The day after the PGA Tour announced the cancellation of The Sentry, the Plantation Course at Kapalua on Maui, Hawaii announced it will re-open for play next month.
Drought conditions impacting the course led the PGA Tour to announce on Sept. 16 that its traditional season-opening event would not be played at the Plantation Course. And on Wednesday, the tour announced the event had been officially canceled after being unable to find a suitable replacement site.
Kapalua Golf General Manager Alex Nakajima later announced that the Plantation Course will re-open for guests to play on Monday, Nov. 10 following a two-month closure.
“We are deeply grateful for our agronomy team and the work they have done to bring the course back,” Nakajima said in a news release. “As a key contributor to the Maui economy, reopening the Plantation Course means a lot for our community and the 300-plus employees who work at the course and restaurants. We look forward to welcoming guests back to Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course beginning on Nov. 10.”
Troon Golf, which manages Kapalua, distributed images showing the improvement of the course’s condition since that Sept. 16 announcement. However, the turf health and course conditions have not improved enough to meet PGA Tour standards. That includes the need to restore the greens on hole Nos. 1 and 8, meaning only 16 holes will be available to play for the immediate future.
Kapalua Golf’s Bay Course also remains closed until further notice.
The public can begin scheduling November tee times on the Plantation Course beginning at 7:30 local time on Oct. 23 at a promotional re-opening rate of $399, a discount from the typical seasonal rate of $469. A $50 golf shop credit will be included due to the two holes not yet ready for play.
No replacement course was available, leading the Tour to revise its schedule and open the 2026 season with the Sony Open in Honolulu — played at Waialae Country Club — from Jan. 15-18.
“Since it first became a possibility that the PGA Tour would not be able to play at The Plantation Course at Kapalua due to the ongoing drought conditions on Maui, we worked closely with our partners at Sentry to assess options for contesting The Sentry in 2026,” PGA Tour Chief Competitions Officer Tyler Dennis said Wednesday. “While it is unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours.”
Recent drone footage of the area showed the extent of the unwatered Plantation Course, contrasted from its usual brilliant bursts of green and blue to the current shades of tan and yellow.
A star-studded field is the norm at The Sentry. It was scheduled to include the top 50 in the 2025 FedEx Cup final standings and all winners from the previous season. Previous Sentry winners exempt only through that victory are now added to the RBC Heritage field.
Drought conditions prompted restrictions on all irrigation and required restoration efforts for many surfaces on the popular and scenic Plantation Course. Recent improvement led to officials modifying the restrictions to “Tier 2,” which allows the course “60 percent” irrigation.
–Field Level Media
