Steak-loving Scot Robert MacIntyre has returned to competition teeing-up this week on one of the most dangerous man-eating animal and reptile inhabited golf course on the planet.
MacIntyre is the second highest world-ranked at No. 62 in this week’s 21st hosting of the Alfred Dunhill Championship and for a 16th straight year being played on the famed Leopard Creek layout at Malelane in South Africa.
The Leopard Creek Country Club is around a five-hour drive north-east of Joburg and laid out along the Crocodile River bordering the southern regions of the renowned Kruger National Park that boasts the ‘Big 5’ in the animal kingdom.
Nine-time Major winning Gary Player designed the course and said: “When the course was first constructed, we had to close it for five days because some lions got in through a broken fence. After all, the lion’s motto is ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em!’”
Leopard Creek Golf Club and host this week to the 21st Alfred Dunhill Championship
It’s certain MacIntyre and his fellow 155 competitors this week will spot plenty of leopards and hippo’s but it’s a close encounter with world’s most feared reptile golfers this week will be looking to avoid should their Titleist #4 land near a water hazard.
Six years ago, next month (4th Dec) golfer Jacques van der Sandt, 29 was killed by a crocodile while looking for golf balls in waist-high water on a golf course just north of Leopard Creek.
And being November dare not land your ball in the rough as the region is also home to four species of poisonous and extremely dangerous snakes—black mambas, Egyptian cobras, black-necked spitting cobras and African puff adders who are spotted in abundance this time of the year.
A black mamba was once discovered curled-up in one of the Leopard Creek golf holes.
Excuse me? It that a Titleist #3. The sight to confront golfers during the 2008 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek
There was also the sight earlier last year that left Leopard Creek members aghast as they neared one green to be greeted by the sight of a large python wrapped around a young buck it had killed that had been grazing on a fairway.
Over the years, certain animals have etched themselves into the tournament’s history. None more so than Harry the Hippo, who lived in the water hazard that runs along the 15th and 16th holes.
Sadly, Harry passed away but his legacy lives on at the Championship in the form of an Alfred Dunhill Championship snack venue called “Harry’s Snack’s”.
There is a leopard sculpture on every hole at Leopard Creek
MacIntyre returned to Leopard Creek for a second visit in two years and already he’s been wrapping his own jaws around his favourite Rainbow Nation food.
He said: “My favourite South African food is steak, and biltong. The meat is brilliant out here.”
Though MacIntyre may need to forget the wildlife as he will have his hands full fighting off South African playing partners in George Coetzee, and a two-time winner in September, and 20-year old sensation Wilco Nienaber.
Nienaber has been attracting enormous interest in averaging close to 337-yards off the tee on the Sunshine Tour and also going close to a first victory last week at the Joburg Open in finishing runner-up.
Let’s hope these pair have repaired their spike marks
McIntyre, and back into the deep end for a first occasion in three weeks since capturing the Cypress Showdown, said: “I’m feeling great. The game has been in good shape for a wee while now and I’ve finally got the clubs to start working for me.
“I love this golf course as it’s a tough test of golf and it’s in great condition. That’s one of the reasons I travelled out here to play in this event.
“It’s great also to see so many animals in their natural habitat and fortunately I’ve had no close encounters.
“So, just pleased the event is back on the schedule and it’s one of those weeks where you can knuckle down and if you play well you’re going to be right in there.”
“It’s also just to get back playing. I’ve got a lot to play for just now. This week was a huge opportunity for me and especially knowing the golf course.”
A back-to-back Tour victory would also lift MacIntyre to around 55th on the World Rankings and edging closer to a maiden Masters invitation.
Joining MacIntyre is Scott Jamieson, Connor Syme, David Drysdale, David Law and Calum Hill.
Scots have finished runner-up four times in the 20-year history of the event – Gary Orr (2000), Paul Lawrie (2003), George Murray (2012) and David Drysdale (2018).
