Hello Quad Cities!!

New member here from the Quad Cities.  Although I am a new memeber I have been lurking on this forum for some time now. let me officially introduce myself.

My name is Tom and I am 29 years old, I started golfing at around 16 and pretty much began breaking 90 since.  I played nearly every morning until college and managed to get my game into the high mid 80s in 2 years.  Took a break from the game during college (mostly because of money or lack there of).  Since then, getting married, haveing kids and working has really slowed me down and I played maybe once a month during the summer.  Since 1.5 years ago I have moved to 2nd shift we are done having kids and I have really picked my game up.  I can play several times a week before work and try to play at least twice. Since I was 16 I lost over 100 pounds so naturally my swing had to change but I have maintained my sub 90s score.

My problem is that my game is much better now then it ever has been but I still score in the 80s, lots of pars and a few birdies some doubles and even triples . If I am more conservative in my play and really manage the course (layup shots, teeing off with a 4 wood, ect.) I can often score mid 70s .  As you can imagine birdie oppertunities doing this only come on the 3s and the 5s (sometimes) and the rest of the time i am playng for par.  I feel like doing this my game will never get better because i wont hit my long clubs very often, and it doesnt look cool lol.

My golf buddies include another mid 80s guy (refuses the course managment style)  a high 80s guy and 2 guys that probably cant break 100 even though there scores are always in the low 90s. (mulligans, adjusting there lie ect).

Should i be concerned or just play the way I do to get the best score possible,  I would like to be a scratch golfer so beating those guys isnt my only concern?

My drive is short maybe 240 but average 220 went hit good which i do about 60 percent of the time.

My fairway wood game is off on.  I play a 4 and a 5 Nike old school wood and can hit them 210 and 190 ish

I dont hit my irons very far my 5 iron about 160 and my 9 about 125 I hit them pretty accuratly

When i play aggressive i lose my strokes mostly due to miss hits with the driver and worm burners with the woods.

When i play concervative my goal is to reach a par 4 on my third shot from 100 or less out and try to one putt.

lots of times i can hit a par five in 3 and have birdie opps.

Par 3s i usully par