Articles
Tournament recaps, speed training logs, gear reviews, and everything I'm learning as a competitive golfer at 56.
Best Chrome Tour Triple Track Ball Review
The Chrome Tour Triple Track is the golf ball I have put in play for every SCGA tournament round of 2026 — eight competitive events from Monterey to Desert Springs to San Juan Hills. After hundreds of competitive strokes, this is the honest review from a 56-year-old 3-handicap with real Arccos shot data — driver, irons, wedges, putting alignment results, and how the Triple Track system compares to alternatives like the Titleist Pro V1.
Swing Speed Training Injury
I withdrew from the Admiral Baker Club Championship this week after injuring my neck during a Stack System overspeed session — the result of trying a new separation move on the final 195-gram set, at the worst possible moment. Here's exactly what happened, why it happened, and what changes for the rest of Program 8.
Rio Hondo golf tournament
A hole-by-hole recap of my SCGA One Day Series round at Rio Hondo GC — shot 77 with 4 birdies, a 301-yard drive, and two costly 3-putts. Full Arccos strokes gained breakdown included: driving, approach, short game, and putting.
Pala Mesa Chapman Format Recap
I played Net Team Chapman (alternate shot) at Pala Mesa Resort — shot 81, net 74, 28th place. A triple on the #1 handicap hole, an answer birdie four holes later, and an honest look at why alternate shot golf isn't my game.
Arccos smart sensors
Arccos Smart Sensors are the small grip-mounted devices that automatically track every shot you hit and feed the data into a strokes-gained analysis engine. After six SCGA tournaments and 30+ rounds in 2026, here is the honest review — the strokes gained data that exposed my real scoring leaks, what the sensors do well, where they fall short, and whether the system is worth the subscription cost. Real numbers from a 56-year-old 3-handicap competing in serious amateur events.
Best Golf Divot Pattern Diagnosis: My 24% Short Miss Revealed
Your golf divot pattern is the most honest swing coach you will ever meet. It tells you exactly what your club did at impact — path, attack angle, low point, strike location — every swing, in a strip of grass you can read in real time. This article is the complete guide to reading divot patterns, with a personal story: how 11 rounds of Arccos approach data showed a chronic 24% short miss, and how reading my own divot pattern over one practice session diagnosed three specific swing flaws that had been costing me strokes for years.
SCGA golf tournament guide
Playing an SCGA golf tournament is the most rewarding experience in 25 years of amateur golf. This guide covers everything you need to compete: what the SCGA is, the different types of events, how to sign up, what to expect on tournament day, season costs, the tournament-legal gear that matters, and the lessons learned across 8 SCGA golf tournament starts in 2026 from a 56-year-old 3-handicap. Whether you are signing up for your first event or building a competitive season, this is the honest breakdown
San Juan Hills SCGA tournament recap
Shot 77 at San Juan Hills Golf Club in the SCGA One Day Series Individual Net event. Three OB drives, two birdies, and a -3.9 driving SG round told a clear story. Full Arccos strokes gained breakdown and what it means for the journey to 115 mph.
The Best Stack System Program 7 Results at 56
Stack System Program 7 is complete. After 17 months of training, 7 programs, 5,416 total swings, and 57 hours of logged training time, I hit a new personal best of 111 mph — up from 89 mph when I started. Here's the full data breakdown, progress check results, and what comes next on the road to 115 mph.
Morongo Four-Ball SCGA Recap: Brutal 83, Real Power
Shot 83 (net 79) in the SCGA One Day Series Four-Ball at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. Hit the ball farther than I ever have in competition — 310-yard drive, drove the green on a 378-yard par 4, nearly eagled a par 5. Then the putter went -6.1 strokes gained and the round slipped away. Full Arccos breakdown and lessons learned.
Bushnell tour v6 shift review
The Bushnell Tour V6 Shift has been in my bag for every SCGA tournament round of the 2026 season. After six events from El Camino to Desert Springs, this is my honest Bushnell V6 Shift review from the perspective of a 56-year-old 3-handicap who plays competitive amateur golf — speed, slope toggle, real tournament performance, and how it compares to alternatives.
