,Kapalua, August 28, 2025
News Summary
Kapalua’s renowned golf courses, known for their lush fairways, are set to close for 60 days starting September 2 due to severe turf conditions caused by a water supply cut. The courses will focus on limited irrigation and rehabilitation efforts amid ongoing legal disputes regarding water management. As the PGA Tour event, The Sentry, approaches in January 2026, recovery will be closely monitored to ensure readiness.
Lahaina — Kapalua’s Golf Scene in Crisis as Turf Turns Brown and a 60-Day Shutdown Looms
Golf fans know Kapalua for lush green fairways and one of the most scenic season openers on the PGA Tour. Now that familiar picture is fading fast. The Plantation and Bay courses at Kapalua will close for 60 days starting September 2 in a move aimed at saving the turf after the property’s irrigation supply was cut off for weeks.
What’s happening on the ground?
Maintenance crews and course managers have been wrestling with relentless stress on the grass. The course has been without regular irrigation since July 25, leaving fairways and roughs showing yellow and brown patches where turf is dying. Managers say the condition has deteriorated to the point where a planned pause in play and maintenance is needed to conserve the scarce water available and to allow crews to remove dead grass and focus resources where they matter most.
Why a 60-day closure now?
The shutdown is a deliberate attempt to give the turf a fighting chance. By closing the Plantation and Bay courses, staff plan to concentrate limited water supplies on fertilizing key areas and on critically needed recovery work rather than trying to keep the whole property superficially green. The aim is both practical and strategic: preserve the course for everyday play down the line and try to keep the venue ready for the PGA Tour’s season-opening event, The Sentry.
Water woes and who’s blamed
Kapalua is operating under Tier 2 water restrictions, which allow some irrigation but create tight limits on how the greens, fairways, and surrounding landscapes can be maintained. Complicating the situation are legal claims tied to the water supply. Owners and homeowners have filed a lawsuit alleging that the irrigation delivery system was allowed to fall into disrepair, making water scarce because of mismanagement rather than purely natural causes. The defendant has responded by saying the ditch system has been worked on and that the primary issue is low stream flows.
What about The Sentry — will Kapalua still host it?
The Sentry has been anchored at Kapalua since 1999, and the PGA Tour is keeping a close eye on the situation. Tournament organizers, the title sponsor, and local officials are in communication, monitoring course recovery plans and water availability. The event is scheduled for January 8–11, 2026, which means the course has several months to rebound — but the clock is tight and the path to readiness will depend on weather, water deliveries, and how well recovery work goes during the closure.
Legal fallout and local context
The lawsuit seeks to force proper upkeep of the irrigation infrastructure and to ensure water delivery agreements are honored. Meanwhile, the broader drought in West Maui — made worse by last year’s devastating fires — adds a grim backdrop. Even without legal arguments, the region faces constrained water supplies that affect homes, agriculture, landscaping, and golf operations.
What this means for players and fans
For golfers, course conditions that once demanded strategic shotmaking are suddenly inconsistent. Brown and thin turf changes how the ball reacts from fairway to rough, impacts roll, and can make firm lies unpredictable. For fans planning to attend the January event, the situation is worth watching: recovery is possible, but teams will be judged by how quickly they can get playing surfaces back to a PGA Tour standard.
Next steps to watch
- Course recovery and irrigation repairs during the 60-day closure beginning September 2.
- Progress updates from course management and water authorities on stream flows and ditch repairs.
- Ongoing legal proceedings seeking enforcement of water delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
- PGA Tour assessments and final decisions about tournament readiness closer to January.
FAQ
Why are the Kapalua courses closing for 60 days?
The closure is to conserve limited water, prioritize fertilizing and recovery work, and remove dead grass so the turf can recover more effectively than trying to maintain full play under severe water limits.
How long has the course been without water?
Regular irrigation has been interrupted since July 25, creating weeks of stress on fairways and greens.
Will The Sentry still be held at Kapalua?
The PGA Tour and the event’s sponsor are monitoring recovery efforts. The tournament is scheduled for January 8–11, 2026, but readiness will depend on water, weather, and rehabilitation progress in the months ahead.
Who is being blamed for the water problems?
A lawsuit alleges negligence in maintaining irrigation infrastructure, claiming mismanagement caused delivery failures. The defendant contests that, pointing to low natural stream flows as the main cause.
How do water restrictions affect course maintenance?
Tier 2 restrictions limit irrigation, forcing staff to target essential areas and reduce routine watering. That makes course upkeep more challenging and can accelerate turf decline if drought persists.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Status / Date | Notes for Golf Fans |
|---|---|---|
| Water cutoff began | July 25 | Significant stress to turf began from this date |
| 60-day closure start | September 2 | Plantation and Bay courses closed to aid recovery |
| Water restriction level | Tier 2 | Some irrigation allowed but tightly limited |
| The Sentry tournament | January 8–11, 2026 | PGA Tour monitoring; venue readiness still uncertain |
| Legal action | Active lawsuit filed | Claims irrigation infrastructure was neglected; disputed by defendant |
This is a developing situation. For dedicated players and fans, Kapalua’s condition is worth following closely — the next few months could make the difference between a patched-up course and a fully restored version of the signature venue golfers have known for decades.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Major Maui Golf Course Temporarily Closes Amid Water Crisis
Doral Roars Back and PGA Tour Schedule Gets a Shake-Up
Additional Resources
- SI.com: Dying Kapalua May Not Host PGA Tour Event in January
- Golf Digest: Famed PGA Tour Course Closing for Two Months
- AP News: Kapalua Water Issues and Lawsuit
- KHON2: Kapalua Golf Preparing for PGA Tournament
- Heavy: Kapalua Announces Course Closure Ahead of Sentry
- Wikipedia: Kapalua
- Google Search: Kapalua Golf
- Google Scholar: Kapalua Water Issues
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hawaii
- Google News: Kapalua Golf Tournament
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