the winter and having a great day.”

The Engadin Snow Golf Cupis a nine-hole tournament played in a snow field in Surlej near Silvaplana Lake.

Golf Is Embracing the ‘Dark Sky’ Movement

The payoffs go far beyond a better view of the glittering stars above.

NYT, By Adam H. Graham, Sept. 11, 2020

Golf has long had a reputation as an environmental hazard: Courses have long required large quantities of water, fertilizer and herbicides needed to maintain verdant greens, making it the sports industry’s wolf in sheep’s clothing.

But much of that is changing. Over 30 percent of golf courses in the United States are Audubon-certified, which ensures native grasses and habitat for insects and birds. The U.S. Golf Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America laid out guidelines in 2017 encouraging all U.S. courses to practice better environmental stewardship by the end of 2020, including deeper commitments to water and energy conservation and pollution prevention.

Golf courses, however, had never been major sources of light pollution. In fact, most greens, seldom lit at night, can help communities understand the importance of darkness. Many residential golf communities are now beginning to limit light pollution as part of the sport’s greening process, embracing the “dark sky” movement, and the payoffs go far beyond a better view of the glittering stars above.

“With golf courses averaging 150 acres per 18 holes, they create dark spaces simply by their land mass,” said Rand Jerris, the U.S.G.A. senior managing director of public services. “Courses are a way for communities to protect green space and provide proper balance to development.”

The idea of preserving dark skies began in the 1970s, prompted by amateur astronomers who could no longer see certain constellations because of an increase in artificial light. The International Dark-Sky Association was founded in Tucson, Ariz., in the 1980s and has since grown into an influential conservation organization with 145 designated Dark Sky locations in 21 countries. Their aim is to reduce light pollution, often by making simple changes like turning exterior lights downward to limit impact on nocturnal wildlife like migratory birds, bioluminescent insects and sea turtles, and help restore night skies to their natural state.

There are five types of Dark Sky designations, each with its own set of light-emitting criteria: Dark Sky Communities, Parks, Reserves, Sanctuaries and Urban Night Sky Places. Golf courses can be found in three of the five categories: Reserves, Parks and Communities.

About 90 minutes west of San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was designated a Dark Sky Park in 2018, and the town of Borrego Springs is a Dark Sky Community. The two work in tandem to reduce lighting and monitor dark-sky quality. But the area is also home to four golf courses, which are typically not lit at night.

The night sky near the Oasis at Death Valley resort in California.

Death Valley National Park, designated California’s first Dark Sky Reserve in 2008, is home to the challenging 18-hole Furnace Creek Golf Course, located 214 feet below sea level and part of the Oasis at Death Valley resort. While it remains one of the world’s largest dark-sky parks and among California’s darkest, the lights of Las Vegas, just 120 miles southeast, constantly threaten to pollute its night skies. Furnace Creek focuses on educating visitors and locals alike about dark skies by hosting star parties, led by the National Park Society and the Astronomical Society of Nevada, on its greens. (This fall, they are offering lightless night golf using glow-in-the-dark balls.)

Texas is home to 15 official Dark Sky places, including national parks like Big Bend and Dark Sky communities like Dripping Springs, just outside Austin. But Cordillera Ranch, about 32 miles north of San Antonio, is one of many residential golf communities forgoing the International Dark-Sky Association’s certification and creating its own dark-sky criteria. The development offers prime turf in Texas Hill Country, with quarter-acre villas, 10-plus-acre estates, valley views, hilltop homes and Guadalupe River frontage. Residents, who include the former P.G.A. champion and dark-sky enthusiast Jimmy Walker, must significantly lower their lights every night and shield all outdoor lights.

“Cordillera Ranch encompasses 8,700 acres and over 800 residences, so there are plenty of remote vantage points within the community to stargaze,” said Charlie Hill, the Cordillera chief operating officer and a resident. “Our family routinely sits on the patio in the evenings with the kids and watches for shooting stars. Those are experiences many kids don’t grow up with anymore.”

Another community that’s dark-sky friendly but not I.D.A.-certified is Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado, an 865-acre golf community that opened in the spring of 2018 and is in the town of Berthoud, about 27 miles northeast of Boulder. The 200-acre, 18-hole course is home to elk, coyotes, foxes and osprey, and it offers stunning views of the southern Rockies’ Front Range, where residents can regularly see the Milky Way, red and blue dwarves, and fading stars like Betelgeuse.

