The best public golf course I ever played was Whistling straits in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. If you have never been up to Sheboygan, I would definitely put it on your bucket list. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
The course layout is both fun and difficult with some of the best views of Lake Michigan. The architect, Pete Dye, created a masterpiece that makes you feel as though you are in Northern Ireland. There is even a herd of sheep that roams the course while you are playing.
Furthermore, it hosted the 3 PGA Championships, a Senior US Open, and will be the 2020 site for the Ryder Cup.