ANA Inspiration: Poppys Pond Traditional Leap in Question
The annual Poppy’s Pond leap is again in question at the ANA Inspiration.
The ANA Inspiration comes always to a splashing crescendo on Sunday with a leap into Poppy’s Pond. The iconic leap is the culmination of the Tour’s first major, the ANA Inspiration. The players look forward to it. The fans anticipate it. Dinah Shore watches over it. But it may not happen this year.
You may recall that red algae bloom that threatened Poppys Pond last year. Following the 2015 ANA Inspiration the CA Public Health Department channeled Dinah Shore to ensure that the traditional Sunday splash would never again be put at risk. That guidance continues to shape tournament organizers and public health officials as they strategize management of the red algae problem.
After considerable research into the problem of red algae/red tide and extensive consultation with various environmental and animal rights groups, PETA was tasked with identifying algae-eating aqua fauna that could be safely introduced into the Poppys Pond water as a preventative measure.
Live Feed
Pro Golf Now
Unique and little-known shallow-water aqua fauna know to thrive on red tide were extracted from an unidentified fresh water location in the general area of 30.6669° N, 82.3332° W and introduced into Poppys Pond in early January. Originally microscopic in size, the aqua fauna have thrived in the Poppys Pond environment, have reproduced rapidly, and have increased substantially in size.
At the most recent CA Public Health Department inspection of Poppys Pond and surrounding environment it was discovered that the aqua fauna have begun to migrate from the pond to the surrounding area. Much like lungfish, to which they are a genetic cousin, the Poppys Pond aqua fauna are apparently seeking additional habitat and they aren’t particularly picky.
Given their environmental origins, anything wet will satisfy the little lungfish-type aqua fauna’s needs. But they’re having difficulty finding suitable additional habitats in the Rancho Mirage desert environment. The little creatures, which are now about one inch in length in their 74th Poppy’s Pond reproductive generation and are expected to continue to enlarge, have been seen creeping around the edges of fairways, particularly in the early morning hours after overnight watering of the grounds, and even in the grandstands overlooking the 18th green, particularly in the restrooms.
It’s not known if the little aqua fauna eat anything other than red algae or if they could pose hazards to human health. One of the public health scuba divers who recently conducted a routine weekly inspection of Poppys Pond has not been seen since he submerged, but his wife reports that the man often has taken French leave and has not filed a missing persons report, according to Palm Springs law enforcement.
Palm Springs Council of Girl Scouts has organized a special community service project. Local Girl Scouts are currently making sit-upons treated with a PETA-approved, herbal-based aqua fauna repellant and these sit-upons are being distributed free to all ANA Inspiration attendees. Fans will be able to purchase a box of Girl Scout cookies when they pick up their aqua fauna repellant sit-upons.
Next: Poppy's Pond: Remembering Amy Alcott and Dinah Shore
Special collection boxes for the sit-upons have been placed at all gates to Rancho Mirage. To help with clean-up, fans are asked to simply place their used sit-upons in these special collection boxes when they leave the Rancho Mirage grounds.
Happy April Fools Day from ProGolfNow! Let’s continue to enjoy the LPGA’s first major of the season!