The Golfbreaks women breaking down the barriers in golf

More than 1,300 organizations worldwide have signed up for and committed to the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, with Golfbreaks being the only tour operator to do so, demonstrating its dedication to driving positive change for women in the golf industry.

Golfbreaks boasts a fantastic team of women across their UK and US offices, and here we have highlighted the 9 who have enrolled in the R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme and the Foundation Programme.

I have worked full-time at Golfbreaks since 2021, having previously participated in the University Placement Scheme. Golf has been a significant part of my life since I started playing at the age of 12, making it an incredible privilege to combine this passion with my career.

Golfbreaks has given me the incredible opportunity to travel to some fantastic destinations in my role, including the USA, Europe, and various parts of the UK, whilst also experiencing some of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments firsthand, including The Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup, and the AIG Women’s Open.

Not only have I been given the opportunity to travel within my role at Golfbreaks, but I was also put forward for the R&A Women in Leadership Foundation Programme in 2022-23. This programme was instrumental in my development at Golfbreaks, having only just started my new role in the Tournaments Team. The programme provided me with the skills to navigate through a transitional period into my new role, during which I gained increased confidence and a growth mindset while learning to reflect on and develop the skills I learnt throughout the course.

While the industry is still evolving, I’ve been fortunate to work with like-minded individuals, both at Golfbreaks and in my R&AWIGL cohort, who are passionate about breaking down barriers and promoting the game to a wider audience, particularly through supporting women’s golf.

I live in the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina and I’ve been part of the Golfbreaks US team since 2019. While I wouldn’t call myself a golfer, I’ve developed a real appreciation for the sport - especially the tournament side of it. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of seeing golfers live and experiencing the energy of the events firsthand.

When I first joined Golfbreaks US, I was one of just seven employees—and the first female in the office. Fast forward to today, and we’ve grown into a team of 39, with 12 amazing women now part of the team. I currently serve as the Head of Operations and sit on the leadership team for our US business.

Some of my favorite moments at Golfbreaks have been watching the company grow—helping shape our culture has been incredibly rewarding. One of the biggest perks has been the friendships I’ve made, both here in the US and across the pond with our UK team. I’ve also loved the challenge of working on-site at tournaments, where thinking on your feet is key.

Through this journey, I’ve met incredible people and traveled to amazing places. You don’t have to be a golfer to belong in this industry—there’s so much more to it, and I love being part of it.

The R&A Women in Golf Leadership Programme has been an invaluable opportunity, giving me deeper insight into leadership within the golf industry and helping me build confidence in new ways. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey and growing both personally and professionally.

I truly believe Golfbreaks is making a difference when it comes to supporting women in golf. The company has fostered an inclusive culture and continues to provide opportunities for women to grow and succeed—whether within the company or out on the course. It’s inspiring to be part of a team that values diversity and is committed to making golf more accessible to everyone.

I joined Golfbreaks in 2009 as a Marketing Assistant during my University Placement year. After a successful year, I returned as a graduate and now I head up the website and digital channels as Head of Performance Marketing. Having joined all those years ago with little knowledge of golf, I am now extremely passionate about educating others, especially females, about both working in the golf industry and playing the sport.

A lot of this passion stems from Golfbreaks’ commitment to the Women In Golf Charter, from which the Golfbreaks internal ‘Women In Golf’ (WIG) initiative was born. I work alongside a group of driven female colleagues who share the vision of making golf more accessible to women and girls. This is something that I feel particularly proud of, alongside my graduation from the R&A Women in Golf Leadership Programme in 2022.

It wasn’t until Golfbreaks signed the Women in Golf Charter, alongside recruiting many inspiring female golfers into the business, that I found the confidence to start playing the sport. This is where my experiences as a non-golfer learning the sport dovetails perfectly with the experienced female golfers in the Golfbreaks WIG working party, to make sure we are covering all angles to break down the barriers a lot of females face.

Since making a commitment to ‘Women in Golf’, I have grown a fantastic network of like-minded people, both women and men, who share the same values. Whether this be those that I have met through the R&A WIGLP, passionate supporters outside the industry (including our performance marketing agency; House of Performance), or the fantastic women who show up to our WIG social events. It has been eye-opening looking at how far we have come, but more so how much more still needs to be done.

