For the first time in more than 50 years, the Chevron Championship isn’t being played this week at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
The first major of the women’s golf season has moved to The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. With the relocation, many wondered whether one of the most famous traditions in women’s golf — the Chevron Championship winner jumping into Poppie’s Pond — would die.
Maybe not.
The Club at Carlton Woods recently dredged part of a large lake off the 18th green of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, submerging pylons about 50 feet out and installed a net to keep alligators away.
While jumping into the Texas pond won’t be nearly as clean as leaping into the self-contained California pool that was chlorinated, whoever lifts the Dinah Shore Trophy on Sunday will at least have the option of getting wet. The club even installed a small dock and ladder to help make it happen. Amy Alcott was the first to do the jump in 1988.
“I think Chevron and everyone involved in the tournament is doing an amazing job to kind of keep the traditions alive,” Nelly Korda told reporters in Texas. “Obviously, changing locations is a little different for sure. But they’re trying their hardest to keep the traditions alive, and…
