What’s Now

I hope this blog finds you well.
I’m posting a short one today with some information about what’s coming up in the spring.  On the course, I’ll be getting my season started in a couple weeks on the Hooters Tour Carolina series with 2 events around the Charlotte area.  I’m really anxious to get out on the course and start my 2011 campaign.

Off the course, I’ll be taking a break on this blog.  Instead, my facebook page will be how I’ll interact with everyone.  I ran a company facebook page all winter and it really opened my eyes to some great ways to connect with people.
From here on out I’ll be updating, blogging, communicating on my facebook page.  So pop over and ‘like’ me! haha
www.facebook.com/andrewjensengolf

What I learned in 2010

With the end of every season, I always write a reflection piece on the past year.  2010 was no different, I wrote down all my thoughts and the lessons learned; believe me, there was a lot!

Unlike past years, I’m not going to share them up on the blog.  I will share the ‘coles notes’ version of my insights, but not the knitty gritty stuff I wrote for my own personal growth.

So, in a brief summary, here’s what I learned in 2010:

1.listen to my body: I got hurt, I didn’t react to the initial problem well.  I will not do that again!

2.I played the best golf of my life: for a 5 week stretch I was working hard and playing great! such an amazing thing to remember from last season

3.I have a great support team behind me: It’s taken me some time to believe it, but I have lots of people who believe in me. My coach, trainer, sports psych, TMSI, Puma Golf, Accra, they have all invested so much in me and I’m very humbled by the support

4.stay in the moment: so obvious! but this is the only lesson that is taking a long time to take root in my mind.  I’m getting better and more and more ‘present’ with every day

5.2011 will be an amazing year: the most obvious.  I tell myself this at the end of every season, and so far it’s always reigning true. 2011 will be a great year!

December update

It’s December 11th and I find myself in Ottawa once again forced to tough out a cold winter in Canada; not in a warm climate working on my game and competing like I had been anticipating all year long.

As I mentioned in my last post nearly two months ago, my battle with tendonitis has forced me to change my schedule yet again.  The injury that has been plaguing my arm since May and got unbearable in September has since needed much more attention.

Since starting some serious physiotherapy, we’ve come to realize the arm was just a symptom of a much bigger problem.  I have tight and damaged nerves in the base of my neck and upper thoracic spine.  This isn’t a pleasant finding for a golfer.

Knowing that Florida and the Hooters Tour was not an option, I hung up the clubs in late October and have been working hard on giving this injury the attention it needs to heal.  This is an enormous test in patience and determination…

Things are looking a lot better today than they were in early September.  Progress is taking place and I’m very optimistic.  I’ll start hitting balls in January at the Superdome, and hopefully the repeated action of the swing and strike will have no affect on my arm and I’ll be able to look ahead to my 2011 schedule.

In the meantime, I’m back in the retail world of lululemon again this winter and will tough it out until I’m 100% and ready to get back to competition.  lulu is a great place to be for a golfer in the winter months.  It’s an encouraging and health centered environment and that’s exactly what I need in these hard times. Not to mention the benefits that yoga is having on the healing process of my back and neck.

This injury has turned all my plans upside down and really took me a back and forced me into two options: get bitter or get better.  I’m choosing the latter.  My whole career has been showered with adversity, and this injury is hopefully the last hurdle I’ll need to overcome before really hitting my stride.  Having said that, I’ll heal up and use the time away from the game to re-capture my desire for it(it’s funny how playing hurt really made it hard to love the game).  I’m very optimistic that 2011 will be a great bounce-back year for me, my health, and my game.  Stay tuned!

Birdies for Blood:Water

Hey guys,

I hope this blog finds you well.  There is much to report from my camp on my upcoming plans for the winter months, but they can wait for now…

More importantly; as you may already know, I’ve been an avid supporter of Blood:Water Mission.  I support them through my own “birdies for Blood:Water”, you can read about my campaign here

The reason I’m posting this is because only 5 days remain for an exciting opportunity with Blood:Water.  For 5 more days, every dollar donated is being matched! Amazing!

This excites me a great deal because I won’t be playing any more tournaments in 2010 due to my arm injury and won’t be having any more chances to make more birdies…

It’s okay because the 166$ I’ve pledged during my 2010 season will now be doubled! This is a great silver lining to the difficulty of having an injury sideline me.

Please check out the links I’ve posted above and think/pray about what you can do! Water is something will all too often take for granted, and this is your chance to make twice the impact in other people’s lives!

 

September Update

I hope this blog finds you well!

Following my last blog, I was riding a high with my game and was very excited about the events ahead of me to round out the summer and push me into the fall.

I’m disappointed to report that things have taken a turn for the worse since that blog.  I started August with another solid showing at a Great Lakes Tour platinum event, tying for 7th.  It was a solid two days where I was in contention much of the tournament but a few sloppy swings and putts wouldn’t allow me to make a run for the title.  It felt great to back up my highest platinum finish from two weeks prior with another good tournament.

