The last time the U.S. Women's Open was played in Minnesota also was the last time that a mostly original Hazeltine National layout was played in a championship event.
Hollis Stacy was the 1977 winner at 4-over 292. Rookie Nancy Lopez was the runner-up, two strokes behind.
Reed Mackenzie, a Hazeltine member and the former president of the USGA, was asked to recall if the women were as hard on Hazeltine as were Dave Hill and Co. when the 1970 Open was held at the course.
"No, the ladies were much nicer, even back then," Mackenzie said.
Hazeltine is on the sideline this week as the Women's Open arrives at Interlachen in Edina. The spotlight will return to the brawny Chaska track next August with the PGA Championship.
The USGA found itself in the unusual position of being heaped with praise earlier this month, when Tiger Woods clumped around for 91 holes to defeat Rocco Mediate in the Open at Torrey Pines.
Mike Davis, the organization's senior director of rules and competition, was credited with setting up a course that maintained the USGA's traditional difficulty, while offering the chance to execute shots, drop putts and make birdies (and even eagles).
More so than with the PGA, the Masters or the British Open, the international golf media always has put a focus on the USGA employee responsible for setting up a championship course.