Play well and let the results take care of themselves

Women's European Tour Diary: Martina Gillengets ready for her debut on the European Tour in Tenerife this week

Shopping. Ordinarily I would have been quite happy to potter around but I was on a mission last week and so didn't really delight in traipsing around the Dundrum and Blanchardstown shopping centres.

My quest was a bit frenzied at one point as I tried to buy some golfing attire for my upcoming debut on the Ladies' European Tour (LET).

I tee it up this week in Tenerife and to be honest, the last seven days have been spent packing and running round, trying to get myself organised for a two-, or possibly four-week (if I get into the Swiss Open), trip abroad.

I suppose when people think of a professional golfer, perks and an affluent lifestyle come to mind. While that may be the case for people like Annika Sorenstam, those on the lowest rung of the women's European Tour are a great deal less cossetted. Not that I'm complaining but there's so much to do that doesn't include golf or practice.

Managing to get APEX airline fares means I have saved a few euro on travel and this week I am very fortunate to be staying in an apartment in Tenerife belonging to a member of Cork Golf Club. Claire Coughlan, my fellow European Tour rookie, and travelling buddy for the season, has organised the accommodation.

But back to the shopping. I can confirm that there isn't a great deal of choice when it comes to women's golfing attire; well certainly clothes that I would wear. When I did eventually purchase a few things, my next port of call was to Singer's Sewing Centre in Cavan town so I could have my sponsors' logos put on the tops.

I'm very fortunate to be in a position to receive a grant from Team Ireland and their logo adorns the clothes along with 151 Golf Trust, Shoe Rack and my home club, Beaverstown, the latter couple of sponsorships, very important to me. People have been very kind, both collectively and individually.

Every LET rookie gets a shoe, ball and glove deal with Titleist, which cuts down on the expenditure. Speaking of which, I was asked whether I had to pay the Aer Lingus surcharges for transporting my golf clubs to Tenerife and the answer is, 'yes.' When I played amateur golf for the national side we had to pay for transporting our golf clubs, so there wouldn't be any allowances made for a professional golfer.

In between sundry shopping expeditions I did actually manage to fit in some practice. I have played in a couple of professional events before so I know what to expect but this time it's not as an amateur: it's my career. I have set goals for the season but at the start my priority is to focus on playing well and letting the results take care of themselves.

I don't want to just retain my card in the sense that I don't want to aim for the bare minimum. Obviously making sure I am on tour next year is vital but I don't just want to be making up the numbers on a weekly basis.

Having arrived in Tenerife on Sunday, the immediacy of my new career, for so long a dot on the horizon, now looms large. I played nine holes with Claire just to blow away the cobwebs and get a feel for the course. It's a country club with excellent facilities and there's no sign of the holiday making aspect of the island where we are staying.

It's very windy, a rolling course that goes up and down with big, generous greens that roll beautifully. I'm beginning to find my feet. The fact that Claire is in the same position is hugely comforting. It's easier having two people around to make decisions and then there is the simple aspect of the company.

Yesterday I played a full practice round and it confirmed my first impressions of the course. On the LET a tee-time sheet goes up on the board on a Monday morning and players just fill in their names beside a time, much like any golf club. You are allowed to go out and play before the 8.30am start and that's what we did.

Claire has her fiancé Dave with her but I decided on a local caddie for the practice round. It allowed me to focus on the course without having to pull my bag and rake bunkers. I'll probably use one in the tournament proper.

I bumped into Yvonne Cassidy and she told me that I have a decent chance to get into the Swiss Open, the one event that I thought I'd miss out on in the first four weeks of the tour. She pointed out they are down to the 10th reserve in Tenerife, whereas I am fourth alternate in Switzerland. I'll know tomorrow whether I have climbed up the pecking order and even if I'm just first or second reserve I'll probably travel.

For now though, my focus is on making a good start in Tenerife.