Gabrielle Macdonald

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Gabrielle’s Golf Day 2024

I will be hosting a golf day at Craigielaw on the 10th of July to raise funds for the rest of my season. It has been a successful day in the past and I’m very much looking forward to it again this year. It will be a shotgun start at 1pm and the format is a Texas Scramble in teams of four. After the golf, there will be a two-course meal, prize-giving, raffle and auction. I will also run a beat-the-pro nearest the pin competition on the course.

The price is £400 per team. If interested then please get in touch with me to find out if there is space available. My email address is gmacgolf23@gmail.com

Sunshine Ladies Tour 2023

I’m just back from a 5 week stint in South Africa where I was competing on the Sunshine Ladies Tour. It was a great way to escape the winter and start my 2023 season. To start the trip I flew to Johannesburg and headed for Sun City, a resort surrounded by the Pilanesberg National Park. I was excited to see where my game was at, after doing some technical work on my swing in January. Despite the thunderstorms and delays that week, we managed to get all 3 rounds in and I finished up in a tie for 13th place. I dropped a few shots near the end so I was a bit disappointed however it was a solid performance. The tour then headed for Fancourt on the Western Cape, but I had just missed out on qualifying for a spot in the limited field event, so I spent the week as a reserve on site. I almost made it in, moving up to 1st reserve the day before the tournament started so I had to wait around on the day until everyone teed off and the tournament got underway. It was a shame not to be playing as I felt like my game was in good shape but it was a good lesson – highlighting the importance of every shot – a top 10 at Sun City would have got me in. 

We then flew to Cape Town to the Atlantic Beach resort. As the name suggests we were right by the sea, and we experienced some of the windiest conditions I’ve played in… coming from Scotland that says a lot! Despite the ball moving on the greens and the unplayable conditions the tour seemed determined to complete all 3 rounds. I was tied 3rd after round 1 but unfortunately finished 22nd. It was fairly exhausting playing in 70kmph gusts on an extremely tight golf course, and by the end of round 3, I was delighted to be finished and moving on to a new week. 

There was one more regular event on the Sunshine Tour in Johannesburg at Glendower Golf Cub before the co-sanctioned events with the Ladies European Tour. The field was strong with 110 players and only the top 30 made the cut for the final day. Unfortunately I didn’t have my best golf and I missed the cut. Luckily I had done enough to qualify for the Joburg Ladies Open the following week and my first LET event this year. It was an exciting opportunity and after some good practice on my driving I felt confident going into the event. So you can imagine how I felt after starting round 1 with 3 bogeys in a row. The ability to forget previous mistakes and focus on the next shot is key in golf and I did my best to stay patient, but despite making a few birdies I ended up with a 76 (+3) in round 1. I needed a low score in round 2 to make the cut and I got off to a good start. However, a few bad tee shots on the back 9 cost me in the end and I missed the cut by 2 shots. The margins are small between a good week and a bad one in professional sport and it can be difficult trusting the process and moving on from disappointment. My ranking on the Sunshine Tour after these 5 events meant I was one spot out of automatically qualifying for the final event in Cape Town. I flew there for a pre-qualifier round in the hope of getting one of the five spots left into the field. I was in a great position through 11 holes but had a bit of a nightmare on the 12th and blew my chances of making it. A bit like leading the formula 1 and then out of nowhere you crash and you’re now out of the race. 

I decided to fly home rather than hang around the rest of the week. After 5 weeks on the road I knew it would be nice to come home and rest and reflect on what went well and the areas I need to improve to ultimately do better in my next events. My coach said to me if you’re not winning then you’re learning and that is definitely the case this time around. It was great to be back to competitive action and despite some disappointments I enjoyed my time in South Africa. I was lucky enough to go on safari and also visit the famous Camps Bay beach in Cape Town. Now I’m back to the cold, and I have a bit of time at home before my next event in France in April. 

ML Direct partnership

I’m delighted to be representing ML Direct on tour this year. ML Direct is a licensee distributor of Michelin products across the world. It’s great to have the support of Lee and the team and I’m looking forward to spreading the word about their products and the partnership ahead.

As I head off to start this season in South Africa I’m really happy to partner ML Direct as their brand ambassador. Look out for more updates on my socials about our partnership.

Lee Ewing from ML Direct said ‘We are delighted to support Gabrielle on the Ladies European Tour, and we look forward building a successful partnership together’.

