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Gaming and golf combine at casino courses

In the past 15 years, golf has become one of the casino industry’s amenities of choice – a means of attracting everyone from high-rollers to golf buddies looking to do 36 holes per day, play low-dollar casino games at night and do it all over again the next day.

Years ago, Las Vegas was the default choice for golfers looking to gamble on and off the course. These days, there is no shortage of gaming-and-golf options nationwide. The following list highlights some of America’s top casino golf options.

Note: References to rankings reflect a course’s position on the Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list in its state.

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ARIZONA

The tracks: We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro and Cholla ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, statewide. . . . The Ak-Chin Indian Community is buying Southern Dunes, a favorite of better players. . . . Whirlwind’s two tracks used to play host to the Nationwide Tour.

Relax: The Radisson’s Scottsdale Casino offers twice-daily no-limit poker tournaments. . . . Local music faves across all genres play for free at Ak-Chin’s Oasis Lounge. . . . Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass features an authentic Native American menu of treatments.

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CONNECTICUT

The tracks: Lake of Isles’ North Course is No. 1 statewide. . . . Mohegan Sun CC at Pautipaug is a 1960 Geoffrey Cornish design updated in 2002 by Stephen Kay.

Relax: Foxwood’s MGM Grand Theater draws top-notch talent, including Jerry Seinfeld and Diana Ross. . . . In June, the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena will host Conan O’Brien, Carole King and James Taylor.

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IDAHO

  • Circling Raven GC/Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel (Cdacasino.com)

The tracks: This memorable Gene Bates creation (No. 1 statewide) sprawls across 620 acres without losing unity or focus.

Relax: An upscale resort hotel addition opening next spring will include a spa, sleeker room options and a steakhouse.

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INDIANA

The tracks: Tom Fazio’s Belterra layout (No. 9 statewide) features a generous splash of water hazards. . . . The elevated tee on Chariot Run’s par-5 11th offers the best view of this lovely, rolling horse country. . . . French Lick’s new Pete Dye Course (No. 1 statewide) and refurbished Donald Ross Course (No. 3) are alike only in their elite rankings.

Relax: Belterra’s Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, popular from Cincinnati to St. Louis, was voted “best casino restaurant” by a trade magazine. . . . Horseshoe’s Kickin Country Music Series offers free live musical entertainment every Thursday. . . . 70-minute tours show the storied history of the gloriously restored West Baden Springs and French Lick Springs hotels.

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IOWA

The tracks: Blue Top’s tips, dubbed the “$1,000” tees, stretch more than 7,500 yards. . . . The state’s No. 3 public course (one spot behind Blue Top), Spirit Hollow neatly meshes links and parkland–style holes.

Relax: Riverside has partnered with Zender’s, a salon and spa in nearby Iowa City; among the offerings is a Signature Sports Detailing. . . . It may not relax you, but the PZAZZ! Resort Hotel’s FunCity attraction will keep the kids occupied for hours.

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LOUISIANA

The tracks: Contraband Bayou, the state’s lone public-access Tom Fazio design, fuses lowland and marshland elements. . . . At more than 7,600 yards, the water-laden Koasati Pines also sports a “gambling hole” (aka, bye hole, to break ties).

Relax: Blow off some steam at L’Auberge with Rockstar Karaoke at Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill. . . . Enjoy the great pairing of golf and gumbo at Gumbeaux’s Sports & Oyster Bar, one of six dining options at Coushatta.

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MICHIGAN’S UPPER PENINSULA

The tracks: Stay-and-play packages are available for Sweetgrass in partnership with nearby Greywalls (No. 2 statewide) and Timberstone. . . . The range’s target greens at Wild Bluff are in the shape of a club, diamond, heart and spade.

Relax: The Island’s well-run poker room features nightly tournaments. . . . Tuesdays in Bay Mills’ Poker Room feature a $20 Texas Hold ’em tournament with a re-buy.

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MINNESOTA

The tracks: Thirteen of the Meadows’ dramatic holes sport water, including four waterfalls. . . . A waterfall caps the dramatic closing par 4, “The Turtle,” at The Wilderness (No. 1 statewide).

Relax: “American Idol” fans can take in notorious 2009 runner-up Adam Lambert in the 2,100-seat Mystic Showroom; the more classic-minded can choose from Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd. . . . For those about to schlock: August’s Rock Fest in Fortune Bay’s Woodlands ballroom features Tesla, Thund Her Struck and Led Zepagain.

