88 is quite acheivable in that space of time as has been said. At one point I would have been completely shocked by someone acheiving that score, but put in the effort, and get lessons when you need them and it's well within reach.
I took up the game myself near the end of last August, and last week played twice, shooting an 85 one day, and 84 the next. In the 84 I had 3 birdies and 3 pars. In fact, I am regularly below 90 now, and that's still without hitting the ball as well as I would like.
I can remember my 1st couple of rounds shooting well over 100, and thinking that getting below 100 would be nigh on impossible! If I were to shoot that score now I reckon the clubs would be mashed to bits
I think if I could get better consistancy, low 80's would be a regular score for me. But that is going to take more practise, maybe even 3 times a week to the range, and I am not sure if I can spare that amount of time at the moment, so the consistancy may have to wait.
It's amazing how fast you can bring your score down though once you realise you don't have to beat the life out of the ball, and in fact placement is so much better than distance. That and getting a feel for putting and the short game make a huge difference to your scores. Think about it this way, take one putt less every other hole and that's 9 shots off your score right away! And I bet very few people (myself included) spend much time practising putting.
Biggest issue I have is expecting too much. If I go round in 84 one day, then I expect to do the same the next. It only puts extra pressure on your game though. I need to appreciate how difficult it is to do that. Watching Tiger play the Open recently really drilled it home though that anyone can have a bad round or 2!
My short game still costs me a few shots each round, but my putting has improved dramatically. I now sink 90% in 1 to 2 putts, whereas before I was often 3 putting.
otherwise referred to as 
