At the risk of being labeled a blasphemer, what do NGLA, Crystal Downs, Sand Hills, Ballyneal, Dismal River and Kingsley Club have that this course doesn't?
NGLA - In the case of NGLA, EH! does not have the diversity of holes as National does. As Brad Tufts said above, it is a little short. Brad is a very very good player. As a huge fan of Cape Arundel which is in the 6000 yard range, how is that? Well, EH! probably has one or two too many 370 yard type holes, especially on the back. Even the 6th hole on the front says 421, but if you catch the hill, it is a wedgish type hole. NGLA also has greater diversity in terms of size of greens.
Sand Hills - Somewhere in the archives here, I termed EH! as "Baby Sand Hills" due to the wild terrain. However, it simply does not have the HUGE scale of Sand Hills even when you have the long vistas over Pleasant Bay and out towards Naucet Beach. Again, SH has greater diversity of hole yardages.
I am a huge fan of EH!, Chatham, Nauset Beach, The Squire..... Just trying to add some perspective that is it a fantastic place but not Top 10 golf course.
Now if you ask my opinion of Maidstone versus Eastward Ho! versus Newport CC, The Ho! probably comes out on top for me.