Iconic PGA Tour golf course ‘totally dead’ after abruptly closing and being forced to cancel prestigious tournament

A RENOWNED PGA Tour golf course has been rendered barren after water restrictions made proper upkeep impossible.

The Kapalua Plantation golf course on the Hawaiian island of Maui has hosted the PGA Tour‘s opening event annually since 1999.

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The Plantation course at Kapalua is looking worse for wear as a result of water restrictionsCredit: https://www.khon2.com/

It was previously known for its luscious sceneryCredit: Getty

The Sentry, also known as the Tournament of Champions, is traditionally held during the first week of the new year, last won by Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama, with other recent winners including Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.

But last month, the PGA Tour announced that the iconic venue would not be hosting the next iteration of the event.

An update on the PGA Tour website read: “Maui County has been experiencing significant drought conditions in recent weeks, with over 90 per cent of the region affected and more than 140,000 residents impacted according to state data.

“In response, water conservation mandates were implemented to prioritize the needs of the local community.

“These restrictions directly affected Kapalua Resort, where the TOUR’s agronomy team conducted a site visit in early September.

“That team concluded the condition of the Plantation Course had been significantly compromised by the drought and water limitations.

“While weather conditions may improve in the coming months, the extensive lead time required to prepare a PGA TOUR event made it impossible to guarantee TOUR-standard playing conditions for the Jan. 5-11 event.”

The water restrictions in West Maui initially banned any water being used to maintain the course.

Those regulations were reportedly relaxed to a 40 per cent restriction in August in an attempt to help the course maintain its place on the Tour.

At the beginning of September, the resort also made the decision to close the course for two months in an attempt to aid restoration efforts ahead of the tournament.

But those attempts were short-lived, with the news arriving just weeks later that the tournament was set to be moved.

Fans of the event and the location were devastated to see the current state of the course.

One fan uploaded a snap of the course on social media, with the caption: “Stopped by Kapalua today and the course looks totally dead.

“Can’t fathom how much business this water dispute is costing them.

A second fan replied: “I couldn’t even tell that was a golf course”

And another added: “So sad. I played Kapalua several years ago and it was gorgeous.”

Tiger Woods at Mercedes Championships at Plantation Golf Course, Kapalua, in 1999Credit: Getty

Phil Mickelson tees off during the Mercedes Championship in 2001Credit: Getty

Hiedki Matsuyama is the defending champion of the eventCredit: Getty

Spaniard Jon Rahm has also enjoyed success at the Hawaiian courseCredit: Getty

The restrictions have been the subject of a bitter legal dispute on the island.

TY Management, who own the course and its surrounding resort, filed a lawsuit in mid-August against landowners Maui Land & Pineapple.

The company owns the Honokohau Ditch System that supplies water to the west of Maui, and which the course owners – fronted by billionaire Japanese businessman Tadashi Yanai – claim has not been properly maintained for its purpose.

Maui Land & Pineapple then replied with a countersuit last month in the escalating legal row, reportedly accusing the company of spreading misinformation and breaching irrigation restrictions.

The Tour has not officially confirmed a new location for The Sentry as yet.