Hutchinson ? If you want to reserve an entire golf course for several hours, it helps to be somebody important or a friend of somebody important.

Sen. Pat Roberts is both.

Seven of Roberts’ Senate colleagues, along with dozens of government officials and lobbyists, have signed up for a Republican fund-raising golf tournament that begins Sunday at Prairie Dunes Country Club. The entire course has been reserved for Monday morning.

Roberts, R-Kan., played host to a similar tournament last year — even though he does not play golf but simply rides in a cart and “offers a lot of encouragement,” said his former chief of staff, Leroy Towns.

Late scratches or additions were possible, but the Senate list at midweek consisted of Chuck Hagel, Nebraska; Conrad Burns, Montana, Thad Cochran, Mississippi; Don Nickles, Oklahoma; Gordon Smith, Oregon; Saxby Chambliss, Georgia; and John Sununu, New Hampshire.

The tournament has a $1,000 entry fee and was expected to draw about 80 players, with proceeds going to Republican candidates for Senate. Neither Roberts nor any of his Senate guests is on the ballot this year.

“These kind of golf tournaments are a very popular way of raising money,” Towns said.

Roberts decided a tournament at Prairie Dunes would showcase the course and Kansas, Towns said.