Helene i USA

William Penn University student and proud Statesmen golfer. Keep up with my time in the US here on the site. Feel free to use the contact links below. - Helene And just FYI, the Twitter link is playing up, only links to general twitter. Find me @HRolighed

[helenerolighedlarsen]

It’s a lille cold out here

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Coming to America

I’m back, and school has begun on top of a solid week of practicing and getting ready for the golf season.

So, as I’m back in Iowa for my senior year and we’re taking my final round of team photos today, I’ve been reflecting over the last 3 years at Penn, and how I ended up here at all. It’s been a truly eventful 3 years, and i’m sure this coming year will be no different - other than the fact that I’m tackling it without Caleb this time around, because he’s tackling adult life back in England.

I came here with the help of an agent - Stuart Stanbra from CSUSA. I was lucky to find them, because I know people who had to do all the work on their own. Stuart helped me a lot, and has continued to help me since I came over, anytime I have had questions about things. 

When I first found them I was a little cautious - this was very new, unchartered territory for me, but they were all so professional and good that I quickly saw I’d found a good group of people to help me. Since I’ve signed on with them, CSUSA has grown massively, and now have many recent graduates helping young athletes follow in their footsteps, like Frederik Frankman, a danish football player (Sorry Americans - soccer), who now deals largely with Danish athletes.

Stuart found a range of schools for me to look at and talk to, based on my skills and my wants. Not all were a great fit, and they won’t all be, but the great thing is that there is a choice, because they know what they’re doing when they look around.

So if college sports and making the transition to America is your dream, I can recommend using an agency, because it was definitely a big help for me.

[helenerolighedlarsen]

All you need to know - this place is amazing! ❄️ #arcticcruise #crossed80degreesNorth #polarbearsighting (at Svalbard)

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Coastal summer lunch 🌬🌾☀️ (at Villa Vest, Lønstrup)

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Pretty fabulous morning run. Denmark in the summer is special, Viborg is a paradise to me ☀️

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Florida Bound, Nationals Next

Drumroll (why I don’t know, I already spoiled it)........ We won conference, and we’re headed to Nationals at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Florida!

Okay, so really it happened nearly a week ago. But it’s still exciting, so you’ll forgive the delay. And as if that wasn’t enough, with our last weeks of regular season success we jumped 6 spots up the rankings to 16th nationally! That’s a pretty great feeling.

I had two rounds in 70s, most notably my second day when I found a level quite a bit higher than the first day, and nearly where I’d like, ending on +2. (Que broken record) Still some way to go, still plenty of room for improvement, and definitely a lot of room for more confidence. But I’m getting to know myself better and better as a golfer each season, and I’m clearly seeing the progress, so I certainly have not given up yet.

We’ve entered the boot camp part of the season, getting ready to make our mark on nationals. But first, (tomorrow) we’re headed to support the men’s team who made it to Nationals too - at TPC Deere Run! That’ll be a great time. Other than that I’m super excited to go and give it my all on that Champions course! It’s a great time, and an awesome opportunity, and one I don’t intend on wasting.

School finished really well, so I’m pleased with that. I don’t know if it’s losing the pressure of assignments and grades, but somehow I always seem do elevate my game the very next week after finals.. Caleb graduated. Apparently he didn’t want to fail just to stick around. Whatever. His call. I’m really proud, and he got the grades he worked hard for, so he’ll be headed home with some great experiences. For now he’s been courteous enough to stick around until I’m done with Nationals. He’s pretty good.

I can’t wait to go home for the summer, so excited - like a little child! Suddenly nothing will kill my hunger other than all the Danish things I can’t have. This summer is going to be full of all the things I love - travelling, downtime at home, seeing friends Caleb is coming to visit, I’m going there, and a heck of a lot of golf! And, oh yeah, THERE’S GONNA BE A PUPPY WHEN I GET THERE! That’s all..... haha.

It’s going to be so exciting, I can’t wait!!