2021 Summer Events

The 2021 LETAS season is in full flow now and I’ve just finished week 4 of a 7 week stretch. It’s been a good few weeks for me starting with a top 10 finish in Italy in the co sanctioned men’s Alps Tour event. I was the second best female and the highlight was a hole in one on the 13th hole in round 1. It was my first proper hole in one so it was really exciting for me and made my first trip to Italy very special.

Next up I headed to Spain and then a drive to Zaragoza in the north east. The course La Peñaza was great and I had another 3 good rounds and finished tied 4th. My roommate Rachael Goodall won in a 7 hole play off making it an exciting finish.

Since then I’ve had two events in Sweden, the first one was a matchplay event and I made it to the quarter finals earning me a tied 5th finish. Then it was back to strokeplay at Golf Uppsala and despite not my best decision making I finished tied 16th and another solid week. I’ve got another 3 events here in Sweden before heading home for a few days. It’s been a tiring few weeks but good to be playing and doing well. Hopefully keep it up!

Cheers for now ☺️


Gabrielle’s Golf Day 2021

I was delighted to host my golf day last Friday at Craigielaw. The day was a huge success and I appreciate the support from everyone who came along and played. I would also like to thank everyone who donated prizes and helped to make the day happen. Special thanks to my dad and to Derek Scott for help in organising the event. Thanks to my sponsor, Pure Spa & Beauty, for donating prizes & goodie bags for everyone. Their support has been fantastic since I turned pro and I also wanted to thank a few others for their support this year – Lee Ewing, Carol Kaufman and Sal Shepherd.

Also thanks to Ocean Tee, Caddy Club, Phil Anderton, Ken Goodwin, David Patrick, Stuart McEwen, Nic Oldham, Allan Frain, Ian Young, Andrew McKinlay and everyone at Craigielaw. I hope everyone enjoyed the day and thank you again!

Gabrielle’s Golf Day

On the 21st June, I hosted my golf funding day at Craigielaw. It was a fantastic day, with 21 teams taking part in a Texas Scramble and luckily the sun was shining! I hope everyone had a great day. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone, even those who beat me on the 17th in the nearest the pin challenge! Congrats again to the winning team of Michael Lumsden, Craig Davidson, Allan Reoch and Ross Colquhoun, with a winning score of 55.2

It was also really great to have Plum Films along to capture footage from the Beat the Pro challenge. Thanks to Micky and Ross for their expertise. Have a look at the fab videos below:

The day was a huge success, and I would like to thank everyone for your support. The money raised will help me reach my goals this year and I was delighted to support St Columba’s Hospice with a generous donation. Due to the success of the day, I also donated to the Edinburgh Maggie’s Centre who provide support to those with cancer and their family and friends. Both charities are very close to my heart and I was really happy to be able to give back to them.

I would like to thank my Dad and everyone who helped me organise the day. Massive thanks to Derek and Craigielaw for making the day possible, and to everyone who donated prizes for the auction and raffle. It was also great to have the golf prizes sponsored by: Pure Spa, Golf Fit, American Golf, Braid Hills Golf Centre and Craigielaw.

Gabrielle’s Golf Funding Day – 21st June 2019

I’m delighted with the support that I’ve had for my golf day, from people coming along to play and also prizes that have been donated. I look forward to seeing you on 21st June for a 1.00pm start and please see below for some of the wonderful prizes on offer.

Golf prizes

There will be golf prizes provided by Craigielaw for 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams in the scramble, as well as prizes for nearest the pin and longest drives. I’m delighted that Pure Spa have donated a Spa Day package for two for the winner of the Ladies longest drive competition. Whilst the men’s longest drive competition has been sponsored by Golf Fit Ltd.

Auction prizes

  1. Spa day for 2 at Archerfield. 
  2. 4 Ball at Renaissance. Host to both this year’s Scottish Mens and Ladies Opens.
  3. Behind the scenes Sky Sports day. Money can’t buy exclusive offer for two to see Steve Clarke’s rejuvenated Scotland Team. ‘Spend the afternoon with the Sky Sports team at a Scotland Euro 2020 qualifier at Hampden Park. 
  4. Overnight stay for 4 people at the 4 star Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews, with dinner, bed and breakfast included.
  5. 4 Ball at Muirfield. Kindly donated by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to their favourite caddy. To be used between October 2019 – March 2020.
  6. 4 Ball at Prestwick Golf Club, the birthplace of the Open Championship and one of the best links courses in the world. Kindly donated by Prestwick, where Gabrielle won the 100th Scottish Ladies Amateur Open in 2014. 
  7. Craigielaw golf package for 4 people. 2 nights stay in 4 star Craigielaw Lodge, dinner bed and breakfast both nights, golf at Craigielaw on day one and golf at Kilspindie next day.

