Do you think they should have moved the new 7th green nearer the 8th? and use the natural valley feature as a hazard this would shorten the walk between the green and tee however will it make it a better hole?
The new 7th, which seemed from viewing during construction like it's going to be a fine hole, if instead played to a green over the natural valley towards the new 8th would likely be a beast, even more so into a chilly northerly wind.
I did wonder about the new 7th being a bit shorter, then playing the new 8th as a par-3 uphill over the natural valley. The positioning of the new 9th tee and the playing angle/safety of the tee shot might be an influencing factor for this though, a blocked r/h or conservative tee shot aimed well away from the left side 'fog' could end causing issues with the other new holes.
Lots of space but storms and water channels do strange things over time so we'll see what happens.
Wonderful course though.
On another thread quite a while back Sean suggested that all golf tourists to the UK should have to pay a £5 tax to be used to preserve Westward Ho! Spot on!
atb