Hawaii’s golf courses have been fighting an uphill battle this year. The islands’ severe drought has hit Maui particularly hard. Over 90% of Maui County now sits under severe drought conditions. Multiple West Maui courses have been closed or faced severe restrictions. The Kapalua Plantation Course became the highest-profile casualty of this water crisis.

Now, there’s a glimmer of hope. Kapalua Golf announced the Plantation Course will reopen on November 10. But here’s where things get interesting. Golfers won’t be playing the full championship layout. Instead, they’ll tackle just 16 holes. That’s right—two holes short of a complete round.

The first and eighth greens remain under restoration. They’re not ready. So Kapalua is offering something virtually unheard of in championship golf—an incomplete course experience. The irony hits hard. This announcement came just 24 hours after the PGA Tour confirmed that The Sentry wouldn’t be held there in 2026. The course is reopening, but it’s not the Kapalua that hosted golf’s elite for 26 years.

The course has been closed since September 2. Tier 3 water restrictions forced a 60% reduction in everyday water use. Things got worse over the summer. Tier 4 restrictions brought irrigation to zero for weeks. The fairways that once hosted golf’s elite turned yellow and brown. The damage was extensive. Both the Plantation and Bay courses suffered significant turf stress.

Kapalua’s agronomy team worked tirelessly during the closure. They implemented targeted fertilization programs. They used slow-release nutrients to maximize water use efficiency. The before-and-after images released by Troon show noticeable improvements. Green is gradually returning to sections of the course. However, two greens still need more time.

Alex Nakajima, Kapalua Golf’s General Manager, acknowledged the team’s efforts. “We are deeply grateful for our agronomy team and the work they have done to bring the course back,” he said. “As a key contributor to the Maui economy, reopening the Plantation Course means a lot for our community and the 300+ employees who work at the course and restaurants.”

The reopening comes with a promotional rate of $399 for November. Players receive $50 in golf shop credit to compensate for the missing holes. The standard rate is typically $469 this time of year. December rates haven’t been finalized yet. Tee times opened at 7:30 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Here’s the reality check. The course isn’t PGA Tour-ready. Tour officials made that clear when they announced the schedule change. Tyler Dennis, the PGA Tour’s Chief Competitions Officer, explained the difficult decision. “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,” he stated. “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.”

The Sony Open in Hawaii now takes over as the 2026 season opener. The tournament runs January 15-18 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. It marks the first time in decades that The Sentry won’t kick off the PGA Tour season.

Kapalua’s water crisis exposes Hawaii golf’s uncertain future

Meanwhile, the Bay Course remains closed indefinitely. The water crisis continues to grip the region. The Honokōhau Ditch system, which supplies water to Kapalua and surrounding areas, is the subject of ongoing disputes. Legal battles between Kapalua’s owners and Maui Land & Pineapple Company remain unresolved.

The broader picture looks concerning. Climate models suggest West Maui will face more frequent severe droughts through 2030. Hawaii’s golf courses are exploring sustainability measures. These include greywater recycling systems and improved rainwater capture. The drought has already cost Maui’s golf industry an estimated $50 million annually.

For now, Kapalua celebrates a partial victory. The Plantation Course is back. Sort of. Sixteen holes beat none. The community gets 300+ employees back to work. Golfers get to experience the iconic course again. But the lingering question remains—what does Hawaii golf look like in a world where water becomes increasingly scarce?