Stay tuned for more on the next few weeks of exciting events!

x Helene

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Winning conference was great and all (#5peat) - BUT I JUST GOT A PUPPY AT HOME! 😍🐶😍🐶😍 #sayhitoLukas #conferencechamps #yesterday

[helenerolighedlarsen]

On we move, only a few stops left

So, a little catch-up; Oklahoma was a mixed bag for me personally, and really so was last week’s conference preview (the group we play against to see who goes to nationals in Florida). I’m still showing some good things, staying a lot more consistently in low 70s, but the higher scores do creep in and break up bliss. Working on that! - Yesterday’s practice showed me that I still can hammer my driver like nobody’s bidness, so I’m still rolling. It’s just about getting those last pieces to fall into place, eliminating the greater mishaps. Hopefully I will soon be done writing about “hopefully” and ready to write about the “finally”! A breakthrough is coming!

Team-wise, though, both tournaments were great! At OKC we placed 3rd with some great teams in the field, and some awesome scores throughout the 54 hole tournament - and last week we finally broke through the 300 barrier for 18 holes, and smashed the preview with a 328-298, 626 - 80!?!?! shots ahead of the second place. The first day was harsh conditions, severe cold and very hefty winds, so we were very pleased with the result! (Shout out to GA Victoria for literally giving me the clothes off her back because I was too cold to play otherwise).

We have one last tournament before conference on the 7th & 8th! And we are ready to kick some A.S.S.!

Spring has finally come to Iowa, and we pray and hope it’s staying, because those crazy cold tournaments have stacked up enough now. I actually got to wear sandals the other day -  it has literally been a change from big winter coat to sandals in one week!

Finals week is upon us, and I am getting things wrapped up quite neatly. After Wednesday I’ll be ready to focus on conference, and then hopefully on nationals, which is at PGA National once again - honestly my favorite tournament I’ve played here. And then I’m ready to focus on home!

Hope to see you all during the summer.

xHelene

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Schedule Reconfiguration to OKC

In the midst of this exciting time with the Masters on TV, we were meant to take on TPC Deere Run this coming Monday/Tuesday, as we normally do every year. It’s always a great privilege, and something we look forward to!

For that reason, it sucks that we unfortunately have had to cancel - we will not be going there due to the crazy bipolar weather that the MidWest is having these days. Snow is still to be found on the radar, even this far into April - but what can you do? I’ll tell you what; run south, find something warmer! So that’s what we’re doing. As so many times before, we are headed to Oklahoma City to play in their 54 hole tournament (36 then 18). It will be a nice reunion with a course we’ve got familiar with now, and hopefully they can offer us some slightly more play-friendly weather, along with some guaranteed challenges from Bermuda grass! I will work to keep hold of the good streak I am on currently.

The 9 hour drive will offer plenty of opportunity for sleep, and for me to continue reading and learning from my book Golf Tough by Dan Abrams that Caleb gave me for christmas! Hopefully I can soak up more of the great methods he lays out, so far it’s definitely a very good read.

Once we get  back we can look forward to another two tournaments, and then its all about conference. Boy these weeks go by quickly, only 4 more weeks of school! Woooop! I can’t say I’m sorry about that.

On a non-golfy note, school is school, I need more sleep (maybe 26 hours in the day), my fish is great company, and I’m enjoying the Blue Apron, that my parents so generously sent us, hugely! I recently pulled out a book in Danish to reconnect with my native language, and I’m reacquainting myself with the gym post shin splints! We are dreaming our way to Chicago or New York, longing for the days of holidays - while also preparing for time after college. Especially Caleb, who is graduating this coming summer.

For now, I’ll just keep watching the TV, eating pimento cheese sandwiches, and slurping down Arnold Palmers like there’s no tomorrow!

x Helene

[helenerolighedlarsen]

MASTERS WEEK!!!

It’s Masters week! To some this may not be that big a deal - to others (possibly myself included) it’s a huge deal. The pros are doing their utmost to prepare, clinging on to any last hope of participating - we just saw Ian Poulter literally will his way to a win, because he knew that was his last chance to qualify - that’s some serious determination!