The Berthoud Heritage Metro District takes dark-sky responsibility seriously and adopted many of the I.D.A.’s criteria, including downward-pointing light fixtures on all new buildings, strictly enforced though audits of both architectural plans and completed construction.

“We love living in a community that considers the dark-sky movement to be of value,” said Sarah Kimmett-Smith, a resident golfer. “Seeing the NEOWISE Comet from our home this summer was an incredible experience.”

But light pollution is not just preventing us from seeing the Milky Way; it poses real health issues. The dark-sky movement had a major breakthrough in 2010 when the American Medical Association released a report recommending “minimizing and controlling blue-rich environmental lighting by using the lowest emissions possible.” Much like the light on our smartphone screens, the report said, white LED light keeps us awake at night and can cause a variety of health problems for both animals and humans.

A star-watching gathering at the Oasis at Death Valley.

But the movement’s watershed moment came during the coronavirus pandemic. As more people started to work from home, many started to stargaze from their own backyards. For those buying second homes, access to dark skies became a more important draw. This, in turn, led golf community developers to embrace dark skies as a marketing opportunity. A bonus: It also makes residences cheaper to maintain.

“As a result of Covid-19, we’re seeing increased interest in folks moving to remote areas,” said Daniel Wright, the assistant manager of Springs RV Resort and Golf Course in Borrego Springs, who has been working to preserve dark skies there for 20 years. “Their primary motivation may be getting out of cities and crowded suburbs, but as they spend more time in our area, we believe they will gain an appreciation for protecting dark skies.”

While the dark-sky movement started in the United States, it has picked up real steam internationally in the last decade. Mexico may not yet have an official dark-sky park, but the private sector is forging ahead with residential golf communities like Costa Palmas on Baja’s East Cape, home to residential golf communities like Four Seasons Residences Los Cabos and Amanvari Residences, where all “up lighting” is prohibited and only low-voltage lighting with a maximum of 25 watts may be used for all exterior site lighting applications.

“We have the opportunity and responsibility to develop Costa Palmas with a thoughtful approach to its natural setting and for us, that includes the spectacular night sky,” said Michael Radovan, managing director of Costa Palmas.

Initially, Europe had been slow to embrace the dark-sky movement, but is starting to make up for lost time. Dark-sky parks there started in Britain and spread to the Continent. Today, Britain leads the tally with 14 official I.D.A. sites; Germany has five, and France has four. Coincidentally, these are Europe’s three biggest golf markets.

What’s more, in 2019, France adopted the most progressive light pollution policies in the world — imposing lighting curfews, limits in emission, significantly reduced glare and the strictest emissions of blue light, not to mention an outright ban on lasers, skybeams, lit waterways and other light “trespasses.” This has been especially welcome in places like Normandy’s Alabaster Coast, home to 40 golf courses that are part of an emerald necklace preserving the region’s cultural and natural landscapes.

One link of the necklace is the famed Golf d’Etretat course, which opened in 1908 on a clifftop that inspired paintings by Monet, Delacroix, Manet and Corot. Another is Terre Blanche, an exclusive residential golf community in Provence that enacted strict new lighting ordinances in early 2020, retrofitting outdoor path lighting by adding partial blackout screens to lamps and replacing sodium bulbs with oriented flux bulbs.

Asia, too, is experiencing dark-sky mania, with new I.D.A. places in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, the continent’s biggest golf markets. Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan is home to 88 golf courses, as well as the town of Kawanehon, known for its coal-black skies, and the Nakakawane Mitsuboshi Astronomical Observatory. On the other end of the prefecture is Ashinoko Resort Villa, where sweeping views of Mount Fuji can be seen from the greens and the stars sparkle.

There’s still a lot of work to be done to help golf communities reduce their own light pollution. Some communities are claiming dark-sky compliance without certification, while others are using dark skies solely as a marketing tool — a reminder that certification is important.

“Golf courses have the ability to respect the natural nighttime environment or increase light pollution,” said Adam Dalton, the I.D.A.’s Dark Sky Places program manager. “By using lighting fixtures which have a clear purpose, are aimed only where needed, minimize blue-light emissions, and make use of motion sensors, timers and dimmers, they can serve as exemplary cases for responsible outdoor lighting.”

One selling point for courses and residences may simply be to emphasize a fundamental aspect of golf: its natural surroundings.

