I think almost any course can grow on you if you let your competitive juices begin to flow in your efforts to conquer the course. My example is the course closest to my home -
Danny Cunniff Park
It is 5 miles from my home and is not too far out of my way. When I first played it I rated it a 1.5 (as did 4 TRs). It is a 9-holer that is flat and short and has woodchips for tee pads. It does have some L-R variation and OB & rough challenge, is moderately pretty and well maintained.
I often go out there with 2 or 3 discs and try to shoot 6 or more down. Every holes is easily birdie-able (only hole 8 feels rewarding to hit - I'm a lefty)....but my consistency at this point in my life seems to only get me 3-5 down.
I get frustrated/obsessed (in a fun way) and find myself blasting through four fifteen minute rounds before having to tear myself away.
Now, if there were real courses 5, 10, 15 minutes away.....heck even within 45 minutes I would probably never go out there other than to play with my kids or to work on expansion plans for the course.