A multitude of golf courses decorate the Western Cape landscape, each with its own beauty. But what makes Theewaterskloof Golf Course unique is not that it’s situated right next to the largest dam in Western Cape, but rather because of its special hoofed resident: Vlooi the Springbok.
How Vlooi came to be the first – and only – antelope to live on the Theewaterskloof Country Estate is a beautiful story of love and compassion, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Rachelle Immelman who spoke to residents of the estate. Vlooi was found in August 2020 on a farm between Villiersdorp and Worcester after her herd was moved elsewhere. She was about one day old and it’s believed that she was, unfortunately, abandoned when the herd moved. Since she was so small, she urgently needed care in order to survive. So the Van Rooyens, a local couple who live on the golf estate, decided to rear her and named her Vlooi.
In order to legally and ethically raise a wild animal on the estate, the couple first had to jump through a few hoops. They needed to obtain a permit and get permission from the estate’s housing council, but luckily everything went smooth and she was welcomed by all.
For the next couple of months, Vlooi’s new parents nurtured her and slowly introduced her to a new life on the golf course. When she was strong enough to venture about, her parents started taking her for walks around the estate, making sure that she got her daily exercise and that she learned how to find her way back home. She loves attention and soon became a favourite amongst both the residents and visitors alike.
Vlooi is now more than a year old and she wanders freely all over the golf estate. She is often found in people’s gardens, munching away at the roses, and may even enter a house if the doors are left open. Since she enjoys human company so much, she accompanies the golfers on the fairway and has now become a regular figure on the golf course. One of the most stunning sights is seeing her leap about when she feels playful.
But one thing to keep in mind is that Vlooi is of course still an animal and must be approached with care. Even though she loves people, there have unfortunately been a few reports of children harassing or chasing her. So please be mindful of her space and don’t allow the kiddies to run after her.
Hitting the fairway is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s so much better when you have our country’s national animal cheering you on. Next time you feel like playing a round of golf, take a nice drive to Theewaterskloof and keep an eye out for Vlooi. She might even let you scratch her head!
Find more information about the Theewaterskloof Golf Estate and Golf Course here.
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Picture: Supplied