I joined Golfbreaks in 2018 as a Tournaments & Events Coordinator and have since grown into my current role as the Head of Tournaments. I lead the strategy, planning, and contracting for all the professional golf tournaments we offer, including The Open, The Masters, The Ryder Cup, and The Solheim Cup. What I love most about my job is its variety—one day, I could be on-site at a major tournament greeting clients, and the next, I’m deep into planning events years in advance.

Golf has been a part of my life from an early age, my dad introduced me to the game, and I got my first handicap at around 12. The women’s section at Royal Cinque Ports played a huge role in supporting my junior golf journey. This led me to earn a full golf scholarship at McNeese State University in Louisiana.

While my playing ability has no direct impact on how well I do my job, I’ve often found that having a low handicap serves as an unexpected superpower—and gains respect in an industry where credibility can sometimes be questioned.

At Golfbreaks, we’re committed to supporting women’s golf. We are the only tour operator to sign the Women in Golf Charter with the R&A, and we’ve had 10 women complete or take part in the R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme (WIGLDP). This program has been crucial in my own growth, boosting my confidence and connecting me with an amazing network of women who provide invaluable support and advice.

In 2023, we launched women-only golf events to encourage newcomers, build confidence, and foster a sense of community among female golfers. Alongside these events, we’re also focused on helping more women within Golfbreaks learn the game and expanding our female partnerships.

Beyond my role at Golfbreaks, I co-manage the Women in Golf Society (WIGS) alongside Ali McGuirk. Our mission is to create an inclusive and welcoming space for women at all stages of their golfing journeys, helping to bridge the gap between initial interest and on-course confidence.

I’m a proud mum to identical twins, a former professional golfer, and now a passionate advocate for golf events! My journey with golf started at the age of 5. By 6, I had joined my local golf club, and at 7, I was winning the weekly Junior competitions. At age 9, I was selected for the England Squad, and by the age of 11, I was traveling the world as an international player, representing Team England in prestigious tournaments.

I spent over a decade competing at the highest level, earning accolades like winning the Women’s British Amateur, 5 English titles, and being part of the victorious Team GB&I Curtis Cup squad. I also played in two Junior Ryder Cups and Junior Solheim Cups, experiences I’ll treasure forever.

Unfortunately, after turning professional, my time on the LET Access Tour came to an early end due to injury, but this led me to a new chapter in golf. I began working within the industry, eventually joining Golfbreaks as a Business Development Manager. Since 2018, I’ve grown into my current role as Senior Events Manager—a position I genuinely love.

Growing up in the sport, I was never told about the many career opportunities available to women outside of becoming a professional golfer. In 2023, I completed my R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme, which reinforced the importance of educating young golfers about these possibilities. If they don’t “make it” as a tour professional, they should know there’s a vast and rewarding industry waiting for them, full of opportunities to make their mark.

Completing the R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme was a significant milestone in my career as well as a personal achievement. Having the guidance of my mentor, Jenny, throughout the programme was invaluable. She helped me see the difference between managing people and truly leading them. This program played a key role in my self-development, giving me the confidence, perspective, and skills to become the leader I aspire to be.

I started at Golfbreaks in 2011 as a university placement student and returned as a graduate in 2013. Since then, I have worked my way up to head of department. Initially, I wasn’t interested in playing golf, my grandpa, however, had always loved the sport and loved that I worked in the industry.

4 years into my Golfbreaks career my grandpa lost the last of his golfing group to old age and had no one to play with - he would wait in the pro shop for hours at a time to find 2/3balls to play with. As soon as I found out, I took a day off and joined my grandpa at the golf course. I planned to walk with him, but he paid me to ‘play’ - so I grabbed his clubs and accidentally played my first round of golf. I loved it and started playing with him regularly - it was just the best family time, we’d laugh at the terrible shots and he gave the best judgement-free advice. I unfortunately don’t have my grandpa to play with anymore, however, the confidence he gave me in the game means I am still playing now, especially with the Golfbreaks team.

