HAMMOND | That distinctive, prairie-style structure now visible for blocks in the vicinity of 129th Street and Calumet Avenue is the city's newest showpiece -- the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired clubhouse at Lost Marsh Golf Course.

The clubhouse's official grand opening isn't until June 19, but an hourlong tour last week offered more than a sneak preview.

Influenced by his "beloved master," Louis Sullivan, Wright famously practiced what is known as organic architecture, a concept steeped in a love of nature and its place in everyday life, whether home, workplace or school.

The style is right at home on the rolling greenery of a golf course and especially at Lost Marsh with its lake views, Hammond Port Authority Director Milan Kruszynski said.

Kruszynski and golf pro Don Plohg said they visited several clubhouses, including Chicago's Harborside and Highland's Wicker Park, ferreting out the finest features of each to benefit the new clubhouse.

The result is unmistakably prairie style throughout, displaying Wright's signature geometric lines, woodwork, stonework, quartz, leaded glass, wall lighting and thought-out traffic flow. Some added touches include eye-popping deep brown glass tile and customized cabinetry.

A two-story waterfall wall and tray ceiling grace the foyer that leads to both the first-floor pro shop and lockers and upper-story dining and conference facilities.

A restaurant/bar seats 70 but can be expanded into a three-sectioned banquet hall that seats 250 and offers access to a wraparound balcony with indoor-outdoor service windows. Once finished, the balcony will feature three flat-screen televisions and patio furniture able to withstand the site's high winds.

"We get one shot to do this," Kruszynski said of the design detail. "It's the little things that go a long way."

For all its lavishness, the facility is foremost a public venue.

"We are a public facility," Kruszynski said. "We need people to visit."

The clubhouse amenities are available for a day of golfing, casual dinners, business meetings or weddings.

Kruszynski said architects estimate the cost will stay less than the original $9.1 million quote, which was scaled down to $8.5 million before a contract was awarded to Calumet City-based Hasse Construction.

"We're where we wanted to be," Kruszynski said of the cost.

The clubhouse construction is part of an 11-year, $12.5 million bond issue, which also included the construction of a maintenance facility at the Hammond Marina and infrastructure improvements at the far north end of the city.

The bond payments will be covered by the embarkation fees the Horseshoe Casino pays to the Port Authority and also slip rental fees. Revenue generated at the clubhouse will be used toward its management and operation.