Think back to the last time you visited a zoo.  Shut your eyes and re-live that zoo visit.  Now, imagine playing a golf course built in the middle of a ZOO; a ZOO with NO CAGES OR FENCES.  All the animals are roaming free.  A golf course where the big five live, die and eat each other.  The big five include: Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, Buffalo and Elephants.

After reading a recent story about a giraffe encounter during a women’s professional tournament in South Africa, I began researching giraffe encounters on the golf course.  We have never done a story about giraffes. My research led me to several golf courses across the African continent where golfers may come face to face with giraffes occasionally.

Then I discovered Skukuza Golf Club located within Kruger National Park, near Nelspruit, South Africa.  Skukuza, located in a wildlife refuge, has developed an international reputation as the “wildest” golf course in the world.

Playing golf at Skukuza is truly like playing golf in a zoo with no cages or fences.  Golfers who choose to play Skukuza are required to sign a release from injuries or death caused by animals within the park

The story that brought Skukuza Golf Club into the international news scene involved a cast of three of the critters that make the park their home.

As dawn peeked into the darkness the silence was shattered by the sound of death.  Two lionesses brought down a full-grown giraffe on the fringe of the 5th green.  When the struggling stopped, and all went silent the feast began.  Before other members of the lioness’ pride arrived on the fresh kill a pack of hyenas caught the scent of death on the still air.  As the hyenas circled the downed giraffe the pair of lionesses attempted to defend their kill.  Badly outnumbered, with no other members of their pride in the immediate area, the lionesses were forced to abandon their prize kill.

As the hyenas ripped open the giraffe and the lioness circled and made advances to retake the pray, the green-keeper Jean Rossouw had come upon the scene and shot video of the raw truth of nature.  He then notified Park Rangers who came in numbers large enough to drive away the lions and hyenas as other Rangers dragged the carcass into the brush where the feeding continued.

Back at the clubhouse impatient golfers KILLED time on the deck sipping coffee, eating homemade pastries, and swapping golf tales from around the world.  Tee times resumed about two hours later as golfers played through the carnage that remained near the 5th green on the uniquely wild golf course.

Golfers who play Skukuza regularly have learned they must keep an eye out for mischievous baboons who make a habit of snatching golf clubs and golf balls if given the opportunity.  Members of Skukuza tell stories of repeat encounters with warthogs, cobras, wild dogs, giraffes, and pythons in addition to the big five.

Skukuza Golf Club was built in 1972 for use of the park staff but over time a few locals became members.  As the word spread park visitors wanted to play this Par 72, 5831m  (6,377 yard) course.  Skukuza is an unusual set up, it has 9 greens and 18 tees.

Club Captain and green-keeper Jean Rossouw: “We are in the wild out here, no two days are the same.  An important part of my job is the early morning tour of the course to make sure all our overnight ‘guests’ are gone and that the course is safe for our members and guests to tee-off.

When asked about the lion, giraffe encounter: “Obviously we had players who wanted to tee-off, so we had to get rangers from the South African National Park who own and run the Kruger National Park to come and deal with it.  By the time they arrived to lift the giraffe away the hyenas and vultures had devoured about a quarter of it.  They then took it to another part of the park so they could continue eating the giraffe.”

“Within 12 hours there was nothing left but bones after the hyenas and vultures had finished with it, and I guess the lions had to go and look for their breakfast somewhere else.”

“It is what makes Skukuza so special not knowing what is going to happen every time you play.”

As a lifetime golfer, I have taken dozens of buddy golf trips.  Early on we were looking for a reasonably priced golf, warm (at least not cold) weather, comfortable lodging and decent food.  Easy accessibility (one day travel) was also a must.  Over the last 40 years our buddy golf trips have become more exotic.  Is a trip to South Africa to play Skukuza in the future?  Time will tell.

Author’s Note:  I love Yellowstone National Park.  The animals, the geysers, the beauty, and the history.  On each trip to this wonderful place, I have envisioned a golf course tucked neatly into the beautiful terrain.  Elk grazing along the fairways as Old Faithful regularly erupting in the background.  Skukuza may the next best thing!