Gabrielle's Golf News Archives - Gabrielle Macdonald

Summer 2023

19th September 2023

Just like the weather my performances got off to a promising start this summer. In mid-June, I flew out to the sizzling south of France for the Montauban Ladies Open where I finished 20th with a bogey-free final round of 69. Next, I went straight to the Czech Republic and I was sitting 16th going into the last day but dropped to 34th after a poor final day. Sadly, this has been a bit of a pattern for me this year with my final day performances letting me down. I think this is partly due to fatigue and then I have found it hard to not let things get to me on the golf course when I’m not performing so well. However, it was a solid couple of weeks and only 1 round away from having a good finish.

It’s been a fairly busy summer and I’ve played 9 other LETAS events since then as well as 2 qualifying stages for the Women’s British Open. I’ve played 4 events in Sweden, one in Denmark, one in France, and also had 3 events in England. Lots of flights, hire cars, and road trips down the A1… the Michelin car air fresheners and phone holder have been put to good use!

In between my events in July, I hosted a golf day at my home club, Craigielaw. There were 22 teams of 4 players, playing a fun competition and I did a beat the pro challenge on one of the par 3s. It was a successful day and I’m grateful to everyone who came along and supported me again this year.

I have finished between 28th-49th place in most of the events, making all but one cut, so I have been consistent with my results but less consistent with my play over the 3 days of competition. However, most recently I have been trending well. I finished 22nd in the Rose Ladies Open at Brockethall and then last week in France I was 17th, and only 1 shot from the top 10. The elusive good week is hopefully getting closer!

One thing that has helped was finding out my clubs were not the correct specifications for me, and I actually swapped back to my old irons for the event in France. It’s a temporary solution but I think they were better last week and now that I have some time at home, I’ll be getting my equipment sorted before my next few events. It’s always nice to have a few days at home to reflect on what I can do better and visit my coaches, so I’m looking forward to the next two weeks to work on my game.

There are just 3 events left on the LETAS schedule, one in Italy and then two in Spain in October. I’m hoping to record my best finish of the year and return to the form that saw me win twice in 2021. I’m currently 44th on the order of merit and trying to move into the top 20 before the end of the year. Wish me luck!

Time Off, Tournaments and Thinking Ahead

17th May 2023

Compared to this time last year when I spent 3 months on the road it’s been a much quieter Spring for me. After my trip to South Africa, I had a month before my next competition and I managed to get away for a week in Dubai for a holiday. I actually find time off practice and training quite difficult as I enjoy it so much and often feel guilty if I’m not trying to get better everyday. However, as I had a good chunk of time between events it was good to be able to take a week off and still feel I had time to then prepare again for my next event. That being said, the golf clubs did come with me to Dubai and I got a couple of fun games in whilst I was there.

My first event on the LET Access Series this year was in France at the Terre Blanche Resort. I headed there after a few weeks of practice at home. We had some really windy conditions and after battling my way round and shooting a reasonable score play got suspended for the day. Due to the limited time there was to get the tournament finished the final round was cancelled, and I didn’t start my second round until the 3rd day. It was strange to have a day off between the rounds and I ended up in 25th place. I headed home a bit disappointed however took the positives in that I knew there was a lot more to come.

I had another few weeks before the next event on the LET Access Series and I competed in one of the Justin Rose Ladies Series events at Bearwood Lakes to keep me competitive. They are one day events and it’s great that Justin Rose and his wife Kate are supporting women’s golf and giving us more opportunities to compete in the UK. I finished tied 20th and importantly it showed me where I needed to improve before my next event. Long game, long game, and more long game practice!

WOKINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: <> during The Rose Ladies Series at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club on April 25, 2023 in Wokingham, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

It has been nice to have some down time between events, to rest and feel fresh before competing again, and to work on my game as I have been trying to improve my swing technically. However, I have missed being a bit busier and the extra time on my hands has got me thinking about studying again or potentially doing the PGA coaching course whilst still competing. I have always been academic and it might be useful to have further down the line in my career. Food for thought for now, as I know I am about to start a busy summer schedule competing.

Most recently I have just got back from Switzerland where the LET Access was at Gams-Werdenberg. It was a different format to normal and after 36 holes stroke play it went into a matchplay tournament. I qualified in tied 29th place however I lost my opening 9 hole match which dropped me back to 37th. Although it wasn’t my best result this year, I felt like I was making progress and I was hitting my irons and approach shots much better and more like what I know I’m capable of. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak which is really encouraging for me after a tough season last year. Fingers crossed I can keep going in this direction and the results will follow.

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Next up for me is US Open Qualifying in Belgium on the 29th May and then I have two LET Access Series events in a row in France and Czech Republic in June. Wish me luck!

As always thanks to my sponsors ML Direct, Pure Spa & Beauty and Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, Rohnisch, Yumax Golf, Caddyclub and Titleist for all your support.

Sunshine Ladies Tour 2023

16th March 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

2nd February 2023

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 Season Reflections

15th December 2021

End of the golf season means time to reflect; what went well, what could be better and how am I going to improve? It’s the same thought process I usually have after a tournament… sometimes in my head but usually I type it up on my phone. This time I’ll attempt to blog about it. At least I tried… I started this blog over a month ago but got stuck on “what went well” and got too busy working on my weaknesses… but finally I’ve got there in time for Christmas! So here we go:

What was the difference? A few people asked me that, after returning home from my best season yet as a pro, where I won twice on the Ladies European Tour Access Series. At the time, I didn’t really know the answer, I’m working it out by writing this. Statistically the main difference has been a significant improvement to my putting. That’s black and white, the rest is grey or multicoloured … so many factors go into performance that it can be hard to ascertain why. But maybe it’s as simple as that, if I putt well – I play well…

I know I have a tendency to overthink, however, in this case I think I can justify delving deeper into ‘what went well & why’. It could be a blueprint after all.

