Rick:
Ballyowen, IMHO, is the best public option in all of North Jersey. Roger Rulewich gets hammered often on this site for attempted restoration work from time to time but his effort at Ballyowen is quite solid although there are a few minor shortcomings.
The front side is less Scottish links - which the course tries to mimmick - and more a combo of American parkland (minus the numerous trees) and Florida style holes (that means the H20 comes into play big time).
The 2nd hole is a delicious risk'n reward hole that comes early in the round. The par-3 6th and the long cape-like 7th are extremely testing. Funny story on the 7th -- I had a long conversation with the owner Gene Mulvihill and after telling him that I easily cut the corner of the hole and had no more than 30 yards to the green he looked like his special toy had been taken away. I suggested to him that a "special" champ tee be created for #7 which now lies across the entrance road to the place. It stretches the hole to 470 yards and when you encounter the prevailing SW headwind you'll need to respect the full length of the dog-leg and the close proximity of the H20 which hangs nearby.
The 9th coming back to the clubhouse provides the real feel of a Shinnecock Hills type hole.
The back nine has the better terrain and the more consistent requirements forcing solid play shot after shot.
Best of the lot in my mind is the uphill par-4 13th which gets little respect but grabs plenty of people with bogeys or worse. And the sweeping par-4 14th which cascades through natural mounds that frame the left and to lesser extent the right. The closing hole is also very good -- the green is literally 50+ yards deep and having 3-4 differences in club selection can happen quite easily.
One other thing -- for big time events the club can easily convert the downhill par-5 10th into a par-4 and the same for the par-5 17th.
Ballyowen, to the credit of the superintendent and staff, is generally the best conditioned public course in the Northern tier of NJ.
John mentioned the likes of Wild Turkey and it too has its moments. I really enjoy the par-3 7th and the cross bunkered fairway of the 9th, to name just two examples.
If you happen to go Rick be sure to stay overnight and sample the Elements Spa and the Latour dining (believe it's four stars dining) and the stellar wine cellar! I believe the rates offered through Minerals Resort & Spa are quite competitive and well worth exploring especially immediately after Labor Day.
If you need more info contact me offline.