Brad- thankyou for your insights and comments. Explanations like that help me understand more of what the course architect was thinking and give me new perspectives when I'm playing.
Pat- I played the week of the Honda Classic and the wind was really blowing- maybe 20-30mph- it was a good 2 clubs directly into us on 1 and 10.
Nick- the reason I posted this thread was that like you, so many of the greats have blown me away on the first play- Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Pinehurst #2, Winged Foot, Olympic Club, SFCC, Bethpage Black, Merion, Oakmont, Shinnecock, Crystal Downs, Fishers Island, Friars Head. I thought I was missing something big at Seminole and was trying to learn more about why I didn't get those special feelings. Maidstone might be a little bit of a tweener in that several of the holes there are not that special and it is pretty short, but overall I think it too qualifies as being up there in the "wow" category.