Horseshoe Classic first chance to showcase Lost Marsh's new clubhouse

And it recently opened a brand-new, $9 million clubhouse in the "prairie" design of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The new facility comes complete with locker rooms, showers, pro shop, meeting rooms, a restaurant and banquet hall, and a balcony overlooking the course with views of downtown Chicago.

"It's way more of a country-club touch at a municipal golf course," Lost Marsh professional Don Plough said. "You never see that."

The previous clubhouse was a trailer, and, as a result, the course didn't host as many events as it could have. Plough doesn't expect that trend to continue.

"In the past, all our bigger outings were run underneath a tent," Plough said. "Now with this facility, even in a rough golf economy, we've seen a definite spike in larger outings."

Plough said one of the reasons Lost Marsh brought the Duramed Futures Tour to the Region was to showcase the golf course. And the new clubhouse provides a more enjoyable experience for those in attendance.

"We wanted to get spectators out here to see the golf course, see the facilities," Plough said. "If you go upstairs, there's 30 or 40 people, on the first day of the tournament, watching out over the balcony."

The beauty of the course doesn't stop at the clubhouse, though. Most golfers participating in this weekend's tournament came away impressed with how well it's kept.

"This course is in great condition," said Christina Jones, one of the top finishers. "It's probably one of the nicest courses we've played (this year)."

While the tour may specify how the course is to be kept, Plough said it still feels good to hear golfers rave about Lost Marsh after finishing a round.

"This is like the Triple-A of baseball so, especially being a golf professional, you always want your course to be nice," Plough said. "I go out there and ask (the golfers) personally how they like the course. It's been nothing but rave reviews -- and we're a daily-fee golf course in Hammond."

Calumet College golfer Jude Keelan, who caddied during Friday's leg of the Horseshoe Classic, was eager to heap some praise on the Hammond course.

"This course is nicer than anything around here," Keelan said. "(In the Region) we need a course like this."