"Best Public in New England" is an interesting discussion, given that the marketeers would have you focus on any of the newfangled (not golden age) courses like the ones Dan mentioned, Lake of Isles, The Ranch, Pinehills, etc.
I would agree that the Golden-Age courses are still the best experiences.
Wachusett is pretty darn good, and gives a good approximation of the second tier of the great private courses in Mass and New England. I've played it a couple times, but not in the last 10 years.
I'd say that Taconic is better than Wachusett, but obviously quite a bit pricier, and at times not very public either. I'd also say there are similar-quality publics in New England to Wachusett, but on a given day WCC could give any of them a run for their money.
Here are a few that could compete: Rutland CC, Penobscot Valley, Kebo Valley, George Wright in a bit better shape but it's close, Shennecossett (probably on the low end of these), CC of Greenfield. Any others?
I agree completely. And that's not to say I don't enjoy the newer "country club for a day" courses. I would never turn down a round at Belgrade or the others. But there is something so natural and intimate about Wachusett, and I have to say I've felt similarly at other Ross courses, particularly Longmeadow. And with so many of his courses, the greens are sited so perfectly, once you play a given hole you can't imagine the green being placed anywhere else.
Is Taconic better? It certainly feel bigger and more important. Since the restoration, I would say it probably is. But as you said, it's only sort of public, and it is exceedingly expensive. If George Wright was in better shape, I would probably put it ahead of Wachusett, but ... it isn't. In terms of bang for your buck, I'm starting to convince myself that Wachusett is the best public option in New England.
As for the comparison made earlier to Cape Arundel, I would say the greens are apples and oranges. Wachusett greens are subtle and often elevated. Arundel's are wild and fun with all the slopes and mounds. Arundel's greens are in a class by themselves, I think. Wachusett is more challenging off the tee, without being overly tight.
And thinking more about the design ... Wachusett's 8th green reminded me of the green on the 1st hole at Yale, which is tiered from left to right, rather than back to front. It's a feature I'd like to see on more courses. I think it's the 16th ... the approach shot is similar to the approach at Yale #10 ... totally blind it's so uphill. And like #10, if you go past the flag, you can't stop your putt coming back. And a number of greens have subtle pockets that fall away and funnel balls off the green. So that a seemingly straightforward approach rolls off the green if you are at all careless.
It's just a very fun course. Forgiving enough that you probably aren't going to lose any balls. But as with many par 70 Ross courses where the yardage (6,500+ in this case) doesn't seem like much, he sprinkles in enough stout par 4s that you really do end up hitting every club in your bag.