“Around the world, golf is leading important conversations in the relationship between recreational outdoor sports and the environment,” said Mr. Jerris of the U.S. Golf Association. “Many are attracted to golf because of its connection to nature, and we have a responsibility to ensure that connection endures.”

South Korea, Indonesia latest to withdraw from Thomas & Uber Cup

(Reuters)- South Korea and Indonesia have withdrawn from next month’s Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Denmark, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said in a statement on Saturday.

The two countries join Australia, Taiwan and Thailand in skipping the Oct. 3-11 tournament amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) said it was concerned that players could contract COVID-19 during the tournament.

The PBSI also confirmed that its players would not participate in the Denmark Open and Denmark Masters scheduled for in October.

Indonesia have won the men’s Thomas Cup a record 13 times and women’s Uber Cup thrice.

Thailand announced their withdrawal earlier this week, citing injuries and other COVID-19 related issues.

Replacements for the teams have yet to be announced.

The Thomas and Uber Cup, originally scheduled for May, had been postponed to August due to the pandemic before being moved to the new dates when the Danish government extended its ban on large gatherings.

Hyundai warns owners to park outside, recalls 180,000 SUVs

By TOM KRISHER, September 11, 2020

DETROIT(AP)— For the second time this month, Hyundai is telling some SUV owners to park outdoors because an electrical short in a computer could cause vehicles to catch fire.

The Korean automaker is recalling about180,000Tucson SUVs in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021 to fix the problem. The company says corrosion can cause a short circuit in defective anti-lock brake circuit boards that can cause a fire even if engines are off.

Hyundai says on Friday that it knows of a dozen engine fires caused by the problem but no injuries.

In addition, Hyundai says if the anti-lock brake warning light comes on, the SUVs should not be driven and owners should disconnect the positive cable on the battery. They should contact a dealer who will provide a loaner vehicle if needed.

Separately, Kia, which is affiliated with Hyundai, is recalling more than9,000Stinger sports cars with 3.3-liter turbocharged engines for a similar problem. Documents posted by U.S. safety regulators say fires can occur in the area of the anti-lock brake control computer.

Kia said in a statement Friday it has six fire reports with no injuries. The company has no reports of fires after engines are turned off, but it’s still recommending they be parked outdoors until repairs are made, “out of an abundance of caution,” the statement said. The cause of the fires isn’t known yet.

The recalls are the latest in a series of engine fire problems that have plagued the two automakers and have touched off investigations by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hyundai will notify owners of the recall by mail starting around Oct. 30. In the meantime, owners can key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number at www.hyundaiusa.com/recalls to see if their Tucson is affected.

The automaker said it’s investigating whether the same problem is happening in other countries.

On Sept. 3, U.S. safety regulators announced that Hyundai and Kia would recall over600,000vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to fix a brake fluid leak that could cause engine fires.

Those recalls are not related to the Tuscon recall. They cover more than440,000Kia Optima midsize sedans from 2013 through 2015 and Kia Sorento SUVs from 2014 and 2015. Also covered are203,000Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs from 2013 to 2015.

A day later, Hyundai said it recommends the vehicles be parked outdoors until the problem is repaired. Kia said Friday that the Sorentos should be parked outdoors.

In February, Hyundai recalled nearly430,000small cars for a similar problem. The company said water can get into the antilock brake computer, cause an electrical short and possibly an engine fire. That recall covered certain 2006 through 2011 Elantra and 2007 through 2011 Elantra Touring vehicles.

The company said the electrical short could cause a fire even when the cars are turned off.

In April of 2019, NHTSA opened two new investigations into fires involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles after getting complaints ofmore than 3,100 fires and 103 injuries.

The investigations, one for Hyundai and the other for Kia, cover non-crash fires in almost 3 million vehicles from the affiliated automakers.

The agency granted a petition seeking the investigations by the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, a consumer advocacy group.

Jason Levine, executive director of the center, said Friday that the recall shows consumer complaints need to be monitored and taken seriously by NHTSA and automakers.

“This recall of brand new models finally peels back the story that the epidemic of Hyundais catching fire were only happening on their older vehicles and they fixed the problem,” Levine said.

NHTSA had previously said it would incorporate the noncrash fires into a 2017 investigation that examined recalls of Hyundai and Kia vehicles for engine failures. It opened the new probes “based on the agency’s analysis of information received from multiple manufacturers, consumer complaints and other sources.”

Engine failure and fire problems with Hyundais and Kias have affected more than 6 million vehicles since 2015, according to NHTSA documents.

