Nevada is one of America's best-kept golf secrets - yet it is one of the most visited states in the whole of the United States. 

Yet it's probably true that most visitors to Nevada never escape the obvious delights of Las Vegas. 

Still, the Silver State has more than 100 golf courses, ranging from lush lakefront links to high-desert greens and country club resorts.

Most courses are open year-round, thanks to Nevada's warm, high-desert climate.

So with so many choices, narrowing down where you want to go may be harder than sinking that 15-foot putt for a birdie.

A bonus of playing in Nevada is that the high elevation means less air resistance on your ball, so your drives go farther and your scores lower. What better incentive could there be? 

Las Vegas hardly needs description - it is a one-of-a-kind city with every attraction and distraction one could want. Aside from all-night casinos, entertainment and more entertainment, it also has world-class golf courses on and off the Strip, such as the exclusive course at the Wynn Las Vegas. 

However, you must be a hotel guest to play this challenging par 70 course, so if a stay at the Wynn isn't on your agenda, the Bali Hai Golf Club is a peaceful respite near the Las Vegas Strip. 

Fans of golf legend Jack Nicklaus should head to Bear's Best, which offers 18 replicas of Nicklaus' finest holes currently found at courses from Montana to Mexico. It is also home to a clubhouse that features Jack's Place, where photos, plaques and other memorabilia from Nicklaus' legendary career are displayed. 

That said, it is certainly worth breaking out of Las Vegas to sample the state's other golfing delights as well as its cultural and scenic highlights. 
One of Nevada's best-kept golf secrets is the town of Mesquite, about 80 miles North East of Las Vegas. Five stunning championship courses lure golfers from all over the world to this peaceful resort town. 

The spectacular landscape of red-rock canyons and desert plateaus make this area unforgettable, and several large hotel-casinos offer all the amenities of Las Vegas at a slower, more peaceful pace.