Wolf Creek: A grand canyon turned into a golf course in Mesquite, Nevada

MESQUITE, Nev. -- Wolf Creek Golf Club, a tribute to modern course architecture, dances through a maze of canyons, ridges and cliffs of red rock 90 miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip. It might be the most picturesque inland course on the planet.

Wolf Creek General Manager Joel Villanos brags that 16 of the golf course's 18 holes would be signature holes on most other courses. Golf Digest ranks the 6,932-yard course No. 28 among the country's best public courses in its 2011-12 ratings.

Wolf Creek, which opened in 2000, plays tough. It's especially intimidating to first-timers clueless on how to attack its dizzying elevation changes. Anybody with a 9 handicap or higher is encouraged to play the white tees, a laughably short 5,798 yards long.

What isn't funny is the score most players shoot from those tees trying to maneuver safely over a creek, bunkers and ponds, all while avoiding that unforgiving rocky terrain.

Bring the camera. Bring a few extra pellets. But leave your ego at home. That's the best way to enjoy one of the world's most unique golf experiences.