Experts floored by size of snake filmed slithering across golf course (2025)

Shocked golfers captured the moment one of the world's most venomous snakes slithered across a course in New South Wales, Australia, in footage that left experts gobsmacked

A massive venomous snake has left experts puzzled after it was spotted slithering across a golf course in a shocking video.

Golfers hopping between holes on a coastal course in New South Wales, Australia, were stunned to see the serpent following their game this week, its dark scales clashing with the bright green of the turf. Horrified spectators could only record the scene, with the reptile seen in a brief clip winding its way across the course. The video has left people gobsmacked after it was posted online - even experts have been left dumbfounded by the sheer size of the beast.

The video, captured by Peter Jones and posted to the Facebook group Snake Identification Australia, shows the moment the reptile leisurely wind its way across the grass in front of the golfers. The group later identified the snake as an eastern brown, known as the second-most venomous land-dwelling snake in the world.

Austin Pols, of Sydney Snakes and Wildlife Removal told news.com.au the snake appeared to be up to three metres long, and added his firm has never caught one so big. He said: "It looks to be nearly three meters. Usually they only grow to two meters in length with a 1.5 metre average.

"Anything larger is spectacular." The expert added that the snake has likely been around - and thriving - for some time, saying: "It seems to be very well fed and survived many seasons." Eastern browns are highly dangerous snakes, with bites potent enough to kill in just 30 minutes.

Their highly toxic venom is able to spread through the body so fast that, in some cases, they can kill in under 15 minutes. Bryan Fry, a snake researcher and biologist from the University of Queensland, explained last year that most people won't even feel the effects of that venom until they are a couple of minutes from death.

He explained: "They're the only snakes in the world that regularly kill people in under 15 minutes. Even more insidiously than that is that for the first 13 minutes, you're going to feel fine." The snakes are responsible for between two to six deaths a year, and the latest footage has also left social media users in shock.

One user commenting on the video said the snake "would have to be THE biggest brown EVER". Another added: "It’s the biggest eastern brown I’ve ever seen. Surely this must be some kind record size for this species, it must be over 7-8 feet long. I come from snake country and have never seen one this big, only king browns.

"At this size it would even be big for that genius." While plenty of users were quick to say they were glad not to have encountered the snake themselves, others were taken aback by its spectacular appearance.

One user said: "What an absolute stunner. You leave them alone, they leave you alone." Another added: "It’s absolutely beautiful." Another user said the golf development had trespassed on the snake's "natural habitat". They said: "The golf course trespassed on the snake's habitat. Glad they could each let each other be."