Your only real gauge of distance is the size of the plane. It takes practice to know how far away it is.

I suggest you fly a smaller pattern around the runway. Don't make the final turn so far out and keep the plane up above the tree line. Make some practice approaches without landing until you can more accurately judge you position and altitude.

I think it is good for begineers to practice lots of approaches without landing. A good landing is easy to make if the approach is good.

Tom