It has to be seen, to be believed and that is the newest version of the famed LPGA’s Poppie’s Pond that is now really a swimming pool.

Since the hosting of the 1988 Nabisco Dinah Shore at the Rancho Mirage courese in the California desert there has been the custom at the first major championship of the year for the winner of the event to celebrate her victory by jumping into Poppie’s Pond.

From 1988 to 2022, the winner traditionally celebrated her victory by jumping or leaping into pond that surrounded the 18th green.

HAS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED ….

This week’s @LPGA first season Major @Chevron_Golf has a new host venue in Houston but as such no “Poppies Pool” for the winner to celebrate by jumping into.

So, what did organisers do?

Yes, you’re correct as they built a pool close to the… pic.twitter.com/1cuVqyggi5

— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) April 23, 2026

The pond is known as Champions Lake or more affectionately “Poppie’s Pond” as it was dubbed in 2006 honour of Terry Wilcox, the Dinah Shore Tournament Director from 1994 through 2008; Wilcox is known as “Poppie” to his grandchildren.

Amy Alcott established the tradition in 1988 to celebrate her second win there and repeated in 1991, including tournament host Dinah Shore. It was not embraced by others until 1994, when Donna Andrews made the leap, followed by Nanci Bowen the next year, and it became an annual tradition.

The 1998 champ, Patty Hurst chose to wade in only up to her knees, as she could not swim.

Originally a very natural water hazard, it was a portion of water near a bridge and later lined with concrete and has treated water, more like a swimming pool.

Lorena Ochoa and the 2008 taking the leapt into Poppie’s Pond. Image Getty

The tradition was carried over to The Woodlands in 2023 and the lake between the 9th and 18th holes was dredged, cleaned, and had netting installed to protect against alligators, and a dock and ladder was built on the 18th hole.

Prior to the 2023 tournament, several players expressed uncertainty over whether they would take the jump—now into a natural lake instead of the treated pool used in Mission Hills.

Its first champion, Lilia Vu, would take the jump into the lake.

With the move to Houston’s Memorial Park, a man-made pond will be constructed near Memorial Park’s 18th green in time for the 2027 tournament, with a temporary concrete-lined pool being used for 2026; organizers hoped the dedicated construction would alleviate the hesitancy over the lake jump used at The Woodlands.

This newer Poppie’s Pond has been built close to the right bunker aside the 18th green and measures just 15 feet by 25 feet and deep enough at four-and-a-half feet for the winner to make a decent enough splash.

Here’s what the players thing about this newer Poppie’s Pond that really is a pool.

Aussie Grace Kim: “I did see pictures. 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.

“I’m sure it’s a lot cleaner than the water at The Club at Carlton Woods. Hopefully, it’s one of the Australians that will be jumping in that pool. The pool is better than the dirty water.

“Though it’s very shallow. I don’t know. Maybe it would be a little jump. Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

Two-time major winning Lilia Vu, and the 2023 Chevron champion: “I initially saw the kiddie pool version of it. I’m not sure if they’re updating it.

“I do know a lot of us want to continue the tradition. I was able to be the first person to jump in at Carlton Woods. Hopefully, they can keep it going even if it looks a little cute.

“As for jumping into the pool?  I guess I would do a little cannonball, or a little hop-skip,” she said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Nellie Korda, winner of the 2024 Chevron said: “I think when it comes to what people think about it you’re always going to be in a lose-lose situation. Once you kill a tradition it’s killed forever.

“If you kind of look at it maybe some people don’t like it that it’s at a different golf course, different venue. I still give props to Chevron to the LPGA for wanting to keep that tradition alive.

“I know that there is a bigger plan for it to be a better jump into Poppie’s Pond.

But at the end of the day if I’m hoisting the trophy, like I’m going to jump in, yeah“