Hyundai said in a statement that it has recalled vehicles when a safety defect has been identified.

“We are constantly evaluating data from a variety of sources and won’t hesitate to conduct or expand a recall when we determine one is necessary to protect the safety of our owners,” the company said.

In this July 26, 2018 file photo, the logo of Hyundai Motor Co. is seen at its showroom in Seoul, South Korea. For the second time this month, Hyundai is telling some SUV owners to park outdoors because an electrical short in a computer can cause vehicles to catch fire. The Korean automaker is recalling about 180,000 Tucson SUVs in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021 to fix the problem.

Thiem grinds through two tiebreaks to reach U.S. Open final

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK(Reuters)-Austria’s Dominic Thiem advanced to his second Grand Slam final of 2020, digging out a win over third seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6(7) 7-6(5) at the U.S. Open on Friday.

“For sure (it was) the toughest straight-sets win I ever had because could have been easily completely different,” said Thiem, who will compete for his first-ever Grand Slam title in the men’s final on Sunday againstGermany’s Alexander Zverev.

Thiem seized the early momentum inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, handily carrying the first set without dropping a single first-serve point, but a double fault and a forehand error saw him hand Medvedev the break and the early lead in the second.

Thiem, who has lost in three Grand Slam finals and never claimed a major title, spent the remainder of the set playing catch up, converting on a critical break to level the score 5-5 before the 24-year-old Russian dragged it into a tiebreak.

Medvedev kept his energy up as he traded blows with his opponent, triumphing in an epic, 33-shot rally early in the tiebreak, but his efforts came up short.

“He just doesn’t miss when I play with his rhythm. So I tried to destroy that a little bit with lot of slices, with also high balls with a lot of spin. That was what was the plan,” Thiem said.

The 27-year-old Thiem, who had a trainer examine his ankle before the third set, slipped and fell twice in the match, unfurling a string of frustrated exclamations the second time he did so. But he regained his cool to survive yet another tiebreak and clinched the affair with a power forehand and a roar.

“I played my best tennis then toward the end of the sets,” said Thiem, who saved six of eight break point opportunities during the match, committing a dozen fewer unforced errors than his opponent.

“Both tiebreaks were amazing. Tiebreaks are mentally a tough thing. I don’t like them at all to be honest,” he said. “I’m really happy to be through. It was a great semi-final.”

Medvedev, who fired off a dozen aces on the match, showed shades of his bad boy persona seen in his 2019 run to the U.S. Open final. He offered a sarcasm-drenched apology in the first set after crossing to the other side of the net to lobby for a late challenge, earning a violation in the process.

“I think I killed someone, right?” he said to a tournament supervisor in the stands, adding to the umpire, “My sincere apologies for crossing the net.”

Zverev rallies by Carreno Busta to reach U.S. Open final

NEW YORK(Reuters)-Germanfifth seed Alexander Zverev overcame a listless start to secure a thrilling 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 U.S. Open semi-final win over Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta on Friday to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Zverev, with his back against the wall, raised his game just in time to deny the Spanish 20th seed the upset and, in doing so, secured his first career victory from two sets down on his second match point after a rogue backhand by Carreno Busta.

The German looked headed for certain defeat after committing 36 errors through the first two sets but used his versatile game to pick himself up and looked like a completely different player the rest of the way.

“I was actually looking at the scoreboard when I was down two sets to love and I was like ‘I can’t believe it, I am playing in the semi-final where I am supposed to be the favourite and I am down two sets to love,” said Zverev.

“I knew that I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable ... but I am through to my first Grand Slam final and that’s all that matters.”

After Zverev levelled the match at two sets apiece Carreno Busta took a medical timeout to have his back tended to and the German, with a sudden swagger in his step, got the break he needed in the first game before cruising home.

Carreno Busta was locked in early as he held at love to open the match, turned aside a break point on his next service game, and broke twice for a 5-1 lead before securing the first set.

Things kept going the Spaniard’s way in the second as he pushed Zverev’s back to the wall with three consecutive breaks for a 5-0 lead during a lopsided set in which the mish*tting German made 22 unforced errors.

But Zverev flipped a switch and suddenly looked the more confident of the two as he broke Carreno Busta four times over the next two sets while leaning on his serve to put the pressure on the Spaniard’s shoulders.

