Here is a good story about breaking 80 for the first time. The player is a friend and the president of one of the banks here. Anyway, I'm playing in a foursome with him maybe 35-40 years ago. He wasn't the president at the time, but an officer of some sort. So, we get through the 11th hole, and it starts lightning and raining hard. We all head for the 19th hole to either finish later or call it a day.
We start going over the round and my friend, Sam was only 1 or 2 over par through 11. Sam was normally a mid-80's to 90 shooter. The other 2 members of the foursome decided they had enough golf for the day, and didn't want to go back out. Sam doesn't want to go back out either. I think Sam was afraid to finish because he was having a career day. I stayed on him until he agreed to go back out and finish. It was just the two of us.
I don't really remember any shots to speak of other than him dumping it in the pond on 12 (first hole back on the course), and saying "let's forget it." I said "Sam, have you ever broken 80?" He said that he had not really gotten close enough, and I say "today, you are breaking 80." Sam is choking like a dog down the stretch and I am trying to build his confidence, encouraging him, helping him read putts, pick clubs, etc. all the way around. I was a cheerleader, a coach, and a caddie that day.
To make a long story short, Sam barely made it by the skin of his teeth with an 8 over par 79. It was the only time that Sam ever broke 80. He is in his early-mid 70's now, and he doesn't play much any more. We still talk about that round to this day. It was a hell of a milestone for him, and I was very proud of him that day. From my perspective, that was one of the most meaningful rounds of golf that I have been a part of.