Q: There were no Russian golfers in the recent British Open, but Russia has skilled athletes in many other sports. Why is there a lack of interest in golf in Russia?
—Craig Murchland, Decatur
A: Golf is becoming more popular in Russia, but there were no golf courses in the former Soviet Union until 1990, the Wall Street Journal reported. The government saw golf as an "alien capitalist sport, unfit for socialist athletes," the article stated.
The Russian Golf Association was formed in 1992 and the Moscow Country Club was finished in 1994, becoming the only 18-hole golf course in Russia until 2006. Other private golf courses have been built — nine 18-hole and at least three nine-hole courses around Moscow alone — but membership is mostly limited to the wealthy or investors, the paper reported. There are 30 courses and about 4,500 golfers in Russia, compared to 14,500 courses and 25 million golfers in the U.S.
Q: How do the authorities know that the 40 bodies sent to the Netherlands actually were from there?
—Jeff Jones, Euharlee
A: Those 40 bodies were the first group to be sent to the Netherlands, which is in charge of identifying and repatriating the remains of all 298 victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The remains of 74 more victims were sent there Friday so Dutch officials can use DNA and dental records to identify the victims, which were from 17 countries, including 194 Dutch. U.S. officials have said Flight 17 was shot down over the Ukraine on July 17.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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