Driving range workout
A proper driving range workout is the most underrated piece of golf practice for players over 50. After 15 months of speed training that took my driver from 89 to 106 mph at 56, I rebuilt how I use the range. Here is the 60-minute structure that produces more improvement than three 90-minute ball-beating sessions.
Greens in Regulation
Greens in regulation is the most tracked stat in amateur golf — and the most misunderstood. Learn what GIR means, what counts as a green in regulation, benchmarks by handicap, and why hitting more greens doesn't always lower your score.
How to stop 3 putting
How to stop 3-putting is not about line — it is about speed. After seven three-putts at Soboba in 2025 and seven more at El Camino in 2026, I learned the hard way that speed control, a repeatable stroke, and a locked-in pre-shot routine are what separate golfers who 3-putt from those who do not. Here is the speed-first framework that works.
What’s in my bag at 56
What's in my bag at 56 looks nothing like what was in my bag 15 months ago. Driver swing speed went from 89 to 106 mph, and the bag evolved with the game. Here is the complete breakdown of every club, every spec, and every reason behind the choice — from a 3-handicap senior golfer competing in SCGA tournaments.
Proven Golf Club Distance Chart at 106 MPH: Real Arccos Data
My honest golf club distance chart with real Arccos data for every club in my bag — driver, fairway woods, irons, and wedges. Built from the last 100 shots tracked per club at a 106 mph driver swing speed, with dispersion patterns that revealed a deceleration problem in my 6 iron and a chronic under-clubbing tendency across 5 club
Tested Desert Springs SCGA: 5th Place with a Broken Driver
My Desert Springs SCGA tournament went sideways when my driver broke apart in my hands mid-round. I still finished 5th with gross 75 (net 73). Three birdies, 11 of 14 fairways, three brutal three-putts, and a full Arccos strokes gained breakdown of what worked and what didn't on the Valley Course at Desert Springs JW Marriott.
Better Par 5 Scoring at 56: A USGA Qualifier Story
At 56, I shot 83 in a USGA Senior Amateur qualifier on a course I had never played. My par 5 scoring was the strongest part of my round — and the data shows why swing speed training matters more than most senior golfers realize.
Stack System vs SuperSpeed: Tested 2 Years, 17 MPH Gain
I used SuperSpeed Golf for two months before switching to the Stack System. Here's an honest side-by-side comparison of both overspeed training tools — what each does well, where one fell short for me, and which one I'd recommend for golfers over 50.
Humbling SCGA Senior Amateur Qualifier Recap: 83 at El Camino
The SCGA Senior Amateur Qualifier at El Camino CC was the hardest tournament test of my year. 6,567 yards, greens running 13-14, a field of senior amateurs. I shot 83. The qualifying number was 77. Here is the honest story of where the round went sideways, what held up, and what I am taking forward.
Brutal Monterey Country Club Golf Tournament: 75, 9th
A 75 at Monterey Country Club for an SCGA One Day Series event. -2 through 8, then a 7-wood disaster on 10 derailed the back nine. My first round with Arccos sensors revealed exactly where the round came apart — the approach game lost 2.8 strokes.
How to Hit Irons Better After 50: Real Drills From a 3-Handicap
The exact iron-play adjustments a 56-year-old 3-handicap SCGA competitor uses to strike it pure, hold greens, and stop the chunky-thin cycle that haunts most golfers after 50.
Best Stretches for Golf: Proven Flexibility Routine from a 3-Handicap Amateur
The best stretches for golf target the exact movement patterns your swing demands — hip rotation, thoracic spine mobility, and shoulder flexibility. A 3-handicap competitive amateur shares the stretching routine that transformed how he feels and performs from hole 1 to hole 18.
How to Break 80 in Golf: Proven Strategies from a 3-Handicap Amateur
Breaking 80 in golf isn't about hitting the ball farther — it's about eliminating big numbers. A 56-year-old SCGA competitor and 3-handicap amateur breaks down exactly how to break 80 consistently: the scoring strategies, course management decisions, mental game discipline, and short game work that turn an 84 into a 79. No generic tips, just the real path from a competitive amateur who shoots in the 70s every tournament round.
