LPGA Lotte Championship moves to Kapalua Resort, Maui in 2027
Synopsis
The LPGA Tour is heading back to Kapalua — where the PGA Tour just left. The Lotte Championship moves to The Plantation Course in Maui for 2027 with a USD 3 million purse, pairing with the new Nanea Cup for a two-week Hawaii swing. It is the biggest venue upgrade in the tournament's 15-year history, and a telling sign of where the LPGA wants to position itself.
Key Takeaways
The LPGA Lotte Championship will move to Kapalua Resort, Maui for its 2027 edition , scheduled 15–21 March 2027 .
The prize purse doubles to USD 3 million , up from USD 1.5 million at the last LPGA event at Kapalua in 2008 .
The event joins the newly announced Nanea Cup to create a two-week LPGA swing in Hawaii.
The 2027 instalment will be the 15th edition of the Lotte Championship and its third home, after Ko Olina Golf Club (2012) and Hoakalei Country Club (2022–2026).
Kapalua's Plantation Course hosted the PGA Tour's The Sentry from 1999 to 2025 before the PGA Tour exited Maui in April 2026 .
Golf contributes an estimated USD 3.4 billion annually to Hawaii's economy, with tourism and retail spending exceeding USD 1 billion per year.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour has confirmed that the Lotte Championship will relocate to Kapalua Resort and The Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii, beginning with its 2027 edition. The tournament is scheduled for 15–21 March 2027 and will carry a prize purse of USD 3 million — double the USD 1.5 million on offer the last time the LPGA visited Kapalua back in October 2008.
A New Hawaii Swing for the LPGA
The Lotte Championship will not stand alone in Hawaii. The LPGA Tour has simultaneously announced the Nanea Cup, a new tournament that will precede the Lotte Championship, creating a two-week Hawaii swing — a significant scheduling addition to the Tour's calendar. Together, the two events mark what the LPGA is billing as a fresh chapter in professional women's golf in The Aloha State.
The 15th edition of the Lotte Championship, the 2027 instalment will be the tournament's third home. It debuted at Ko Olina Golf Club in 2012 before shifting to Hoakalei Country Club in 2022, where it has been held for the past five years.
What the Commissioner Said
LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler welcomed the venue change, saying: 'We are thrilled to have Kapalua Resort and The Plantation Course serve as the venue for the Lotte Championship in 2027. As we continue to strengthen the LPGA Tour schedule, venues with deep-rooted heritage like Kapalua are exactly what we look for.'
Kessler also acknowledged the departing host, adding: 'We want to thank Hoakalei Country Club for the last five years and look forward to building on the success of the Lotte Championship at its new home in Maui.'
Kapalua's Golf Heritage and PGA Departure
Kapalua Resort served as a PGA Tour fixture for 25 years. The Plantation Course hosted The Sentry from 1999 to 2025, while The Bay Course held the Kapalua LPGA Classic in 2008, won by Morgan Pressel. That chapter closed in April 2026 when the PGA Tour announced it would end its tournament presence in Maui. The LPGA's arrival at The Plantation Course effectively fills a significant void left behind, and gives the historic layout a continuing role in elite professional golf.
Economic Impact on Maui
Golf is a major economic pillar for both Maui and Hawaii. The industry reportedly contributes an estimated USD 3.4 billion annually to the state's economy through direct, indirect, and induced impacts, with golf tourism and related retail spending generating over USD 1 billion per year. The return of a marquee LPGA event to Kapalua is expected to reinforce that contribution, particularly as Maui continues its recovery and revitalisation efforts.
Point of View
Not just a location change. Pairing it with the new Nanea Cup to create a Hawaii swing is smart scheduling architecture, the kind that builds destination identity for a tour. The open question is whether the LPGA can sustain the commercial infrastructure — broadcast, sponsorship, hospitality — that Kapalua demands as a world-class venue, now without the PGA Tour ecosystem that long underpinned it.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the 2027 LPGA Lotte Championship be held?
The 2027 Lotte Championship will be held at Kapalua Resort and The Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii, from 15 to 21 March 2027. It is the tournament's third venue in its 15-year history.
What is the prize purse for the 2027 Lotte Championship?
The 2027 Lotte Championship will carry a prize purse of USD 3 million. This is double the USD 1.5 million purse at the last LPGA event held at Kapalua in October 2008.
Why is the Lotte Championship moving away from Hoakalei Country Club?
The LPGA has not publicly cited a specific reason for departing Hoakalei Country Club, but Commissioner Craig Kessler indicated the Tour is prioritising venues with 'deep-rooted heritage.' Kapalua's 25-year PGA Tour history makes it a prestige upgrade for the event.
What is the Nanea Cup and how does it relate to the Lotte Championship?
The Nanea Cup is a newly announced LPGA Tour event in Hawaii that will precede the Lotte Championship, forming a two-week Hawaiian swing for the Tour. Together, the two tournaments represent the LPGA's expanded presence in The Aloha State from 2027.
Who won the last LPGA event at Kapalua?
Morgan Pressel won the last LPGA tournament held at Kapalua in October 2008, when the event offered a USD 1.5 million total purse. That was the Kapalua LPGA Classic, played at The Bay Course.