“Not qualifying for the Masters the week before.... #NotCool”. Winning the Houston Open to get the last possible place... Now that’s #ThatsCool” pic.twitter.com/3dvW3Bded9

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter)

April 2, 2018

Since last year we have seen the most recent winner, Sergio Garcia, name his newly born daughter, Azalea, after the iconic flowers that decorate Augusta National on some of the most iconic holes in all of golf - that’s what I call special.

Now, for those of us who are neither male golfers, nor pros (yet), a rendezvous with Augusta will have to happen one of two ways: Walking the course, or having a viewing party at home. These options, however, are not to be underestimated, because they can be an absolute blast.

Asking around the social medias, I’ve soaked up some tips for the ultimate viewing party, so read along for ideas for how to make your Masters week unforgettable.

In truth it seems the Masters quite speaks for itself, so the perfect viewing party is modest, and not far from reach. A 3-step process, and you will be fully set to enjoy the game, take in the views, and scream at the screen in excitement for that perfect Tiger-putt that just falls over the lip:

1) Find yourself any screen - seriously even access to live scoring can be enough. But naturally, a TV fully dedicated to the purpose of watching the Masters without interruption for the whole week is ideal. You can even take it a step further, according to Elise Warne, “I prefer multiple TV screens set up, to view all available streams at once”! That’s the masters for ya, it’s all individual on preference.

2) Get yourself some friends over, in all the Masters gear available - just to make it a bit more exciting. Get some bets rolling, even friendly ones, who’s going to win, will Rory get that fourth major? Will it be a grand reunion for Tiger? There’s plenty of content for excitement this weekend!

3) The final and possibly most important step, in order to get the true experience: the food, and more specifically, the pimento cheese sandwich! Every year it is the focal point of food at the event, and to truly get the experience of being there, pimento cheese has to be on the list. For drinks Alyssa Kerry has a great suggestion, “Arnold Palmers - can’t watch golf without that!” Now, still so soon since the death of the legend Arnold Palmer, this drink of lemonade and tea is the perfect way to celebrate the Masters and commemorate one of the game’s greatest heroes!

Other than that, it’s all up to the imagination - go crazy and enjoy this greatest week in the golf year!

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Next Up - TPC Deere Run

So, to recap from last week - we did get to play the second round, although the weather was less than ideal, and those of us from colder climates probably had a small advantage. It was freezing, but handwarmers (anywhere they’ll fit) kept us on it, and we had a really promising first competitive round of the year!

Personally I got to start with a win, posting a decent score after a roller coaster ride of a round with a lot of funky shots (which happens to be my area of expertise). I had fun, chilled out a bit mentally, and found my way from trees to green, and other fun things.

April 9th and 10th we will once again be playing TPC Deere Run, which should be a good time - playing a course like that always is, if you can enjoy it for what it is rather than let the difficulty level freak you out. I’m certainly going to do my best to enjoy it.

Hopefully this tournament will be farther away from freezing than last week was, so we can swing freely without five layers to warm the body.

Have a good easter everyone!

[helenerolighedlarsen]

William Penn University - Chegwidden, Larsen Pick Up Weekly Accolades

Home of William Penn Athletics

✌🏻

[helenerolighedlarsen]

I mean, I thought it looked pretty good...

[helenerolighedlarsen]

It’s been a crazy few months, and they’re about to get a whole lot crazier!!

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Heyo, season.. has been stalled by the weather

So, it’s been a few weeks of actual season now, but the Iowa weather is being bipolar as ever.

Today was meant to be the real beginning of season with the Mike “Fluff” Cowan home tournament kicking off. However, rain falls and other weather issues (snow, seriously? It’s March) has cut it short, and we will (hopefully) be teeing it up tomorrow.. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, a summation; January, February, and March have been filled with massive snow falls, indoor practices, a heavy school workload, intense workouts (Squatting was real), Spring Training in Florida.. and yes, the flu. But we’re pretending that last one did not happen.

Now, after making it through, work load is lessened and I am working my hardest (trying to silence the doubt), and deciding whether to make my peace with a newly appeared fade, or whether to work back to the trusty draw. It’s a serious tug-of-war. By the end of Spring Training things looked promising, but a week and a half of sickness has shaken things up somewhat. So I’m shaking back.