Zverev, who is bidding to become the first German Grand Slam champion since Boris Becker won the 1996 Australian Open, will face either 2019 U.S. Open finalist Daniil Medvedev or second seed Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final.

Azarenka and Osaka have unfinished business at U.S. Open final

NEW YORK(Reuters)- Victoria Azarenka and Naomi Osaka were set for a title clash two weeks back before the Japanese withdrew due to injury but the former world number ones will have another chance to establish supremacy during Saturday’s U.S. Open women’s singles final.

A left hamstring injury forced the 22-year-old Osaka to pull out from the final of the Western & Southern Open, which was played at the Grand Slam venue at Flushing Meadows this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Very excited about that (final). I’m as excited as I was last time,” Azarenka told reporters after taking down Serena Williams in Thursday’s semi-final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I’m sure this time we’re going to get to play and it’s going to be a great match. I think it’s going to be an amazing final, I hope it will be. I’ll have fun.”

There has been no lack of fun for Azarenka at this year’s U.S. Open even without the presence of fans as she has smiled and bobbed her head along to music during changeovers while maintaining a high intensity on the court.

On the other hand Osaka, who has a 2-1 lead over Azarenka in completed matches, has displayed laser-sharp focus, perpetuated by her activism for the Black Lives Matter protests.

During the last two weeks, she has walked out on court for each of her matches wearing a different facemask carrying the name of a Black American to highlight racial injustice in the United States.

“I do think it’s a very big motivating factor for me just to try to, like, get the names out to as many people as I can,” she said after Thursday’s win. “So I’m not sure if that’s giving me extra power. Definitely I want more people to talk about it.”

Azarenka and Osaka are unbeaten since the resumption of tennis after a lengthy shutdown due to COVID-19 but that run will end for one of them on Saturday.

Both players have repeatedly spoken about approaching games with a new mindset at this year’s U.S. Open and Osaka was expecting a tough final.

“She seems really confident now. She’s moving well,” the Japanese said of her opponent, who picked up her first win of the year at the Western & Southern Open.

Azarenka, who is nine years older than Osaka, won her two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 - the same years she finished runner-up at the U.S. Open to Williams.

The Japanese, who moved to the U.S. as a three-year-old, has also won the same number of major titles - the first at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and a second consecutive Grand Slam in Melbourne the following year.

“She’s a very, very powerful player. She’s a great champion,” Azarenka said of Osaka. “She’s won two already. Aren’t we both looking for a third one?”

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, adjusts her mask after defeating Jennifer Brady, of the United States, during a semifinal of the US Open, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in New York.

US Open Glance: Naomi Osaka vs. Victoria Azarenka in final

NEW YORK(AP)—LOOKAHEAD TO SATURDAY

When tennis resumed last month from a five-month hiatus prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, it was impossible to know exactly what to expect. Turns out Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka have been far and away the two best women in the sport, which is why they will face each other Saturday in the U.S. Open final. Both used to be ranked No. 1; both already own two Grand Slam titles. Osaka is 10-0 since the sport returned. Azarenka lost her very first match back but has reeled off 11 consecutive victories since, capped by a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 elimination of Serena Williams in the semifinals Thursday night. Osaka and Azarenka were supposed to meet in the final of the Western & Southern Open two weeks ago — that tournament was moved from its usual home in Ohio to Flushing Meadows as part of a two-event “controlled environment” to limit travel during the pandemic — but Osaka withdrew because of an injured left hamstring. That leg hasn’t hampered her during the U.S. Open, which she won in 2018, then followed up with a title at the 2019 Australian Open. Osaka and Azarenka both have been playing clean tennis from the baseline. Osaka — whose coach used to work with Azarenka — relies mainly on her big forehand; Azarenka’s top stroke is her backhand. One intriguing element should be Osaka’s serving against Azarenka’s returning. Osaka ranks No. 2 in the 128-woman field by winning 93% of her service games, 65 of 70; Azarenka ranks No. 2 by winning 55% of her return games, 31 of 56.

SATURDAY’S FORECAST

Sunny. High of 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius).

FRIDAY’S WEATHER

Cloudy. High of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius).

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles Semifinals:No. 5 Alexander Zverev beat No. 20 Pablo Carreño Busta 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; No. 2 Dominic Thiem vs. No. 3 Daniil Medvedev.

Women’s Doubles Final:Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva beat No. 3 Nicole Melichar and Xu Yifan 6-4, 6-4.

