Laughlin

About 90 miles from Las Vegas, at the southern most tip of Nevada, is the bustling little casino town of Laughlin. The town is named for Don Laughlin, who owned the popular Las Vegas 101 Club and built the Riverside Casino on what used to be known as South Pointe on Route 66 near Needles, Calif. Now with a dozen casino hotels and about a half dozen golf courses in the area, Laughlin, ranked No. 17 among U.S. gambling areas, has become a destination on its own.

There you will find not only gambling and golf, but luxury hotels, entertainment water recreation along the Colorado River. There are also plenty of dining options, shopping and even a couple of museums.

Golf courses like Mojave Resort Golf Club and Laughlin Ranch Golf Club are a couple of examples of the excellent golf the area has to offer.

Mojave Resort G.C., designed by Brian Curley and Grant Haserot, has a links feel to it with its wind-swept dunes and green fairways set against the desert mountains. This 6,900-yard-plus course has a rating of 136. Fortunately, golf lessons are available.

Laughlin Ranch, designed by David Druzisky, features dramatic elevation changes, wide fairways, large greens and generous views of the Colorado River, mountains and desert arroyos. There's also a spa, steam rooms, pool, fitness center, hot tubs and grill.

Other golf courses in the area include El Rio Golf Club and Los Lagos Golf Club.