A Crow Stole My Ball, Then I Won the Tournament: A 5-Day Vegas Iron Game Lesson
A crow stole my golf ball at Paiute Wolf and I shot 93 — my worst round in 2 years. The next four days I shot 84-74-74-75 across two more rounds at Paiute and three tournament courses, winning over $1,000. Here's the iron game lesson for golfers over 50 that this 5-day Vegas trip taught a 56-year-old 3-handicap who has spent 15 months chasing distance.
Real Anaheim Hills SCGA Tournament Recap: 78 Shot, 7th of 32
I shot 78 at Anaheim Hills Golf Course in my latest SCGA One Day Series tournament, finishing 7th out of 32 in a field of competitive amateurs. Full recap of the round: driver stats from all 6 tee shots, the closing birdie on 18, three double bogeys that cost me a better score, and what a short tight first-time course teaches you about course management.
How Swing Speed Affects Scoring: Real Data From a Golfer Over 50
A 56-year-old SCGA competitor breaks down exactly how swing speed affects scoring — 1.5 club iron gains, five tournament eagle opportunities, +2.20 stroke gained in driving, and the confidence factor that changes how you play every round.
Mental Game on the Course for Golfers Over 50: Proven Strategies to Score Lower
A 56-year-old SCGA competitor breaks down his complete mental game system — pre-round planning routine, staying present with yoga-trained focus, handling slow play, positive self-talk, and the Desert Falls double bogey reset that turned a bad start into a great finish
Putting for Golfers Over 50: Proven Routines to Eliminate 3-Putts
A 56-year-old SCGA competitor breaks down his complete putting system — green reading walk-around, pre-shot routine, speed-first philosophy, daily 3-foot practice habit, and a memorable downhill birdie putt at Soboba Springs that required an 18-foot stroke on a 24-foot putt.
Short Game for Golfers Over 50: Proven Tips to Get Up and Down
A 56-year-old SCGA competitor breaks down his complete short game approach — the 80/20 chipping rule, 60-degree flop shot technique, bunker play fundamentals, and a chip-in birdie at Twin Oaks that required total trust in the read and feel.
Course Management for Golfers Over 50: Score Smarter Every Round
Course management for golfers over 50 isn't about being conservative — it's about being smart. Here's the exact framework I use as a 3-handicap competing in SCGA tournaments at 56: the 80% rule, lay up vs. go-for-it decisions, par 3 wind strategy, and how to manage bad holes without letting them wreck your round.
The 50+ Golfer’s Guide to Scoring Lower
Scoring lower after 50 isn't about overhauling your swing — it's about playing smarter. A 3-handicap competitive amateur shares the course management strategies, short game fundamentals, and mental game principles that have made the biggest difference in his scores as a senior amateur golfer.
Average Golf Swing Speed by Age: Real Benchmarks + How to Improve
How does your swing speed compare to other golfers your age? See the real benchmarks by age group, what each mph is worth in distance, and how a 56-year-old went from 89 to 106 mph through structured overspeed training.
The Mental Game of Swing Speed: How to Train Your Brain to Let Go
The mental game of swing speed is the most overlooked barrier for golfers over 50. Here are 5 specific drills — plus the neuroscience behind why your brain limits your speed and how to override it — from someone who went from 89 to 111 mph at 56 using this exact approach.
Golf Fitness for Golfers Over 50: The Strength Training That Actually Adds Distance
Golf fitness for golfers over 50 is the missing piece in most speed training programs. This guide covers the exact strength training movements — hip hinge, rotational power, lower body drive — that build real swing speed after 50. Two sessions a week. Measurable results. Built from a TPI assessment that revealed the specific strength deficits holding back a 56-year-old SCGA competitor at 111 mph.
SCGA One Day Series Recap: Twin Oaks Four-Ball Net Stableford
I shot 80 at Twin Oaks in an SCGA One Day Series four-ball stableford event — two birdies, eight pars, and a 314-yard drive on the last hole. My brother and I finished 54th out of 57. Here's the full recap, including a birdie from the tree roots and the three-putt I'll never forgive myself for.
