A CROCODILE pit is one of the more unusual hazards you can come across on a golf course -- but that is what golfer Chris Levaggi encountered in South Africa's Sun City leisure complex.

Her encounter with the reptiles on the 13th hole came after she won one of 50 places in a Sunday newspaper competition to play in the world famous resort.

It capped a remarkable golfing year for the mother-of-three who only started playing golf in April but has displayed a gift for the sport after cutting her handicap from 45 to 26.

As a result of her achievements on the course, Chris found herself swapping her normal rainy Ombersley Golf Club to play the Gary Player designed Lost City course.

But playing a round of golf on one of the world's most famous course was the last thing on her mind when her husband, Mike entered them both for the competition earlier in the year.

"He entered both of us in the competition just for a bit of fun but obviously having just started playing I didn't expect to get there. But I had some good scores and managed to make the top 50," she said.

"Sun City was fantastic and the course was absolutely brilliant and really well cared for though it was tough. The greens and fairways were narrow and there was a lot of rough.

"The 13th hole was also quite interesting as well because you had to cross over a crocodile pit.But the Sun City complex itself was amazing and was immaculately clean and with high levels of service."

The pair also enjoyed a game drive while out there but didn't quite manage to escape the British climate as there was plenty of rain.