My main goal of the year was to get my LET card, it was a clear goal and attainable, having come fairly close before. Outcome based goals are not always necessary but I think it definitely helped me to focus and kept me motivated each week. I felt like I needed to win in order to secure my card, as the players around me were playing well every week.

Another thing I’ve learnt is that experience counts. Both venues where I won, I had played there before. At Allerum, I played as an amateur in 2018 and missed the cut. However, on the final day I went out to watch the leaders and cheer on my room-mate who went on to win. Looking back now, I realise I learnt a lot just watching those few holes and maybe not surprisingly have performed well there since, with a top-10 in 2019 and a win this year. Knowing the courses also allowed me to prepare well – and efficiently – which helped a lot as I came to Allerum on the back of five straight events and was beginning to fatigue!

Despite the fatigue, I think having such a busy run of events was another key to success. It allowed me to find form, a prolonged period where I was highly tuned into my swing thoughts & feelings with a heightened sense of knowing where the ball was going. I wanted to keep playing. In hindsight now, I realise that there was another bonus to the busy schedule and fatigue. It meant I spent more of my practice time on the putting green and less time on the range… what did I say about my putting stats again!

Both my experience gained and the busy schedule helped me to perform well, not because they improved my technique, but because they helped me tactically and they gave me confidence. Attitude is everything once you’re on the golf course, and I think this is where I have improved the most over the years. Winning isn’t flawless and I definitely made lots of mistakes during the weeks I won. But I was able to recover from them with positive self talk (inside my head) and a relaxed attitude. I wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself to win even though I had the lead – I was already proud of how I played to get into that position. My mum told me to “not get in my own way” and it’s something that comes to mind now. I’ll keep trying.

A Second Success – Lavaux Ladies Open Champion

2nd November 2021

Maybe winning is like waiting for a bus… you wait for ages and then two come along at once! It certainly seemed that way for me after winning my second LETAS title in less than a month. This one came at the Lavaux Ladies Open near Lausanne in Switzerland, another venue I had been to before.

The beautiful backdrop of Lake Geneva and rolling Swiss countryside, already had special memories for me as my family attended the event with me in 2018, one of the last times my mum was able to watch me play. As I headed up the 18th hole this time round, needing a birdie to force a play-off, I recalled my mum cheering me on as I got up and down from the greenside bunker three years prior. I missed the cut then – not that you could tell by my mum’s enthusiastic reaction. What a memory to have I thought – a memory to cherish, my mum, my most zealous supporter delighted seeing me do what I love. There were no tears this time at such a poignant reminder, only a brief moment of joyful reflection, and then it was back to the present. A wee downhill 6 footer to make in order to tie the clubhouse lead on -7. I knew it would break left to right, having just watched my playing partner make a similar putt, but I recalled over-reading a putt earlier in the round and doubt crept in- maybe it would straighten up at the hole? Luckily I had my friend Clara Young on the bag, who assured me it would break! Decision made, time to trust and execute. I felt a rush of adrenaline after I made that putt – something you can’t replicate in practice and definitely a feeling that’s hard to beat!

I managed to win at the first play-off hole and with this win secure my LET card for 2022. I was over the moon to have achieved my goal for the year.

My coach messaged me after I won reminding me that I didn’t need to win in a play-off every time and that 54 holes works as well, but winning play-offs is a habit I can definitely live with!

Allerum Open Champion – First Professional Win

2nd November 2021

My busy summer schedule ended in style, capturing my first professional win at the Allerum Open in Sweden. It was my third time returning to Allerum, having played as an amateur in 2018 and as a pro in 2019. This experience along with my run of good form gave me lots of confidence heading into the week. Mentally I was in a great place and so despite the terrible weather I really enjoyed myself and ending up leading after each round. Holding the lead was a new experience for me since turning pro, and I’ll admit to not getting a whole lot of sleep the night before the final round. Despite this, I felt fairly relaxed as I prepared to tee off and didn’t put too much pressure on myself, or the outcome, I wanted to enjoy the moment. I got off to a great start and through 9 holes I had opened up a 5 shot lead. However, this soon disappeared after I made a costly triple bogey on 11! Winning is never easy… and my head was soon scrambled!

I managed to steady the ship with a birdie on 13 which calmed me down and I remember thinking to myself that I was proud of how I had played all week, so not to dwell on my mistakes on 13. This self-talk and my attitude all week was definitely key and I managed to grind out the last few holes with some great par saves and a brilliant birdie on 17. I ended up tied on -4 with Lily May Humphreys and so we continued to the 19th. It took 5 extra holes to decide the winner, with a par on the 17th hole enough to secure my first win.

It was a magnificent feeling; one that is hard to fully describe, but it was incredibly satisfying – especially after recovering from a mini-meltdown on 13! There wasn’t a whole lot of time to let it sink in as I headed straight to the final event in Sweden after the play-off. However, looking back now, and knowing I hit some great shots and holed clutch putts under pressure gives me a lot of confidence going forward.

MACDONALD SEALS LETAS WIN AFTER PLAY-OFF IN ALLERUM

2021 Summer Events

8th August 2021

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

24th April 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!