Skukuza says goodbye to beloved greenkeeper
Jean Rossouw has urged those who remain behind to look after the golf course and respect the wildlife in order to keep the unique spirit of the Skukuza Golf Course alive.
The Lowveld golf community is bidding a fond and bittersweet farewell to a true legend of the greens.
After 13 years as head greenkeeper at the iconic Skukuza Golf Club, located deep within the heart of the Kruger National Park (KNP), Jean Rossouw (35) is stepping down. He has been with the club for 27 years, the last 13 of which he spent meticulously maintaining what is widely considered the ‘wildest’golf course in the world.
Maintaining a world-class course is difficult enough, but doing so in an unfenced park is challenging and sometimes dangerous. But for Rossouw, the wildlife was not a distraction – it was part of the job.
Reflecting on his tenure, he recalled a particularly strange experience during the global pandemic:
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“One of the most memorable things I will never forget is when the wild dogs spent a week on the course during the Covid-19 lockdown. I would be cutting the grass right next to them and they wouldn’t even move. That was something truly special,” he said.
While most greenkeepers worry about weeds or irrigation, Rossouw’s daily checklist included monitoring apex predators. Because the course is famously unfenced, players and staff share the fairways with the Big Five.
“Even if you keep the grass green, the animals will graze on it. Lions, hippos, and wild dogs will walk in and sleep under the trees. It’s not always comfortable for everyone, but it is exactly what I will miss the most about Skukuza,” Rossouw said.
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He expressed deep gratitude to the KNP for the opportunity to work in such a unique environment.
He leaves behind a course that is respected globally for its beauty and its harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
As he prepares for his next chapter, he had a final word of encouragement for the team stepping into his boots: maintain excellence. “Continue to keep the course as good as it is, you must work hard to ensure the standards remain high. And respect the wild – keep the unique spirit of Skukuza alive.”
