Houston, January 9, 2026
The Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the season, will be held at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. This move aims to foster community engagement and connect residents with the sport, highlighting Houston’s capacity to host prestigious events. With a history dating back to 1972, the tournament is set to capitalize on its new urban location to enhance fan attendance and economic vitality in the local area.
Houston Welcomes LPGA Major: The Chevron Championship Moves to Memorial Park
Houston is set to host a significant event in the world of professional golf, as The Chevron Championship, the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) first major of the season, relocates to the city’s historic Memorial Park Golf Course. This move represents a notable opportunity for civic engagement and showcases Houston’s growing capacity to host world-class sporting events through a blend of public and private sector collaboration. The decision highlights how strategic planning and investment in local infrastructure can directly foster community growth and bring prestigious opportunities closer to residents.
The relocation from The Woodlands to the heart of Houston reflects a proactive approach to maximizing an event’s reach and impact. Such initiatives underscore the benefits of agile decision-making and efficient coordination among various stakeholders, demonstrating how a community can adapt to attract and retain high-profile events. The Championship, a tradition spanning over five decades, will now leverage Memorial Park’s central location to connect more deeply with Houston’s diverse population, fostering enthusiasm for both the sport and local community involvement.
A New Chapter for a Venerable Championship
The Chevron Championship holds a distinguished place in women’s professional golf, having been established in 1972 and elevated to major championship status in 1983. For 51 years, the tournament was held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, before moving to The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, in 2023. This latest move to Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston continues its journey, bringing the event closer to a major urban center. The 2026 tournament is scheduled for April 23-26.
The decision to relocate was made to strengthen the vision of investing in women’s golf and to connect more fans and communities to the LPGA athletes. Moving the event closer to Chevron’s corporate headquarters in Houston also plays a role in this strategic shift. The LPGA Commissioner emphasized that this move allows the major, a tradition that began in 1972, to continue shining as one of the game’s most meaningful stages.
Memorial Park: A Course Steeped in History and Ready for the Future
Memorial Park Golf Course, a premier municipal course, is well-acquainted with hosting significant golf tournaments. Its history dates back to 1923 when a nine-hole course with sand greens was built for convalescent soldiers at Camp Logan. Redesigned by renowned golf course architect John Bredemus, the 18-hole course officially opened in 1936. The course has a long-standing tradition of hosting major events, including the Houston Open from 1947 and again from 1951 to 1963. After a substantial $34 million renovation led by architect Tom Doak (and Brooks Koepka in 2019), the Houston Open returned to Memorial Park in 2020 and has been hosting the PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Houston Open since.
Memorial Park is recognized as one of the nation’s best municipal courses, annually visited by over 60,000 patrons. Its public accessibility provides an affordable avenue for quality golf in a major urban center. Beyond the greens, the facility offers a lighted driving range, putting and chipping greens, a clubhouse, and a golf museum. Notably, Memorial Park is also home to the Chevron Center for Education and Golf, an initiative that provides young Houstonians with opportunities to learn STEM concepts through the sport of golf, demonstrating a commitment to local community enrichment.
Driving Economic Vitality and Community Engagement
Hosting a major championship like The Chevron Championship brings considerable economic and community benefits to Houston. Sporting events have a proven track record of generating substantial economic impact, with Houston’s sporting events alone contributing over $330 million in economic impact in 2024. On a broader scale, the golf industry in Texas generated a direct economic impact of $7.7 billion in 2023, contributing to a total economic output of $14.2 billion, supporting more than 107,000 jobs, and yielding nearly $4.8 billion in labor income for the state. Major tournaments and associations accounted for $300 million of this impact.
The tournament’s new location in downtown Houston is expected to enhance fan attendance and community engagement. By placing the event in a more accessible urban setting, organizers aim to connect more directly with local residents, volunteers, and businesses. This proximity facilitates greater civic involvement, allowing more individuals and families to experience professional women’s golf firsthand, and potentially inspiring the next generation of athletes. The event also offers a significant platform for local businesses, from hospitality to retail, to thrive through increased visitor traffic and exposure.
