Finally broke 100, but felt like I should have been in the lower 90s

So I have seen a bunch of threads on here where people have announced they finally broke 100, so I decided to do the same.  I have been playing for about a year and a couple months, and finally broke 100 with a 98 on a par 70 (5585 yards, 67.9/112). When you guys first broke 100,90,80, did it feel like you should have been much lower?

The funny thing is, my game didn't start kicking in until about hole 12.  I have also been trying out a new driver swing to try and hit a draw (my natural swing gives me a fade with my driver that can lead to a slice if I try to overpower it- I couldn't hook it to save my life, so I'm trying to only hit draws with my driver).  I hit one nice draw with my driver that went about 260-270 yards, but a couple other holes I just hit a huge push that went out about 220, so I left the driver in the bag the rest of the round and took out my old 3 wood which pretty much goes straight every time I hit it (unless I try to hit it without a tee)

By hole 11 on it was clear that my decision to only tee off with the 3 wood was a smart one, and I started hitting it pretty confidently 190-210yards in the middle of the fairway.  12-18 are pretty easy holes for me, so I thought if I didn't blow up on any holes, I'd be shooting in the low to mid 90s.  On hole 18, a 355 par 4, I hit 3 wood off the tee about 200 yards.  I had about 160 or so to the pin, so I knew a nice gentle 4 hybrid for me would get there (I know, I'm not a long hitter, but it is because I don't have enough confidence in my full power swing yet, so I do gentle swings in order to go straight- I can usually put an extra 15-20 yards on whatever club I am feeling very confident in that day).  I was too excited to get my best round ever in, I guess, so I slightly topped the 4 hybrid leading to a slice.  My ball was about 20 yards to the right of the green, and I needed to pitch it with my sandwedge because there was a bunker in between me and the green.  I'm not quite famililar with my wedge yet because somebody stole my old, favorite one, and I was too jittery, so I bladed it into the trees.  Long story short, I carded an 8 on that hole after unsuccessfully getting the ball out of the trees and onto the green.  The 8 could have easily been a 9 or 10, though, because I had to hole a 12 foot putt to even get that.

Anyways, I feel like after that round, breaking 100 after not playing all that well at all (in fact only getting 2 pars on the back 9 and no birdies), I should be breaking 100 consistently.  I'm pretty excited, because I feel like my game is confident enough that I can play with people I don't know well without being completely embarrassed when 50% of my hits are duffs, even if the score isn't great. My next goal is to break 95, and to start playing for the low 90s by avoiding tripple bogies and DEFINITELY no more quadruples.  If you have any tips based on the information here, please let me know!

Here's the scorecard for the round:

Distances:

Hole 1: 485

Hole 2: 140

Hole 3: 375

Hole 4: 345

Hole 5: 340

Hole 6: 140

Hole 7: 475

Hole 8: 395

Hole 9: 145

Hole 10: 360

Hole 11: 475

Hole 12: 105

Hole 13: 320

Hole 14: 145

Hole 15: 475

Hole 16: 390

Hole 17: 120

Hole 18: 355

Total: 5585

The 3 puts from under 20 feet are pretty aggrivating.  Also, you can see that I couldn't hit a fairway to save my life on the front 9, but started hitting almost every one on the back 9 after switching away from my driver. You might notice that I average better if I hit the left rough compared to the right rough, this is because when I hit the left rough it is my draw shot with my driver which usually goes over 240 yards, but if I hit a big fade it may only go 200 even.

I still struggle hitting greens because I don't have the length.  Unless I hit a long drive, I'm still hitting 3H as my second shot on almost every par 4.  I feel pretty good about this club, though, and can usually get it within 30 yards of the green as long as I am less than 200 yards out.

Youy should hook up with my brother in Lincoln. I bet you guys score the same and it would get him out golfing more often. He took a few lessons this year but only played a couple of times. IMHO a waste of lessons but he is pretty stubborn.

haha, yah.  I took a group lesson that wasn't really all that valuable, but I tend to go out a couple/few times a week.  I have a couple buddies who started golfing at the same time as me and shoot around what I do (although one is a longer hitter and had a 2 month membership at Wilderness Ridge course in town with his dad, which is challenging enough to force him to learn quick, and tends to hit in the mid 90s pretty consistently).  They are only able to get out once a week at the most, though.  Otherwise, I play with parents, but they are lucky to break 120 and can be very very slow.

Well one of these days I am going to be back in my home town which is 40 miles south of you and I will try to look you up and play a round if you would like. I live in an area that doesn't have to deal with wind much..... I do not miss Nebraska wind.

That sounds good to me.  You are right, it can be pretty windy from time to time, especially on the more open prairie courses.  Strong left to right wind means I don't even consider my driver because it will be a nearly 90* slice.

Congrats. Next comes 90

I would still love to get out and play with my pita brother. I live in a great area. Vacation and resort area with tons to do for kids. 9 golf courses in less than an 30 minutes, probably 30+ in an hour drive. He won't come out. Free room and board.... and he is single.

There are always a few shots in a milestone round that we wish that we could have back, but you've accomplished what you set out to do.  Way to go!

I almost always feel a round should have been lower regardless of whether it was a milestone or not. Earlier this year I shot a 7 over 77 (which is tremendous for me this year) and had 6 penalty strokes. Hell, I'm just happy to break 80 anymore.

That threw me for a loop when I saw your location! I thought I had just encountered not one by two other members who live in the same area I do! Phew!

OP I do understand your feeling, but it can go both ways. The day I shot my lowest score to day I had the opposite feeling. I thought it should have been much higher.

Where in NH are you?

I live right up the road from Owls Nest. I see you have some photos from there in your photo albums, maybe I'll see you at the sugar shack sometime haha, small world!

I shoot on average mid 80s, but probably should shoot low 80s, high 70s......But my shortgame just lets me down....It happens to everyone !