Yoga for Golfers Over 50: The Flexibility Routines That Actually Add Distance
Yoga for golfers over 50 isn't about touching your toes — it's about restoring the hip rotation, thoracic mobility, and hamstring length that swing speed requires. Here are the 5 key mobility areas, a 12-minute morning routine, and the specific poses that have made the biggest difference in 11 years of hot yoga practice and a journey from 89 to 111 mph at 56.
The Honest Stack System Review: Worth It for Golfers Over 50?
I went from 89 to 106 mph at age 56 using the Stack System. Here's my honest review after 6 programs — what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth the investment.
Swing Speed for Golfers Over 50: The Proven Complete Guide
Learn how golfers over 50 can gain swing speed with overspeed training, golf-specific fitness, flexibility routines, and mental game strategies. Gain 10–25 mph at any age.
Stack System Program 6 Complete: What the Data Shows After 15 Months of Overspeed Training
Program 6 is done. Here's the honest data from 15 months of Stack System overspeed training — 89 mph to 106 mph at age 56.
7 Proven Lessons 3 SCGA Tournaments Taught Me About Competing After 50
Palm Valley. Desert Falls. Soboba Springs. Three SCGA tournaments, seven hard-earned lessons on course management, the mental game, and why speed training shows up when it counts most.
How Hot Yoga Improved My Golf Swing Speed
1,625 Hours of Hot Yoga. Here’s What It Did to My Golf Game. By Marino | MyGolfSwing.net | March 2026 […]
Stack System Swing Speed Results After 90 Days — My Honest Data From 6 Programs
I started the Stack System at 89 mph at age 55. After 6 programs and 14 months of training I'm at 105 mph driver baseline. Here's every program, the real data, a plateau, and what finally got me moving again.
How Wind, Birdies, and a 2 Man Scramble Tested Everything I’ve Got
Playing a SCGA 2 man scramble at The Golf Club at Rancho California in 30+ mph winds tested my game, my patience, and my mental toughness in ways a calm-day round never could.
Soboba Springs Golf Tournament Recap: Redemption, an Eagle, and a 73
Shot 73, won Low Gross and Low Net, and recorded my first competitive eagle at Soboba Springs CC. Here's the full recap of one of my best competitive rounds.
How to Fix a Slice in Golf (What Finally Worked for Me)
The slice is the most common miss in golf. Here's what actually fixed mine after years of fighting it — not the generic tips you've already tried.
Desert Falls SCGA Tournament Recap:
Shot 76, Placed 5th, and Holed Out from 30 Yards in the Rain By Marino | MyGolfSwing.net | February 2026 […]
Training Through Plantar Fasciitis at 56: What I Changed, What I Refused to Change, and What Is Getting Me Through It
by Marino | MyGolfSwing.net | February – June 2026 (Updated) Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to products I purchased […]
The 15-Minute Parking Lot Yoga Routine I Do Before Every Tournament
A 15-minute pre-round yoga routine for golf built from 11 years of hot yoga practice — the exact sequence I do in the parking lot before every SCGA tournament at 56. Sun Salutations, Cat-Cow, Pigeon Pose, Supine Twists, and Child's Pose, with the golf-specific reason each one matters.
I Shot 78 in an SCGA Tournament and Left 5 Strokes Out There
Full round breakdown with real stats, blow-up holes, and what I’m taking to Desert Falls on Monday By Marino | […]
115mph Swing Speed at 56: My SCGA Journey to 300-Yard Drives
I'm 56, competing as a 3-handicap in the SCGA One Day Series, and chasing 115mph swing speed. I started at 89 mph in December 2024 and hit a personal best of 111 mph in June 2026 — 22 mph of gain over 17 months. Here's the complete journey: every program, every tournament, and everything I've learned about getting faster after 50.
Best Golf Balls for Slicers in 2025 (Reduce Side Spin)
You know the feeling. You step up to the tee, take a confident swing, and watch helplessly as your ball […]
Why Do I Slice My Driver But Not My Irons? (4 Main Reasons + Fixes)
Slicing your driver but hitting irons straight is extremely common. Here are the 4 main reasons it happens—and 5 fixes you can try today to straighten your tee shots fast.
Best Golf Training Aids for Slice (Beginner-Friendly)
Struggling with a slice is one of the most frustrating problems in golf, especially for beginners. A slice can cost […]