Kruger Park News Archive
There are always many drivers in the Kruger National Park, but drivers of a different sort were the order of the day at the Kruger National Park's own first corporate golf day.
Although other people have used the Skukuza golf course for their functions, this was the first time the park itself has hosted a corporate golf day, together with sponsors Nedbank and Old Mutual.
A better ball scramble was the game of the day, with the prize for the best four ball going to Johan Ferreira, Vincent Letaba, Reuben Matlala and Carl Schmidt. Second prize went to Mr Chetty and Mr Daffue, along with husband and wife Freek and Rinza Venter.
Some people can't seem to get enough of the game, and the most golf was played on the day by the four ball comprising Vuyo Mvoko, Danie Pienaar and his wife Lorraine, and William Mabasa, Kruger's head of corporate communications.
To win this dubious honour, they played a few more strokes than the team stuffed with VIPs - Dr Bandile Mkhize (executive director of the park and making his first acquaintance with the game), Roland Botes of Nedbank Corporate, Andrew Cartwright, chief operations officer of Old Mutual, and Matthew Pravda of KwaZulu Natal Tourism Investment.
In his address, Mkhize recounted a few of the amusing events that have occurred on the golf course since it was opened to park staff in 1972. One story tells of the how a far-flying golf ball hit an impala on the head.
When the golfer rushed to check the animal, he was met by a lion intent on the same mission. Another titbit that he shared with the guests was the identity of the giraffe resident on the course - he is known to his friends as Sergio.
Mkhize said that Kruger has taken a decision to make August the park's official sporting month, with the golf day becoming an annual event along with the Kruger Park Marathon. The golf course was opened to the public in 1999, and members of the public can contact the club to book a round of golf at their convenience.