I was fortunate to have someone make the golf course a safe space for me and as joint lead on Golfbreaks’ Internal Women in Golf, I am doing what I can to help encourage participation and continue to make the course a safe space for women in golf.

Participating in the R&A Women in Leadership Programme was a pivotal moment in my career. The principles taught were invaluable, and the support in applying them was fantastic. Having a mentor afterward was especially beneficial, helping me reinforce the changes I was making over the following 12 months.

The course was invaluable, I was able to build a lifelong network who offer constant support and advice. It gave me confidence that comes from having a safe space to grow and most importantly, being part of the award-winning Project Ukraine was life-changing.

I grew up surrounded by golf throughout my life, despite only taking an interest in learning the game recently. My younger brother is a PGA Coaching Professional, and my dad is a single-figure handicapper, so you could say it runs in the family.

I began my career in the golf industry in 2022 at Golfbreaks, joining the Marketing team. My initial role involved working on the website as part of the SEO team, writing and loading pages—similar to the one you're reading now. Since then, I've transitioned into a Performance Marketing role. While I had a solid understanding of the game through my family, it wasn’t until a year into my job that I gained the confidence to take golf lessons—ironically, not through my brother!

One of the greatest perks of my role has been the opportunity to travel to incredible places, including Quinta do Lago in Portugal for our annual pairs event and Bologna as well as numerous FAM trips to top UK resorts. However, the true highlight has been being part of such a supportive, close-knit team where everyone’s voice is heard—whether they’re golfers or not.

Speaking from personal experience, I still find it daunting to walk into a golf clubhouse bar full of men. And despite knowing how to play, I sometimes feel nervous going to the driving range on my own. Fortunately, our leadership team recognises the importance of representation, actively supporting women’s golf, and encouraging women—both golfers and non-golfers—to pursue careers in the industry

One of the most inspiring changes I’ve witnessed is the rise of female golfers gaining visibility on social media in recent years. As I continue my journey, I’m excited to be part of the R&A Women in Golf Foundation Programme in 2025, and I look forward to being inspired by like-minded women who are changing the face of golf.

I started Golfbreaks in 2018 as a university placement student in the IT department with zero knowledge of golf or the industry around it. I’m now the Salesforce Administration Manager, managing a team of hard-working guys to keep the systems that the business run on working at top efficiency on a day-to-day basis and finding new innovative ways to keep it improving for all those in the business.

In that time not only has my job knowledge grown but so has my golf knowledge, with help from my colleagues, a fantastic team of like-minded women in the business, and the R&A I’ve found myself in settings I’d never thought possible when I first started. I’ve visited the home of golf in St Andrews, I’ve been to golf courses abroad and I’ve spent more time than I ever thought I would at a driving range practicing.

The team at Golfbreaks recognises the importance of encouraging women in golf. This is reflected in internal Women’s Golf Nights as well as external events. Continuous efforts are made to ensure women in the business participate in the R&A Leadership Course, and the unwavering support of my own team always ensures I’m included in golf days.

Being a part of the R&A Women in Golf Foundation Leadership Course, only reinforced all the practices Golfbreaks have in place for women in golf. Having at the time the COO of Scottish Golf as my mentor truly helped my confidence flourish as a leader in my role and leader in golf.

I am originally from Rome, Italy, and I have worked in luxury hospitality in several European countries before joining Golfbreaks in 2021 in Customer Service. Since then, I have moved into the Product Department, and I am now Product Executive – Team Leader. My team and I look after our hotel and golf products, managing rates and inventory, supporting our Product Managers and the Contact Centre team in their roles.

One of the best moments since I started at Golfbreaks has been winning the ‘Rising Star’ award for my department last summer at our annual staff event GONGS. Another great achievement has been participating in the R&A Course Women in Golf Leadership Foundation. It is an incredible programme for women working in golf to develop in their career and create a network of likeminded peers.

At Golfbreaks, we are incredibly proud of the supportive community we’ve built, fostering a safe and empowering environment where women in golf can grow, thrive, and lead.

We have a number of women in golf events lined up for 2025 and are excited to grow our community. For more information on our women-only events please have a look at our dedicated page HERE.

We also have a growing community on Facebook and WhatsApp.