In two weeks we play TPC Deere Run once again (Apr. 9th-10th)! That’s always a great time, and an awesome opportunity to play a great course.

For now, I’m enjoying my new Betta Buddy, and the Easter package I just received from home.

Check out the following post for photos of most of these things! 

Cheerio

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Tiger is BACK.. the verdict!

In 2009 the professional competitive golf landscape changed, when it lost Tiger Woods as a thriving force. Scandal pulled him down, and scandal kept him down for some time, followed by injuries. Now, after a long period - well 9 years of ‘will he, won’t he has finally come to an end, and the answer is; he will!

Several times during this long pause, Tiger has tried to participate, each time with the conclusion that he was not ready.

Now, however, it seems he is ready, and by all accounts soon once again a force to be reckoned with. With no more than four real starts to his career’s second life, Woods has several finishes in the top-10, even top-5. This is incredibly promising of familiar patterns, so promising indeed that several players have named him a favorite to win the upcoming Masters tournament; the highlight of the professional golf year, as mentioned in this article.

Tiger has truly been missing from the golf scene, and everyone seems to be incredibly happy at his return,

It’s fantastic to see someone so influential to the game be back on the big stage. There was so much doubt and hope before, but he’s silenced all that. I don’t doubt that he will make his mark again. Finally golf will be truly fun to watch again.

- Caleb Pipes-Goulsbra

BREAKING: Tiger Woods is now FAVORED to win the Masters at @LVSuperBook. pic.twitter.com/5JFl2AtBoN

— OddsShark (@OddsShark) March 15, 2018

Even the Betting services share this view, and give him odds of 8-1, ahead of the 9-1 that other more recently active previous winners are getting.

This is truly exciting, and his presence will be a great addition to the golf scene.

[helenerolighedlarsen]

Golf Rules 2018 - Reinventing Golf For Better And For Worse

These days the golf world is constantly looking to reinvent golf, to modernise, and to make the sport more approachable to more people.

This season that effort comes in the form of golf rule proposals from the R&A. The rules are the part of the game that most traditional golfers cling to, and so it is also the part than perhaps needs refreshing the most. 

However, some of these new proposed changes are quite radical, if you ask a classic golfer, and so the announcement got a mixed reception - to say the least. The makers of the Golf.com podcast go over the rules, and give their reactions to them here. If you have 30 minutes, that’s a great listen - even if you only have 10. A shorter breakdown with some reactions from the pros, comes from NBC Golf here, and the reactions are certainly mixed.

Here are some twitter reactions from some of the worlds’ best:

Agree with this. Some rules good, others not crazy about ( fixing spike marks will be abused, grounding club in bunkers) https://t.co/egpjlRm6V9

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) March 1, 2017 <

Happy to see @USGA trying to simplify the rules and make the game more enjoyable.

— Jim Furyk (@jimfuryk) March 1, 2017

I hope the @RandA & @USGA now stop these books we can buy. Too much time is wasted trying to work out the line of the putt. Speed up play. pic.twitter.com/PEk0YlicIJ

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) March 1, 2017

@IanJamesPoulter Yes, but then they're going to allow us to repair spike damage on greens! That WON'T speed up play!!" 💤

— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) March 1, 2017

The idea is that the rules will make the game easier and faster to play, and especially more amateur friendly. However, one can’t help but worry if these new proposals might make the rules a bit too friendly, and perhaps making cheating even easier. That, however, remains up to the integrity of the individual golfer. That being said, some of these rules make perfect sense, and were really just waiting to happen, because they related to a game much older than the one we see today.

One rule change regards the flag, which any self respecting golfer knows is not to be hit with the ball on the green - now, with a nod from the sciences, they are suggesting that perhaps we leave it in. So now we have to battle the part of us that wants the game to remain what it has always been, with the side that wants to improve performance at any cost.

We know what the pros think, but the real question is: what do you think?

For a full run-down of the rules, click here to go to the NBC Golf Website.