More Than a Game
With Drive was created from a simple but powerful observation:
Golf is not just a sport. It’s a network.
It’s where relationships form, where conversations continue beyond the teams room, and where opportunities often begin long before they are formalised.
But for too long, women have been underrepresented in that space - not due to lack of ambition, but due to lack of access, confidence, and invitation.
With Drive exists to change that.
Martine Dodwell-Bennett - Co-Founder and Commercial Director
The Story behind With Drive
The idea for With Drive came from our Commercial Director, Martine Dodwell-Bennett.
Having spent her career in male-dominated industries, Martine knew that success often comes down to more than just doing your job well. Building relationships, being visible, and having access to the right conversations can make all the difference.
When she was unexpectedly asked to host a corporate golf day, she borrowed a set of clubs and stepped into a world she had never really been part of before.
What she found was that golf wasn't just a game. It was where connections were made, conversations happened, and opportunities often started.
That experience led to the creation of Girls with Drive, a grassroots initiative designed to help women feel more confident and comfortable in business and on the course.
What started as a personal challenge quickly became a growing community. Early events brought together women from different industries to learn, connect, and experience golf in a way that felt accessible and inclusive.
The biggest lesson? When women are given the opportunity, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, confidence grows naturally.
The Power of Connection
As Girls with Drive grew, so did the conversations.
Martine soon realised she wasn't alone in wanting to make golf more accessible and welcoming for women. Across the industry, others were working towards the same goal.
One of those people was Clare McLaughlin.
Ahead of International Women's Day, Clare shared a LinkedIn post about her journey in golf and her work supporting the England Golf Women's Charter. Her passion for helping more women feel confident and welcome in the game struck a chord, and a mutual connection suggested the two should meet.
They quickly discovered a shared vision.
Martine brought first-hand experience of how relationships, networks, and opportunities are often built beyond the workplace. Clare brought expertise in coaching, community engagement, and helping women overcome barriers to entering and staying in the game.
Together, they saw golf as more than a sport – it could be a catalyst for confidence, connection, and opportunity.
That shared belief became With Drive: a movement dedicated to helping more women access the game, build meaningful relationships, and step confidently into new opportunities.
Clare McLaughlin - Co-Founder and Director of Golf Experience
Support for DEI Leaders
Strategic Networking
We help bridge the gender gap in professional networks by creating access to meaningful connections and influential professional circles that have traditionally been shaped through informal, male-dominated spaces.
Confidence Building
Our golf programmes are designed to foster self-assurance, relationshopip and teamworking skills in a supportive, nature-based environment that promotes mental well-being.
Corporate Impact
We empower HR teams and DEI leaders to implement inclusive initiatives that drive diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire organisation.