No Laying Up - Golf Podcast 1106: What Happened At Kapalua?
12 snips
Jan 7, 2026 Mark Rolfing, a veteran golf broadcaster and course developer, offers insights into the alarming water shortages affecting Kapalua and the future of PGA Tour events. He shares the historical context of water needs on the island and discusses a shift towards minimalist course designs. Water historian Jonathan Lee K.K. Schreuer elaborates on the Pu'ukukui watershed and the legal complexities surrounding local water use, emphasizing the public trust doctrine and the impact on various community needs. The future of golf in West Maui hangs in the balance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rolfing’s Early Warning And Frustration
- Mark Rolfing warned the PGA Tour in March that Maui faced a major water problem but felt initial tour responses downplayed it.
- He described a rapid shift from "everything's fine" to closing the course within months.
Reduce Turf To Conserve Water
- Shift some turf to firmer, faster playing surfaces to reduce irrigation needs and playability issues.
- Narrowing wide fairways and reducing irrigated acres can conserve water while preserving course character.
Practical Turf Reduction Target
- Reduce irrigated acres from about 112 toward 100 to cut water demand while keeping competitive play.
- Use targeted turf reductions and landscape changes to preserve visual character with less irrigation.