That event was during the same week as the Canadian Tour’s stop in the GTA, the Jane Rogers Championship.  I played well the first day but finished very poorly on the 18th to put myself right on the projected cut number for Friday.  Friday started well over the first 9 holes, but one poor decision on my 10th hole followed by a poor bogey on the next put me 4 strokes outside the number and sealed my fate for another weekend off.

The next week was the Seaforth Country Classic.  I played very steady the first two days and posted -1 with 5 penalty strokes!  I promptly missed the cut by 2 that week…another frustrating result when the process was so very positive.

All the while during those events some nagging tendonitis that I’ve been experiencing since May was really catching up to me.  During the last week of August, the tendonitis really caught up to me and caused some serious damage to my arm, my game, and my season.

I neglected the pain for too long and was forced to finally seek some medical attention in early September.  I’ve been on medication, taking serious time off, and having some message therapy in an effort to be fully healthy by November.

This injury and it’s timing has certainly slowed down my season and my goals.  Ultimately, I decided to skip PGA Tour School.  My game is far to rusty, and my health isn’t 100%, two things that will make the marathon grind of Tour School far too difficult.  This is very very frustrating, but I put myself here thanks to ignoring the pain in May and June.  These are the consequences of the stubborn decisions made a few months ago…

I’m hoping all that I’m doing will get me healthy enough for the first event of the Hooters Tour winter series in November.  This mini tour series will run through February and is all in the Orlando area.  I’m really excited about playing a steady flow of tournaments over the winter to make up for the sporadic summer I had this year.

My blogging will increase throughout these events since the Hooters Tour and Orlando living will be a new experience and I’m sure it will give me much more to write about.

Summer(so far) Rundown

I hope this blog finds you well…

It’s been quite some time since my last entry so I’ll try my best to fill you in on the last 6 weeks.

Practice, practice, practice: I’ve been practicing a LOT.  With a very limited schedule this summer, I’ve been left to focus my attention on my practice and getting my game very very sharp.  My practice motivation has been sparked by a renewed commitment to the Vision 54 method of golf and practice.  Things are looking great heading into the fall

Tournaments: I’ve been playing a very small schedule of events this year.  This isn’t very exciting as a player, but I played myself into this predicament, so I have to roll with it.  My number on the Canadian Tour hasn’t been holding up for the past 4 events, so I haven’t had any starts since Mexico out there.

I’ve filled my time again this year playing on the Great Lakes Tour.  I’ve played 5 events so far, with a few lackluster mid 20’s showings to start.  But, things are turning around.  A T12 in early July and a T6 last week in a 2 day platinum event at Royal Ashburn has giving me a great boost of confidence…especially shooting 67 in the final round on the demanding Royal Ashburn layout.

eQuinelle: The course has been so good to me this year.  I spend the bulk of my time out there and I’m loving it.  I’ve had some great matches out there with some solid local players, and they’re all loving the course!  The team there is so supportive of my career and that support is pushing me and motivating me more than I’ve ever thought possible.

Accra Golf Shafts: I spent a few hours at Accra’s head office in Kingston last week and it was unreal! I got perfectly fit with some amazing tour prototype shafts in my driver and 3 wood.  These shafts are helping my long game a great deal, I’ve increased my distance and improved my accuracy…so it’s all good! check them out right here.

1st Annual Andrew Jensen Classic Recap…

I hope this blog finds you well!

I’m writing to recap the 1st annual Andrew Jensen Classic.

This past Monday, we hosted a tournament to help fund my 2010 season on tour.  The event was held at Anderson Links Golf Course and at the Tartan Pub in Orleans.  I have to say a big thank you to both the venues we used! They were perfect.

Before I get into the day, I’d like to thank all 12 foursomes that came out to play in the day and the other 20+ people who came out for dinner.  The support is amazing! All these people pulling for me to have a great year means so much and motivates me a great deal. The funds go a long way, but the encouraging words are even more beneficial.  Thank you to everyone who was there to support my career!

On to the day…
The weather tried to put a damper on the day, but it couldn’t slow us down.  Coach Kalil and I ran a fun performance clinic in the cold and rain and it was great to offer some insight and pointers for the participants game.  The rain kept falling as the groups teed off, but by the time the first group made the turn the sun was creeping out.  In a hole or two, it was perfect.  The weather became ideal and the birdies started flowing.

Canadian Golf Links was on site on the 14th hole, offering a brand new flat screen to anyone getting an ace.  Unfortunately, nobody could claim the TV at days end.  Check out their website and browse around.  These are some friends I grew up playing junior golf with and it was amazing that they came out to support!

Amanda Hayden was also out on the course, documenting the entire day.  She was out capturing all the action on the course and has posted an album right here.  Amanda does all the photography for my website and is very good at what she does.  Feel free to contact her about getting some prints for your own memories.

On to the prizes…
The winning team shot a smooth 56 and took home an amazing package from PUMA. Each player will now look great when they tee it up in their brand new PUMA gear; a new polo, jacket, and flashy orange hat!