STAT OF THE DAY

36, 21 — Unforced errors in the first two sets, then in the last three sets, for Zverev in is comeback victory.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Mentally, I stayed in it. ... A lot of players would have gone away.” —Zverevon his first career win in a match after dropping the first two sets.

A man wearing a protective face mask stands in front of a screen showing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games mascot Miraitowa, on the day to mark the one-year countdown to the summer games that have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan July 23, 2020.

Explainer: How the Tokyo Games might look in 2021

By Jack Tarrant

TOKYO(Reuters)- Japan’s Olympic Minister insists the rearranged Tokyo2020 Games must be held “at any cost”, while the International Olympic Committee says only that it is committed to delivering a safe event.

But with less than a year before the July 23-Aug. 8 Games are due to start, the hugest of question marks remains over whether they can ever take place.

With neither partner seemingly willing to consider scrapping the event as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc globally, we consider the options available, and possible scenarios: PROCEED AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED

The best-case scenario for the IOC is to hold the Tokyo Games with few or no restrictions in place because of COVID-19.

That will be impossible unless a stable vaccine is developed and produced in sufficient quantities over the next 10 months.

IOC President Thomas Bach said such a vaccine would “not be the silver bullet but they can greatly facilitate the organisation of the Games”.

Japan has already taken steps to secure enough of any prospective vaccine to inoculate its 126 million people and provide reassurance for incoming athletes and fans.

Venues at full capacity with no travel restrictions in place would keep broadcasters and sponsors, the Games’ biggest sources of revenue, happy, while also giving organisers much-needed revenue from on-site ticket and merchandising sales.

This way, organisers can hope to recoup some of the estimated$1 billionin extra costs they are expected to face due to the postponement.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES, ATHLETE BUBBLE

With approximately 11,000 athletes expected to descend on Tokyo for the Olympics, keeping them safe is organisers’ number one priority.

Key to this will be securing the athletes’ village and making sure all measures are taken at Games venues.

One idea floated has been to bring athletes to Tokyo a month before the Games, so they can go through quarantine and testing procedures for two weeks before training for their event.

Athletes would then not be allowed to leave designated, secure areas for the duration of their time in Japan.

Fans are the other major group that organisers must consider.

More than seven million tickets have been sold for the Games, for events taking place in venues across Tokyo and beyond.

The logistical challenge of moving thousands around the city always presented a challenge, now worsened by the need for COVID-19 precautions.

Organisers may decide to limit the number of fans in each venue to maintain social distancing – just as the major sports in Japan have this year – or say that only Japan-based ticketholders can attend.

This would lead to uproar amongst ticketholders and financial losses for organisers.

NO FANS, ATHLETE BUBBLE

The IOC could look at examples in other sports, such as the NBA and soccer’s Champions League, and choose to lose spectators altogether.

A ‘bubble’ has been created around the NBA basketball playoffs, with all players and staff staying together at World Disney World Resort and no fans in attendance.

ESPN reported that this bubble had cost the NBA $150 million to set up so, in the case of the Olympics, with far more athletes from countries around the world, who would pay?

The logistical effort to stage the Games amid an ongoing pandemic becomes easier if hundreds of thousands of visitors stay away from the host city.

However, IOC Vice President John Coates toldReutersin a recent interview that crowds were an essential part of the Games.

Being without fans would be a major blow to the IOC’s prime product, disappointing broadcasters and sponsors.

Broadcasters will be missing the atmosphere created by fans, while sponsors, who are not allowed to advertise in any Olympic venue’s field of play, also need an on-site presence for further exposure.

POSTPONE AGAIN

Organisers have said that, with the Beijing 2022 Winter Games set for February 2022, further postponement is impossible.

However, they said similar things about the original postponement, so it cannot be ruled out.

If a potential vaccine was to be rolled out later in 2021, it could be beneficial to delay the Games until a later date when athletes have received theinoculation.

CANCEL

Cancellation would mean financial disaster for Japanese organisers. More than$12.6 billionhas been pumped into the project, hundreds of millions more to delay it by a year.

The IOC has also signed contracts for rights and sponsorship deals worth several billion dollars and their inability to stage Games would no doubt have legal repercussions.

Such a scenario would severely cut into the IOC’s cash reserves. It says its share of costs for the delay will be$800 million.

International sports governing bodies and smaller national federations are also affected as they depend on receiving their share of Olympics’ broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.

