Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, Washington: A gem carved out of the Pacific Northwest forest

Ranked among the best casino courses in the country -- and arguably among the best three public golf courses in Washington along with Chambers Bay and the new Gamble Sands -- Salish Cliffs G.C. is a Gene Bates design carved out of a Pacific Northwest forest with stunning views of the Kamilche Valley.

An amenity to the Little Creek Casino Resort, which is owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe, this mostly bentgrass course can play as long as 7,269 yards from the championship tees, but has four more sets of tees for all levels of players. There's also has more than 600 feet of elevation change, which provides stunning views from several tees.

There is the double green on nine and 18, both of which are protected by water. On the ninth, players must be careful to avoid that water off the tee and keep the ball right of the hazard on the approach. The 18th is a terrific risk-reward par 5. Hit a good drive, and you've got a pretty scary shot over the lake with anything from a 7-iron to a fairway wood if you want to try to get there in two.

Salish Cliffs, which also has outstanding practice facilities, is a course you'll want to play more than once, which means your best bet is staying overnight at Little Creek before heading back up to University Place, where Chambers Bay is located.

Accommodations are more than comfortable, plus there's gaming, excellent dining (which is also available at the Salish Cliffs clubhouse), a small but excellent spa and the Skookum Spirit Cigar & Wine Lounge, which has a humidor stocked with more than 70 different premium cigar brands.