The most honest team was also rewarded for their ‘game’.  They shoot an equally as smooth 76 and took home a great restaurant/club engraving gift.

Thanks to the many generous supporters and sponsors, there was so many great prizes for both skill and chance.  We awarded prizes to the low team, most honest team, low women’s team, longest drive, closest to the pin, and a putting contest.  There was also a raffle table with nearly 40 prizes to be had.  The winner of the 50/50 was very happy to walk out of the Tartan with a smooth 250$. Nearly everybody who came out went home with a prize at days end, which is a great feeling.

The day was an enormous success and we can’t wait to get the ball rolling for next year’s event…bigger and better!

Can’t wait to see you next year!

Big News!

Well, today was a big day for me…

It became official that I now have a new golfing home.  I’m now the resident touring professional representing eQuinelle golf club!

eQuinelle is a brand new course in the Ottawa area and its a great one!  I’m so excited to call this course my home.  I’ll be playing and practicing there when I’m home in Ottawa.  I’ll also be taking the eQuinelle banner with me when I travel and compete.  Most noticeably, the course logo will be proudly displayed on my fresh new Puma tour bag!

This relationship with eQuinelle was sparked in part with a new relationship I’ve formed with TMSI sports management.  TMSI is the company that operates eQuinelle, the superdome and many other great sports facilities in the city.  TMSI will be working along side me for the coming years of my career, supporting me as I climb the ranks professionally.

Check out a snapshot story over at flagstick magazine

Fun in Toronto

I hope this blog finds you well,

I’m down in the GTA this week taking care of some business, meeting up with some people and then finally playing a tournament tomorrow and Thursday up in Barrie.

I came down yesterday and had a nice jam session with my buddy Nick on the range and putting green at Piper’s Heath.  Nick is a good friend from years ago and it’s great to talk about the game with him.  We mesh well and accomplish a lot when we get a chance to hook up.

Today, I spent some time out at Eagle’s Nest practicing to get ready for tomorrow.  It was very cold and very windy, but I still got some solid work accomplished

I had a meeting set up this afternoon with my contact from Puma, which is always a good time.
Around 3 this afternoon, my schedule for the next few days took a big turn.

The tournament in Barrie got cancelled due to the fact that a large part of the already small field withdrew today.  It didn’t make sense to run an event with 9 people, so they decided to cancel the event.  This is not looking good for the future of this new tour.  Having to cancel the first two events due to low entry will make it difficult to get much going over the summer.  Guys down in southern Ontario just aren’t looking for my competitive play so this new option is likely to fade away…very unfortunate.

Then due to some scheduling miss-haps, my meeting with Puma got bumped back.  Thankfully enough my time is very free tomorrow, so I’ll be sticking around Toronto tonight to meet with Puma tomorrow morning before hitting the road back for Ottawa.

I’ll close with a little fun for you… I’ve got some very big news to announce by week’s end!  This is the biggest thing that has happened in my short career and looks to be a spark that’s really going to help over the coming years.  I’ll leave it at that and let you all guess what it is…

Mexico week 2 recap

I’ve had some time over the weekend to think about what went wrong my second week down in Mexico and find ways to improve on them.  Again, I really struggled out there last week.  I shot two dismal rounds of 78-75 and sat in second to last place, missing the cut by 15 shots!

It’s frustrating to look at the results being so bad when I felt great, handled my thoughts well and felt confident about all of my game.  Things went array in the first round on 3 holes, the rest of the round was very tight.  I played 3 holes at +7 and the other 15 at -1.  With the exception of three awful shots, the first round really had potential of a solid 69 or 70, putting me on the cut line not miles away from it.

Teeing off on Friday knowing you’ve missed the cut is a hard pill to swallow.  It’s very hard to motivate yourself to go out there.  The drive has to come from the inner desire to hit good shots and take something out of the event.  So I dug deep and tried to build some confidence from round 2.

On Friday I went out with lots of confidence and really thought I could post a low number for my own well being.  I started steady but really couldn’t make a single putt! I made 2 sloppy bogeys and chipped in for birdie on my front nine.  Easily, my best nine in Mexico which is a start…

My back nine was more of the same, lots of solid shots but no putts going in.  A 3 putt and a missed par save from 6 feet added up to 75.  Sure, 75 isn’t a good score at all, but I’m still happy with my play.  A few putts dropping early and some momentum in the right direction and the round could have easily been another 69-70.

Momentum is a huge thing out here! I’m still figuring out how to get the momentum going in my favor more times than not.  If the momentum and putts rolled in my favor I would have been playing on the weekend and not forced into another weekend off.

Again, I’m very unhappy with the results of the two weeks in Mexico but within the horrible scores I did do a lot of good things and was very strong mentally out there.  Now, I’m left in the position of gaining all the confidence from the positive aspects of these two events.   I’ll bring that confidence into the tournaments I’ll be playing in May in and around the Toronto area.

I know it’s just a matter of time until a wave of positive momentum comes my way and big things happen on the course!