Raffle Prizes – £10 per ticket

  1. Hearts Hospitality x 2 in the Executive European Lounge. Kindly donated by Ann Budge.
  2. Hibs Hospitality x 2 in the Gallery at Easter Road. Kindly donated by the Hibs Commercial team. 
  3. Overnight stay for two at the Fairmont St Andrews, including breakfast. Kindly donated by the University of St Andrews.
  4. Meal for 4 at the wonderful Ducks Restaurant, Aberlady. 
  5. Custom fitting session at Titliest Fitting Centre, Craigielaw.
  6. Jaeger bomb machine with 6 bottles of Jaegermeister. Kindly donated by John Flucker.
  7. Exclusive Malt Whisky from Wemyss & March Estate, donated by Craigielaw.
  8. Voucher for Braids Hills Golf Centre donated by Ian Young.

Beat the Pro –  £10.00

I will also be doing a nearest the pin contest, where you can challenge me to see if you can beat the pro. Double your money if you win.

Thank you for your support, which will also go towards St Columba’s Hospice.

I hope friends and the wider golf and business community will come along and enjoy a fun afternoon, while helping to support my move into professional golf. The funds raised will also go towards St Columba’s Hospice, a charity that many of you know is very close to me and my family. 

A fabulous day is planned, with the opportunity to win wonderful golf prizes as well as exclusive sporting and leisure experiences. There will also be a chance to beat the pro in a par 3 challenge.

The format will be a Texas scramble with a shotgun start at 1pm, followed by a two course meal in the excellent Craigielaw restaurant. The entry cost of each 4 player team is £275. 

To enter, please email me at gabbygolfer23@hotmail.com

I’m very grateful to Craigielaw, my club for the last 12 years, for providing this opportunity. Craigielaw is not only a championship standard golf course with great practice areas, but a very welcoming, inclusive club. My experience from junior to international player and now professional has been helped enormously by the club, Derek and the team.  

LET Tour School

After a successful 2018 season, Gabrielle headed out to Morocco in November for LET Tour School. Gabrielle successfully negotiated her way through pre-qualifying after shooting scores of 74, 74, 73, 75. Gabrielle played steady all week despite not quite putting it all together for a low score. Gabrielle finished t21st and was proud to have made it comfortably through after previous attempts in 2016/17. Gabrielle headed home and felt confident ahead of competing at final stage in December.

Unfortunately, Gabrielle was unable to travel to the final stage of LET Q School after her mum sadly passed away after a long fight with cancer.

Gabrielle and her caddy, Guy, after getting through pre-qualifying

Craigielaw

Gabrielle is delighted to be attached to Craigielaw Golf Club. Gabrielle has been a member for over 10 years and is proud to be representing the club now as a professional. Gabrielle credits her early golf development to being part of a strong junior section. Gabrielle gained competitive experience playing for the junior team and was nick-named ‘Steely’ for her steely determination when playing in the Junior Home Nationals Finals in Spain. The name has stuck with many of the Craigielaw members.

Craigielaw provides Gabrielle with an excellent base for practicing with a fantastic 18 hole championship course, a grass driving range and par 3 course, ideal for working on her short game. The course is renowned for its upturned saucer style greens and combined with the normal East Lothian wind, it always provides a challenge. Craigielaw also has a lodge attached, making it the perfect golf venue for golf holidays.

Santander Golf Tour, Vizcaya

Prior to heading to Morocco for LET Qualifying School, Gabrielle played in a Santander Golf Tour event in Bilbao, Spain. Gabrielle wanted to get some competitive rounds under her belt and to play a tournament in similar conditions to those she would experience in Morocco. She finished in a tie for 4th place after shooting rounds of 71 and 73. Gabrielle started round 2 only two shots behind the leader, and after getting off to fast start Gabrielle soon held the lead. Unfortunately, she dropped a few too many shots and finished 4 behind the eventual winner Laura Gomez. However, the event was a great confidence booster for Gabrielle, as she knew that she was capable of winning a professional event.

Link the scores: https://www.santandergolftour.eu/livescoring-vizcaya/

The Santander Golf Tour footage is on their youtube page and the link for the Bilbao event is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7TcdqsuZQ8

The rain in Spain falls mainly in Bilbao – Gabrielle t4th place

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