For athletes too, cancellation could potentially wreck a lifetime of effort and endeavour. The window for competing at the highest level is small for most athletes, meaning they may only get one or two opportunities to compete at an Olympics.

An entire generation of athletes would miss the opportunity they have trained their whole lives for.

A cancellation is a scenario everyone will be desperate to avoid.

Victoria Azarenka, ofBelarus, reacts after defeating Serena Williams, of the United States, during a semifinalof the US Open, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in New York.

European Union and British flags flutter in front of a chancellery ahead of a visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May in Berlin, Germany, April 9, 2019.

What happens next with UK bill breaching Brexit divorce treaty?

By William James

LONDON(Reuters)- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pressing ahead with legislation on trade despite a warning from Brussels that it could wreck their future relationship and an acknowledgement by his government that it violates international law.

The Internal Market Billis aimed at ensuring Britain’s four constituent nations can trade freely with one another after leaving the European Union, but the government says that requires overriding part of the withdrawal treaty it signed with Brussels.

The EU has threatened legal action against Britain, and many lawmakers have voiced concern about the prospect of breaching an international treaty.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The bill must pass through both houses of British parliament to become law, first the House of Commons, where Johnson’s Conservative Party hasan80-seat majority, and then the House of Lords, the upper chamber,where it does not have a majority.

The debate will begin after 1430 GMT on Monday in the House of Commons, where the principle of the bill will be debated and lawmakers will decide whether it should go to the next stage.

If passed on Monday, there will be four more days of debate on the bill’s fine print -- on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. There are likely to be votes on attempts to change the wording and meaning of the law, and a final vote to decide whether it goes to the next stage.

If the bill passes the lower house, it will undergo scrutiny in the House of Lords. This has not been scheduled yet.

CAN LAWMAKERS BLOCK OR CHANGE IT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS?

Yes, but Johnson’s big majority, won on the basis of pushing ahead with Brexit, makes this difficult.

Any attempt to block or alter the bill requires opponents to assemble a majority in parliament. This would require at least 40 Conservatives rebelling and all opposition parties uniting behind a single position.

The extent of any potential rebellion in Johnson’s party is hard to gauge, but an amendment put forward by Conservative lawmaker Bob Neill is attracting some support. It seeks to give parliament a veto on any decision to breach the Withdrawal Agreement.

Labour and other opposition parties have yet to set out their own position on this and other amendments.

WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE OF LORDS?

Many members of the upper house have criticised the bill, including Conservatives, but their primary role is to amend and improve legislation, not to block it on principle.

While there is precedent for the chamber blocking legislation, any decision to do so on this bill wouldprovoke a constitutional row.

The House of Lords is more likely to seek to amend the bill to remove or dilute certain parts. The amendments would go back to the House of Commons for approval.

If Johnson’s lower-house majority holds firm, the bill could bounce back and forth between the two chambers until either a compromise is found or the government attempts to pass it without the House of Lords’ approval.

CAN THE GOVERNMENT BACK DOWN?

After the government said it was prepared to violate international law, and following the criticism it has received, it is hard to see how or why it would back down without gettinga concession or concessionsin talks with the EU.

The policy is described as a ‘safety net’ by ministers, to protect Northern Ireland’s position if a deal on future relations with the EU cannot be reached. Reaching a deal with Brussels might allow the government to abandon this safety net.

First woman working at the barbers ofBabylonshrugs off abuse

HILLA, Iraq(Reuters)- Um Zeinab says she suffered insults and verbal abuse when she started walking to work at the men’s barber shop and tattoo parlor in the bustling capital of Iraq’s Babylon province.

But she persevered, ignored the cat-calls and started building up her own group of regular customers - an unprecedented achievement in a very masculine world.

Now, as far as she knows, she is the first woman in southern Iraq to make a living cutting men’s hair.

“I am part of society, I am like any other woman. I went out to work, to support my family,” she said in the Hook Centre for Hair in the city of Hilla.

Every day she climbs up the salon’s neon-lit staircase and starts working, her head covered in a conservative veil and her face covered in a mask against the coronavirus.

The mother of two young daughters also does tattoos and offers skin care regimes.

“When I sit with my girlfriends I tell them you should not just sit at home,” said the 32-year-old. “Go out, work, women are equal to men. And right now there are not many work opportunities. So I wanted to help my family.”

The salon’s owner, Sadiq Wila, said some locals complained when he took her on, but he ignored them.

