Hutchinson ? The United States Golf Assn. has made seven stops at Prairie Dunes Country Club, including six in the last 22 years.

After the U.S. Women’s Open ended Sunday, people were already wondering when the USGA would return to the sand hills northeast of the Salt City.

“It’s not anything that’s been formally discussed,” said Betse Hamilton, Director of U.S. Women’s Open Championships. “Prairie Dunes, somewhere down the road, will get something else just because we have such a long history.”

That history dates back to the 1964 U.S. Women’s Amateur. That event has made three stops in Hutchinson, including the 1980 tournament won by Juli Inkster.

Inkster’s career came full circle on Sunday at Prairie Dunes when the 42-year-old Californian won her second U.S. Women’s Open.

When it was over, Inkster an honorary member of the country club joked that she would have to buy a home in Hutchinson because she has had so much success there.

Despite the fact that only two players Inkster and runner-up Annika Sorenstam finished under par in the 72-hole event, LPGA members said they would like to see the Open return to the Dunes.

At least, most of them would.

“No, it’s too hard,” third-place finisher Shani Waugh of Australia said with a laugh. “The golf course was sensational. If I hadn’t played well, I’d probably never want to see it again. In a sick sort of way, I’d like to come back and play it again.”

The golfers had no qualms about the small-town setting either.

“It doesn’t matter where you go, the people are friendly,” said Waugh, whose stops around the town of about 40,000 people included the Blue Duck Bistro and the Amarillo Grill.

Korea’s Grace Park also was out and about, cleaning out the local Target’s selection of tank tops. She was impressed by Midwestern hospitality.

“They’ve been very friendly, very supportive from crowds, to volunteers, to people on the street,” Park said.

She also would like a return engagement.

“I want to come back and beat this course,” Park said. “It’s an awesome place. It’s already one of my favorites.”

Was there anything she’d like to change about the week?

“My golf game,” Park said with a laugh after finishing tied for 18th.

Texan Kelli Kuehne visited the Dunes nine weeks ago and was concerned that the course’s narrow fairways wouldn’t accommodate large galleries. But the USGA brought in plenty of grandstands, and 101,098 spectators flocked to the Dunes.

“It’s an amazing golf course,” Kuehne said. “It was a huge success.”

It was, in fact, the biggest sporting event in Kansas history and will likely retain that distinction until Kansas Speedway adds seating.

“It’s above and beyond my expectations,” said Judy Bell, a Wichita native and past USGA president who was instrumental in bringing the event to Hutchinson. “I knew it would be great. The course has been showcased around the world. It’s the shining moment in the history of Kansas golf. It’s been a wonderful test of golf, perhaps the greatest Open test ever.”

It will take the Dunes some time to recover. Course superintendent Stan George said the fairway crossings spectators used to get from one hole to another should be back to normal by November.

It could take six or seven years, however, to restore the area between the 11th and 16th fairways where the enormous corporate hospitality village was located.

Coincidentally, the Open is booked for the next six years, making 2009 the first year the event could return to Hutchinson.

Return engagements are nothing new.

Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Course in Southern Pines, N.C., was the site of the U.S. Women’s Open in 1996 and 2001. Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains, Ore., was the site of the 1997 tournament and will play host to the Open again next year.

First, though, the USGA needs an invitation from the club.

It shouldn’t take much arm-twisting. The USGA estimates the event has an average financial impact of $21 million on host cities.

“It’s a great golf course,” Hamilton said. “The players loved it. The crowds were very supportive. The community is very supportive. Those are all great ingredients for a championship.”

So, could anything have gone more smoothly?

Miami’s Cristie Kerr said her boyfriend had a hard time getting a good view on some holes because the galleries were too big.

There’s something to work on for 2009.