A walk on the golfing wildside with the four-mane fourball
During the age of near-global lockdown, photographs and videos of animals reclaiming the territory once inhabited by humans has become commonplace.
We’ve seen kangaroos hopping around a major Australian city, African penguins waddling the streets of Cape Town, wild goats in the quiet streets of Llandudno in Wales, wild boars in Barcelona, and dolphins in Venice.
But Skukuza Golf Club in Mpumalanga continues to be the flag-bearer for places where the animals are taking back their turf. No doubt there have been some wild nights at the club’s 19th hole in the past, but at the moment “wild” has gone to a whole new level.
The four-mane fourball is playing through
On any given day as South Africa’s lockdown continues, there could be a four-mane fourball waiting to tee off while their lionesses linger on the ladies’ tee, a few tall tuskers taking part in the Elephant Invitational, or some hippos discussing their handicaps.
Just the other day there was an incident when an impala missed his putt and the hyenas in the crowd couldn’t stop laughing for three hours!
Maintenance of the immaculate greens is being taken care of during lockdown by a warthog known as the Lockdown Lawnmower. There’s a video of him chomping away at his task on the club’s Facebook page.
Indeed, the page if full of amazing wildlife photos and videos that show animals of all kinds enjoying the facilities.
The Skukuza club has a very special wildlife advantage
Of course, Skukuza Golf Club has an advantage over many other venues when it comes to attracting the cream of the wildlife crop to its greens and fairways. It’s located in the Kruger National Park close to the famous Skukuza Rest Camp.
Built in 1972, the course was initially a recreational facility for staff working in the park. But these days it’s open to the public. Judging by the comments on the Facebook page, it’s a popular and fun-filled destination for golfers from around the world, many of whom tell how they’re longing to return once the global crisis is behind us.
Few humans to witness hyena’s hole in one
Meantime, there’s only a small group of employees on site to witness the wildest of times as the Kruger’s animals take to the game of golf with alacrity. The employees contribute most of the photos and video footage.
There’s also a camera trap that’s captured footage of some nocturnal four-legged golfers. Although how they can see the greens from the tee box in pitch–black darkness is anyone’s guess!
One thing’s for sure. When the first human golfers return to Skukuza Golf Club after lockdown, they will have to tread very warily indeed.
You can see more fun wildlife photos and videos on the club’s Facebook page.
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