“Why are we, here in Iraq, not letting women live up to the very important role they should play in society?” Wila said.

Big European states call for cryptocurrency curbs to protect consumers

By Christian Kraemer, Michael Nienaber

BERLIN(Reuters)- Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands called on the European Commissionto draw up strict regulation for asset-backed cryptocurrencies such as stablecoins to protect consumersand preserve state sovereignty in monetary policy.

The finance ministers of the five European Union member states said in a joint statement on Friday that stablecoins should not be allowed to operate in the 27-member blocuntil legal, regulatory and oversight challenges had been addressed.

Stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency often backed by traditional assets, leapt onto policymakers' agendas last year when FacebookFB.Orevealed plans for itsLibratoken.

Some central banks and financial regulators, concerned that Libra could destabilise monetary policy, facilitate money laundering and erode privacy, threatened to block it and the project has been delayed and reshaped as a result.

The EU’s regulatory framework for stablecoins should preserve the bloc’s monetary sovereignty and address risks to monetary policy, as well as protecting consumers, the five countries said in a statement issued on the sidelines of a broader meeting of European officials in Berlin.

The European Commission is expected to present its regulatory proposals later this month.

“We all agree that it’s our task to keep financial market stable and to ensure that what is a task for states remains a task for states,” German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told reporters during a joint statement with his counterparts.

‘VERY CLEAR RULES’

Scholz said authorities should take a tough approach and this should include a ban on any private sector activities if regulatory requirements were not met.

The five countries want all stablecoins to be pledged at a ratio of 1:1 with fiat currency, with reserve assets denominated in the euro or other currencies of EU members states, and deposited in an EU-approved institution.

All entities operating as part of a stablecoin scheme should be registered in the EU, they said. Such a move would likely impact the Geneva-based Libra Association, which plans to issue and govern Libra.

The association declined to comment. It has previously said that it welcomed regulatory scrutiny.

“We’re waiting for the Commission to issue very strong and very clear rules to avoid the misuse of cryptocurrencies for terrorist activities or for money laundering,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.

“The central bank, I mean the ECB, is the only one to be allowed to issue a currency. And this point, it’s something that cannot be jeopardized or weakened by any kind of project including the so-called Libra project,” Le Maire added.

The Latest: Zverev, Carreno Busta start US Open men’s semis

NEW YORK(AP)— The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times EDT):

___

4:20 p.m.

Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreno Busta are first up in the U.S. Open men’s semifinals, with the winner earning a spot in his first Grand Slam final.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 runner-up, andNo. 2 seed Dominic Thiemmeet in the second semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where “9-11 We Remember” signs are on cloth covering the empty seats.

None of the four has won a major championship, but this year presented a great opportunity for young players. Neither Roger Federer nor defending champion Rafael Nadal is in New York, and top-ranked Novak Djokovic was disqualified from his fourth-round match against Carreno Busta for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball while walking to the sideline after dropping a game.

Zverev, the No. 5 seed, is in his second straight major semifinal after getting there at the Australian Open. Carreno Busta lost in this round at the 2017 U.S. Open.

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1:40 p.m

Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund won the U.S. Open women’s doubles title in their first tournament together, beating the third-seeded duo of Xu Yifan and Nicole Melichar 6-4, 6-4.

Zvonareva, a Russian who turned 36 this week, added this title to the 2006 U.S. Open title she won with Nathalie Dechy. She also was the runner-up in singles at Flushing Meadows in 2010, falling to Kim Clijsters.

But she began playing less after giving birth to daughter Evelina in 2016.

Xu and Melichar finished second for the second straight tournament in New York. They were runners-up at the Western & Southern Open that’s usually played in Ohio.

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12:30 p.m.

The men’s semifinal matches will be played after the women’s doubles championship is awarded at the U.S. Open.

Play began with the third-seeded team of Xu Yifan and Nicole Melichar playing the unseeded duo of Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund.

They were to be followed by Alexander Zverev against Pablo Carreno Busta, along with 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev facing No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem. None has won a Grand Slam title.

Comfortable weather returned after the women’s singles semifinals were played with the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof closed Thursday night because of rain.

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during a match against Borna Coric, of Croatia, during the quarterfinals of the US Open, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York.

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns a shot to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the quarterfinals of the US Open, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in New York.

Dominic Thiem, of Austria, stretches for a return against Alex de Minaur, of Australia, during the quarterfinal round of the US Open, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in New York.