Behind the lens: Great golf courses in Western U.S. ski towns, from Utah to Colorado

As fall quickly approaches, and the golf season is winding down for some of us, it's time to catch the high-flying tee shots and gorgeous fall colors, and hit up some good, old, mountain-style golf.

What many forget -- or may not even know -- is some of the best mountain golf destinations are ski towns, which offer incredible golf courses of ultra high-end caliber but also the best $40 mountain munis you'll ever play.

In a few mountain destinations in the West, it is entirely possible to ski and golf all in the same day. It is not uncommon to ski knee-deep powder or fresh groomers in the morning, then play an afternoon round in warm, sunny conditions. If you can catch this phenomenon in Salt Lake City, Utah, or even Lake Tahoe and Reno in Nevada, you can have it all in one day!

Many of us are complete golf nuts, and we will play as much golf as possible -- even when the weather gets crazy or turns cold, and we dust off our skis. I have experienced ski town golf in total whiteout blizzards in Lake Tahoe in June, only to finish the round in blue-bird 70 degrees and sunny conditions.

While there are many great locales for mountain golf, I have compiled a collection of some of my favorites in the West.