As the PGA Tour decided to end its long-standing tournaments in the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii’s golf industry has launched the Play Hawaii Golf alliance, bringing together 12 resort golf properties to protect a sport that has long been a major driver of tourism and the local economy.

Travelers have long been drawn to Hawaii's courses, helping build a golf industry that generates more than $1 billion annually through tourism and retail spending, with facility operations and capital investments contributing another $393 million.

“With more than 70 golf courses featuring dramatic Pacific Ocean backdrops, fairways carved through volcanic rock, and lush tropical greenery, Hawaii is one of the world's top golf destinations,” said Kapalua Golf General Manager Alex Nakajima.

“Play Hawaii Golf was formed to promote this incredible golf destination, our courses, and all the good golf does for the Aloha State,” he added, as reported by Forbes.

The Play Hawaii Golf alliance will aim to reach the U.S., Asia, and other parts of the world to promote Hawaii as a premier golfing destination.

Through an extensive marketing strategy comprising digital campaigns, events, influencer partnerships, and many other methods, golfers will be attracted.

"Over the years, Hawaii has been host to the top players in all areas of the game from the PGA, LPGA, Tour Champions, and even the top collegiate players,” said Ross Birch, General Manager at Mauna Lani Golf & Tennis.

From 1999 to 2025, the Kapalua Resort in Maui hosted The Sentry. Similarly, for decades, the Sony Open was held at Waialae. However, from next season, the PGA Tour has decided not to return to these venues.

As a result, alongside Kapalua and Waialae, Mauna Lani Golf, Waikoloa Beach, Mauna Kea Golf Course, Poipū Bay, Princeville Makai, Ocean Course, Manele, Ka‘anapali, Wailea, Ko Olina, and Turtle Bay golf courses have spearheaded this initiative.

While Hawaii's golf industry is working to strengthen its position, the initiative comes in response to a major setback for the islands' golf scene.

PGA Tour’s decision to end its Hawaiian swing 

Starting with the 2027 season, the PGA Tour has opted to end its Hawaiian swing for several reasons. It came as a huge blow to Hawaii's tourism sector.

“We just found out about this, the governor and I, just like everybody else found out about this, and it got leaked yesterday by a sportswriter … he must have heard something from somebody in the PGA Tour, that it was the decision that was made,” Jimmy Tokioka, a senior official at Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said. 

The PGA Tour cited logistical challenges at Kapalua, with a lengthy water dispute contributing to its decision to deem the Plantation Course unplayable and end its run with The Sentry.

As for the Sony Open, a senior Tour event, the Sony Championship Hawaiʻi shall replace it. It certainly won't have the same impact on the local economy as the PGA Tour event.

What are your thoughts on the Play Hawaii Golf initiative? Share them in the comments.

Follow Club Golf for more.

Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav