After wildfires ripped through the Maui community of Lahaina in Hawaii last month, there is a bit of good news regarding the island’s recovery.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Resort is set to reopen on Oct. 18. The Bay Course opens today.
We reopen the Bay Course today with hearts full of gratitude and positivity. See you soon pic.twitter.com/u1fcoIA34C
— Kapalua Golf (@GolfatKapalua) September 21, 2023
The course’s management team reports that there was no damage to the course itself, but the staff was greatly impacted. Nearly one-third of the employees at Kapalua lost their homes and possessions in the fire, which killed at least 97 people and did an estimated $5.5 billion in damage.
“Our team truly appreciates the outpouring of support from around the globe over the past six weeks,” said Kapalua Golf and Tennis Manager Alex Nakajima. “As associates and the community work to heal, we continue to support them; welcoming back team members to work as they are ready. As we continue the recovery process, we are reopening our two golf courses.
“As millions discovered during the pandemic, a round of golf can be good medicine for the mind, body, and soul.”
The Plantation Course has hosted the Sentry Tournament of Champions since 1999. The event, which will be known simply at The Sentry in January 2024, features all of the winners from the previous season on the Pga Tour. Starting this year, it will also welcome all of the golfers who finished in the top 50 of the 2022-23 FedEx Cup standings.
Expect the PGA Tour to give the island a big boost when it visits for the annual season-opening event. Last year’s tournament was marked by a huge comeback by Jon Rahm to defeat Collin Morikawa.
Jon Rahm is CLUTCH
An emotional finish for @JonRahmPGA on 18 @Sentry_TOC. pic.twitter.com/BD5pb5EnwF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2023
“We hope to be a source of inspiration for the great people of Maui and Lahaina by the time that we get to Maui in January,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said last month at the Tour Championship. “I think at this point, there’s so many unknowns, and we want to be respectful of the challenges. We want to help be a part of the revitalization.”
The Sentry kicks off the 2024 PGA Tour schedule on Jan. 4-7, 2024, and is followed by the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Cover Image via Kapalua Golf
