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Following the months-long closure of Kapalua's Plantation Course due to an ongoing drought and water issues on Maui, the news that the famous course won't be hosting its traditional season-opening tournament, The Sentry, in January shouldn't come as a surprise for golf fans.
It does sting, though. Even living in California, which is much more weather-friendly than the rest of the country, I still enjoyed tuning into Golf Channel in prime time to see sunshine, swaying palms, whales breaching in the Pacific and the world's best players hitting creative shots in Maui's trade winds. It felt like a rite of passage that the holidays were over and a new year of golf and life was upon us.
The PGA Tour hasn't shared where it might take the tournament, which is the one event probably flexible enough to be reorganized in less than three month's time. Only players who have won the previous season or finished among the top 50 on the FedEx Cup points list are eligible, so the field size is minimal, 60 players in total.
As usual, we are more than happy to share our opinions on where it should be held. Kapalua has hosted what was originally called the Tournament of Champions since 1999. This is the Tour's chance to give another worthy venue a shot. Here are our choices:
Jason Scott Deegan
The Ocean Course at Hokuala
Logistics are never easy in the islands, but keeping The Sentry in Hawaii would probably be the best way to ensure smaller, manageable crowds and to keep that tropical vibe alive for prime-time viewers stuck in winter at home. The Ocean Course at Hokuala, which already hosts a top college tournament, the John A Burns Intercollegiate Invitational, would look fantastic on TV with the longest continuous stretch of ocean holes in Hawaii. With the Timbers Kaua'i - Ocean Club & Residences and the Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue, already on property, the two resorts could potentially host players and fans.
Poipu Bay
Poipu Bay, also in Kauai, probably needs a reintroduction to golf's new, young fans. Old-timers like me have fond memories of watching Tiger and Phil prowl the fairways during the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006. This silly season event would bring together the four major champions every year for an exhibition match before it folded into oblivion after 2014. While Poipu Bay, a 7,123-yard design by Robert Trent Jones Jr., does have a few ocean holes perfect for TV, it might play a bit too easy with today's modern equipment. I'm not opposed to a few pros duking it out down the stretch at 39-under. If you are, don't forget that Hideki Matsuyama won The Sentry at 35-under in January.
Wailea Golf Club
I wouldn't be surprised if the Tour wanted to stay on Maui to continue its charitable contributions to help in the recovery from 2023's Lahaina wildfire. There isn't a great option other than one of the Wailea Golf Club courses, the Emerald or the Gold. The 7,078-yard Gold is another pre-bomber's era RTJ Jr. design that hosted both senior (2001-07) and LPGA Tour (2003) skins games. Would it be an ideal fit? No. Could it work as a one-off replacement so the tour doesn't have to drag its infrastructure to another location? Yes.
Tim Gavrich
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Credit for this suggestion goes to GolfChannel's Brentley Romine for noting the revamped North Course at Omni La Costa would represent a one-off return to a past era of this tournament, which was held at the Southern California resort for 30 years prior to moving to Hawaii for the 1999 playing.
Besides, La Costa North has quickly reestablished itself as championship-worthy. Architects Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner overhauled the course in 2024, while respecting its original Dick Wilson design, in preparation for its ongoing stint as host of the NCAA Championships for Division I men's and women's college golf. It has performed nicely in that new role within the championship golf world. Between La Costa's pedigree and The Sentry's small field, this could work. It would certainly attract many times more spectators than the average Kapalua event - extra proceeds that could be funneled back to the ongoing rebuilding effort on Maui.
Hualalai Golf Club
Speaking of established tournament courses, the PGA Tour taking up residence at the site of the PGA Tour Champions' annual season opener would seem sensible. Hualalai's Jack Nicklaus design is not quite as dynamic as Kapalua's Plantation Course, but it is scenic enough and will be familiar to die-hard fans of televised golf. The modest infrastructure (read: limited fan space) would be similar to what the Tour faces on Maui.
Torrey Pines South
The annual host of the Farmers Insurance Open proved just last year that it is capable of hosting two PGA Tour events back-to-back, when it took over as host of the Genesis Invitational after Riviera was beset by wildfires. In this case, there would be a two-week break between its duty as host of the small-field Sentry and the full-field Farmers. Some PGA Tour players' families might miss the extra Hawaii time, but San Diego ain't half bad, either.
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