The Pursuit of Excellence: Supporting Women’s Golf
The Chevron Championship highlights the pursuit of excellence in women’s sports. The tournament’s purse for 2025 is $9 million, with the winner receiving $1.2 million, reflecting a substantial investment in professional women’s golf. This significant prize money underscores the increasing recognition and value placed on the skill and dedication of LPGA athletes. The consistent increase in prize money, with the purse growing to $7.9 million in 2024 from $3.1 million in 2021, demonstrates a commitment to advancing women’s sports and ensuring equitable opportunities for top-tier competitors.
The relocation and enhanced support for the event reinforce the broader objective of empowering and inspiring women both on and off the golf course. It provides a platform to showcase individual achievement and personal initiative, themes that resonate deeply within the community. The collaboration between the LPGA and Chevron also extends beyond the championship, with efforts focused on supporting local organizations in the Houston area that empower women and girls in sports, STEM education, and professional development.
Fostering Local Growth and Civic Pride
The arrival of The Chevron Championship at Memorial Park is more than just a golf tournament; it is a catalyst for fostering local growth and civic pride. By bringing a major LPGA event to a publicly accessible course, Houston demonstrates a commitment to inclusive recreational opportunities and the intelligent utilization of community assets. The ability to host both PGA and LPGA major events at the same venue, the Texas Children’s Houston Open and The Chevron Championship, showcases Houston’s versatility and the effectiveness of local leadership and private partnerships in developing world-class facilities.
This initiative exemplifies how a city can strategically invest in its public spaces and engage private entities to elevate its profile as a premier destination for major events. Such civic innovation not only attracts visitors but also builds a stronger sense of community among residents, offering them unparalleled access to top-tier athletic competition and associated programs. The legacy of The Chevron Championship in Houston will extend beyond the leaderboard, inspiring personal initiative and contributing to the continued vibrancy of the city. As Houston continues to develop as a hub for major events, residents are encouraged to support these initiatives, volunteer, and engage in the numerous community-focused activities that accompany such prestigious gatherings.
Keywords: Houston TX events, community growth Houston, Memorial Park Golf Course, LPGA Chevron Championship, civic innovation Houston.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Chevron Championship’s Move to Houston
Where is The Chevron Championship moving to?
The Chevron Championship is moving to Houston’s Memorial Park Golf Course.
When will The Chevron Championship be held at Memorial Park?
The 2026 tournament is scheduled for April 23-26.
What is the significance of The Chevron Championship?
It is the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) first major championship of the season, a tradition since 1972 and elevated to major status in 1983.
Why is The Chevron Championship moving to Houston?
The move aims to strengthen the vision of investing in women’s golf, connect more fans and communities to the LPGA athletes, and bring the event closer to Chevron’s corporate headquarters in Houston.
What is the prize money for The Chevron Championship?
The purse for 2025 is $9 million, with the winner receiving $1.2 million.
What other major golf tournaments has Memorial Park Golf Course hosted?
Memorial Park Golf Course has a long history of hosting significant golf tournaments, including the Houston Open from 1947 and again from 1951 to 1963, and has hosted the PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Houston Open since 2020.
Key Features of The Chevron Championship at Memorial Park
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | The Chevron Championship |
| New Venue | Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, TX |
| Tournament Dates (2026) | April 23-26 |
| LPGA Status | First Major Championship of the Season |
| Inaugural Year | 1972 (Major status since 1983) |
| 2025 Prize Purse | $9 Million (Winner: $1.2 Million) |
| Previous Host City | The Woodlands, TX (The Club at Carlton Woods, 2023-2025) |
| Memorial Park Renovation | $34 Million (led by Tom Doak and Brooks Koepka in 2019) |
| Other Memorial Park Events | PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Houston Open (since 2020) |
| Community Initiative at Memorial Park | Chevron Center for Education and Golf (STEM education) |
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Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