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MISSISSIPPI

The tracks: The visually dramatic Bridges is the state’s only Arnold Palmer design. . . . Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate combined on both Dancing Rabbit layouts, each ranked among the top 7 statewide. . . . Fallen Oak (No. 1 statewide) is ranked No. 2 on Golfweek’s Best Casino Courses list, behind Shadow Creek. . . . The best drive at Grand Bear? The 6 miles through towering pines to reach the clubhouse. . . . Three million square yards of imported dirt give Cottonwoods its elevation. . . . You might find PGA Tour pro Heath Slocum and his dad, Jack, at The Preserve.

Relax: Jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain plays twice-weekly free shows at Hollywood’s Stage Bar. . . . Beau Rivage’s upscale shopping is a regional attraction. . . . One lucky roll (to the first tee): Dancing Rabbit offers lodging in its golf clubhouse. . . . Enjoy an umbrella drink, surf a private plasma TV and take in a sunset in Grand Biloxi’s poolside cabanas. . . . Blow of stream at Harrah’s Willows Sporting Clays Center. . . . Three new Frank Gehry buildings at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art are set to open in November in Biloxi.

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NEVADA/LAS VEGAS

The tracks: Given the location and terrain, Shadow Creek might be Tom Fazio’s masterpiece. . . . Rio Secco is home to Butch Harmon’s golf school. . . . At Wynn, Fazio moved more than 800,000 cubic yards for elevation changes and added more than 100,000 shrubs.

Relax: For all its glitz, MGM’s new Aria has LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. . . . Catch the free, hourly Show in the Sky at Rio, a Harrah’s property. . . . A Ferrari and Maserati dealership is included among Wynn Las Vegas’ shops.

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NEW JERSEY

The tracks: Tom Doak restored William Flynn’s classic Atlantic City CC design.

Relax: For culinary enthusiasts, Harrah’s this summer will introduce a Viking Cooking School.

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NEW MEXICO

The tracks: Black Mesa (No. 2 statewide) snakes through spectacular sandstone ridges. . . . An island fairway and exciting greens highlight Ted Robinson’s Inn of the Mountain Gods. . . . Isleta Eagle’s three distinct nines offer handsome Rio Grande Valley views. . . . Sandia can stretch to more than 7,700 yards, but much of the challenge is around the bold green complexes. . . . Twin Warriors emphasizes cultural sensitivity, with an ancient cave next to a tee box and an abandoned horse corral adjacent to a fairway.

Relax: The Puye Cliff Dwellings near Black Mesa are a fascinating National Historic Landmark, with spectacular views of northern New Mexico. . . . Big-game hunters can search for bull elk, cow elk, bear and wild birds at the Mescalero Apache Reservation. . . . Isleta sports two fine-dining spots, including the hip 505 Fusion, a restaurant club whose menu unites Southwest, Italian and BBQ. . . . Sandia’s outdoor, 4,300-seat amphitheater has upcoming concerts from the likes of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Lenny Kravitz and Robert Plant. . . . The Stables at Tamaya feature trail rides guided by professional handlers twice daily.

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NEW YORK

The tracks: Some of the world’s top players annually take on Atunyote in the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship; Kahulyat is even tougher (150 slope from the tips) and Shenandoah even more scenic.

Relax: Turning Stone has two spas; its events calendar routinely includes big-name comedians and musical acts.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The tracks: Sevillano Links recently was named home course for the Northern California Open. . . . Five sets of tees is nice; 10-12 minutes between tee times is even better at Yocha Dehe.

Relax: Visit the Clear Creek Sports Club near Rolling Hills to shoot trap, skeet and sporting clays, hunt upland birds, or fly-fish for striper bass. . . . Cache Creek’s Club 88 regularly showcases musical faves from the ’70s and ’80s, such as Boz Scaggs.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The tracks: Barona Creek (No. 4 statewide) announces itself with an oak bisecting the first fairway, then balances the rugged (100 bunkers) and rustic (creeks, oaks, native grasses). . . . Flashy Brit Clive Clark’s architectural flourishes are all over Eagle Falls’ desert setting. . . . Journey’s mountainside routing avoids areas and oak trees sacred to the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

Relax: Barona pays culinary homage to the area’s diversity with 11 restaurants. . . . Fantasy Springs has great desert views from its 12th-floor lounge and 24 lanes of bowling downstairs. . . . Pechanga’s 200,000-square-foot gaming floor is the state’s largest.

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OKLAHOMA

The tracks: Cherokee Hills (No. 4 statewide) is a 1924 Perry Maxwell original redesigned by Tripp Davis. . . . Davis started from scratch at Patricia Island, ringed by Grand Lake and placing a premium on thoughtful decision-making.

Relax: The Hard Rock features the Center Bar with its 80-foot ice-topped bar, Friction nightclub and Margarita Bay. . . . Mid-June at Grand Lake brings the three-day American Heritage Music Festival in nearby Grove, Okla.

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