Dave & Kalen,
My point about Desert Forest is that the private courses are better than public in AZ. I was implying that DF is the best course in the state and since it is private, the best public course could not be better.
I agree with the previous comments about WeKoPa Saguaro. Let's face it, Troon North is not the best public golf in the state. I do really like WeKoPa and it should be in the conversation. Probably one of the best properties to build a desert style course in the Phoenix area. I have been thinking hard about why I don't consider it THE best public course and have come up this...I think, just my opinion, but it lacks truly memorable holes. For me, the most memorable holes out there are ones that I would consider bad, not fun, holes. Specifically two par 5's come to mind. #8 and #14 are not my favorite holes. The 8th feels like it was crammed into an area that would have made a good par 4. Like the 14th, I think it takes driver out of your hand. Not my idea of a good par 5. The 14th, split fairway par 5 that is very penal off the tee is just not my thing. And I can't believe I am going to say this, but the 600+ yard #4 is one of my favorite holes out there. So that is my problem with Saguaro. If I were rating the best public course in AZ, I think Southern Dunes beats out WeKoPa Saguaro. For me, there are more memorable holes. I also think they did an outstanding job on what was a "less than interesting" piece of land.
Regarding WA, no, I have not played Wine Valley and it probably is my personal taste that in the NW, I prefer a more NW feel (trees, smallish greens, intimate). But from what I have seen of Wine Valley, it has to be better than Chambers. So maybe it would beat Sahalee.