Chevron Championship Brings New Twist To Tradition With Victory Pool At Memorial Park

RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 03: (Center) Jennifer Kupcho of the United States jumps into Poppie’s Pond after winning The Chevron Championship at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa on April 03, 2022 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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The first women’s golf major championship, The Chevron Open, tees off Thursday at Memorial Park in Houston, Texas, with a comical twist to the continuation of tradition.

Jumping into a body of water has long been a tradition at the event. When the tournament was held in Palm Springs, California, at Mission Hills Country Club, winner Amy Alcott jumped into the pond adjacent to the 18th green in 1988. The pond celebrated its second victory jump in 1991 when Alcott won again and plunged in once more. The aquatic celebration became cemented as a tradition in 1994 when Donna Andrews won the event and jumped in as well.

This is the first year Memorial Park Golf Course will host the event, and in preparation, the course has installed a 15-foot by 25-foot, 4.5-foot-deep pool off the front-right greenside bunker.

“I did see pictures,” Australian Grace Kim said Sunday after her final round at the JM Eagle LA Championship, speaking about the new pool. “They’ve obviously done a good job trying to keep the tradition going. I was kind of hoping it would just end at Carlton Woods.”

Source: Golf Digest

The pool’s location has called into question its exact placement. It sits within the scope of play, unencumbered by grandstands or trees, and has the possibility of catching an errant golf shot. For the casual golfer, the pond is most definitely in play, as it sits next to a prominent greenside bunker. Questions have been raised about its status as a hazard, requiring a penalty and a drop during play.

This is not the first time an artificial water hazard has been created for the jump. The original pond, named Poppie’s Pond for the longtime tournament organizer, was artificially created at Carlton Woods’ Woodland Course when the tournament moved from Palm Springs to Houston. At The Woodlands, a waterway was dammed to create an artificial pond, and mesh fencing was installed to keep invasive alligators away.

“I don’t view it as a man-made pond that’s going into Chevron,” LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler told Golf Digest. “Here’s what I view it as: The LPGA has a couple of very special traditions that we want to honor, and this is one of those. When we talk to our players … you ask, ‘What are some of your favorite traditions on the LPGA Tour?’ They talk about Poppie’s Pond and the evolution of it. What we’re trying to do at Chevron is pay homage to the past champions and the traditions that make the LPGA so great. Whether a player jumps in or not, it’s totally up to that player, but this is fundamentally about honoring something that’s special to our tour, and we’re proud of it.”

Source: Golf Digest

There is a proposed plan to add a large, natural-looking body of water to the right side of the fairway on the 18th hole at Memorial Park. The pond would feature a walkway specifically designed for the winner’s jump.

“Obviously, I’d jump in, but maybe I’d be a little scared now because it’s only four feet,” said the 5-foot-10 Alexa Pano Talley. “I think it’s great they’re trying to carry on that tradition. It’s what people like to see. I’m just happy they’re doing that. That’s what the winner looks forward to at the end of the week. It’s going to be a good thing.”

Source: Golf Digest

It remains to be seen whether this year’s Chevron winner will make the jump, but it seems likely this will be the only time Poppie’s Pond will be a small, shallow pool.

Timothy is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf and sports writer for Forbes with PGA Tour and LIV Golf media credentials. Timothy can be reached at break80podcast@gmail.com for inquiries or story leads.