IS THIS THE WORLD’S WILDEST GOLF COURSE?

Golfers share the fairways with dangerous predators every day

We’ve always liked the idea of coming face to face with wildlife on the golf course, but we probably draw the line at lions, hyenas and who knows what else might be lurking in the undergrowth.

In a scene reminiscent of a David Attenborough documentary, play was stopped at Skukuza Golf Club for 90 minutes last month after two lionesses brought down a fully-grown giraffe on the fairway of one of the holes. They were about to tuck in for breakfast when they were ambushed by a pack of 20 hyenas, which claimed the spoils.

Club captain and greenkeeper Jean Rossouw describes Skukuza as the “world’s wildest course” and told us: “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 it is safe for our members and guests to tee-off.

“We are in the wild out here, as there are no fences to stop animals coming through. It is what makes Skukuza so special, not knowing what is going to happen every time you play.”

The nine-hole course was initially built for staff in the middle of South Africa’s biggest game reserve – the Kruger National Park – 50 years ago, but has since opened up to members who live locally, as well as visiting tourists on safari.

It is so unique that staff regularly patrol the course and have to hide the flags from hungry beasts that try to eat them at night. Baboons have also been known to steal players’ golf clubs and balls.

A nine-hole round starts from the equivalent of just £14, but players are not allowed to tee off unless they sign an indemnity card, which absolves the club of any blame in case they are attacked by an uninvited guest!