I didn't pick up the game until I was 16, and my first course definitely influenced my tastes, as well as my overall game. It was a brand new 9 Hole Course with no irrigation, and plenty of drivable par 4’s (with decent risks, but little water). There wasn't much interest in the greens (basically just small ovals), but I had nothing to compare it to at the time.
As a result of this first exposure, my playing style was set:
1) I love to run the ball along the ground (out of necessity while the new course matured)
2) I rarely lay-up when given the opportunity (from years of playing drivable par 4s / reachable 5s)
3) I love making recovery shots, just let me find it (again, out of necessity from the combination of heroic holes, youthful bravado, and a swing that was a work in progress)
From an architectural taste standpoint, I am a sucker for Heroic half-par holes that encourage you to take a chance. And I have a disdain for hazards which eliminate any chance of recovery (water / OB / Unplayable Rough). My first course also had some quirky / sporty holes, so I have more patience for those when I see them now. I also don't get too obsessed about pristine conditions, and worry more about the "fun factor."
Because my first few courses featured fairly benign greens, I tend to look at the tee-to-green game before I consider the green contouring. I will recall the variety of the challenges and overall "feel" of the course more than I'll remember subtle green contours.
The benign greens at my formative courses are also why I really enjoy dramatic elevation changes, since those things provided much of the interest and challenge that was lacking around the green. It's also why I don't mind blind shots, while some here have a disdain for them. When a course's topography is deemed "severe," it's usually a sign that I'll enjoy it (Ballyhack and Tobacco Road are two of my favorites, and suspect I'd enjoy Dismal River).
With more years of exposure to great courses, I have come to appreciate the importance of green contouring, not just from a putting/chipping standpoint, but also in how slopes make playing angles more relevant. This has also caused me to be more focused on conditioning, as I dislike overly soft courses.
However, if I had the choice of a flatter course with great greens vs. a severely sloped piece of land with relatively tame surfaces, I'd still opt for the latter (in general). That's why I can appreciate a flatter course like Pinehurst #2, but it will never "stir me" the way Ballyhack or Leatherstocking will.