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Meet Debbie Waitkus of Golf for Cause

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Waitkus.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Debbie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think the easiest thing is to paste something here that I wrote in the past… Do what you love and everything else will fall into place, the saying goes.

I had never given this much thought until one sunny Phoenix morning a few years ago, as I gazed out the window in my corner office. I was president of a $130 million company in the corporate financial world and life was very good. I was the mother of two fabulous children and the wife of a wonderful husband, Jack, who continued to court me long after we were married. As I watched the arc of spraying sprinklers watering the grass below, it dawned on me that despite my professional success, our corporate direction was experiencing a shift.

And while I still liked what I was doing, I no longer loved what I was doing. It was the kind of realization that, no matter how hard I tried to put it out of my mind, it would not disappear. In the following weeks, I often found myself staring out that very same window. I swear, the grass looked greener every day. I eventually hired an executive coach to help me secure a new job — one that I would really love. I also prepared for the proverbial visit home to bounce some ideas off my mom. Mothers know things, don’t they? For starters, Mom suggested we go for a walk and talk — and play golf while we were at it. She sensed that I had big things on my mind and she knew that a wide-open golf course under a big, blue sky would be a perfect place for some big thinking.

As we approached the tee on the first par-3 hole, I confided in her that I thought it was time for me to find a new job. I asked what she thought about that. As I addressed my ball, a slight breeze rustled the nearby leaves. I teed off. It felt exceptionally good and I watched the flight of my ball. WHAT? A hole-in-one?! Yes! The golf gods were with me. I knew it had to be a good sign. On the next par-3 hole, I hit another solid tee shot. We watched as the ball landed and rolled toward the pin, missing a second hole-in-one by merely three inches. Mom looked at me with raised eyebrows and an expression that clearly said, “I think this means something.”

I knew leaving my corner office was the right move. At least the golf gods seemed to be saying so. Next, I started wondering whether golf could play a pivotal role in a budding new career? I certainly loved everything that golf had to offer, but there was one little problem — I wasn’t quite sure how to create a successful business in golf. After a few serious self-chats, I took a leap of faith and decided to launch my own golf business. I told my ever-supportive husband, Jack, how I was going to work for myself and instead of making money just to be making it, I was committed to a deeper sense of purpose — one that included giving back.

My mission soon became crystal clear. I would use golf as a marketing tool to help women grow personally and professionally and use part of the proceeds from the business to support various worthy causes. When I told my husband the name of my business would be “Golf for Cause,” he pondered a bit, smiled, and then asked how many zeroes are on a karma check? Every start-up business owner knows passion is a prerequisite and I had buckets of it.

Only 10 years had passed since my colleague, Laura, twisted my arm and dragged me to a golf course for the first time. Now, I was an enthusiastic ambassador for the sport. I had gone from knowing absolutely nothing about golf to know it is the greatest game ever invented — especially for women!

I need to clarify my definition of “knowing absolutely nothing about golf.” What I knew was, golf didn’t fit my idea of a sport. I was an athlete who had played nearly every sport, including soccer for the University of Arizona until a career-ending knee injury sidelined me for good. Yes, I knew sports, and I knew golf wasn’t a sport. After all, there was no running involved. No sweating. No team camaraderie. Plus, golf was boring. I was so “smart” that when my mother told me there was no driver in the set of clubs I was borrowing that first time, I confidently assured her I didn’t need a driver because Laura told me we were going to walk and use pull carts.

I will always be thankful for Laura’s persistence and patience in encouraging me to give golf a try. We still laugh about how hesitant I was and how certain I was that golf was not my thing. I had no equipment, no golf shoes and certainly, no proper golf attire. It was also 110 degrees in Phoenix that day and I was pregnant.

I learned a lot that first outing. I learned that men and women could play golf together and have fun. For my first outing, Laura and I played golf with three male co-workers in a group of five. I learned what a “foot wedge” is, but only after one of the guys had me look for it in my borrowed bag of clubs. I learned that golfers enjoy introducing the game to newcomers and making it fun. And, I learned how profoundly can golf enhance work relationships — those three men were my employees!

In time, I learned how to generate business using golf as a vehicle. Golf is a magical connector. It opens doors. It forwards relationships. Particularly for women, golf is a passport into just about any male-dominated environment. I used golf as a tool to propel me through the ranks and become president of a highly successful company. I could talk golf. I included golf in both business and social conversations. I truly believe my corporate success centered around how I handled myself on the golf course, coupled with the fact there were very few women who played golf in my industry. Golf provided the segue for me to easily stand out and resonate with others.

When I speak to women about golf and how it is good for business, I share a story about a group of brokers who were touring our building one day. I showed them my office. One gentleman noticed a golf trophy on my credenza and remarked, “Deb, I didn’t know you played golf! We ought to grab the sticks and tee it up sometime!” The very next day, he sent me three deals. He didn’t ask what the trophy was for. It was a golf trophy and that’s what mattered. I had barely started playing the game, but I had a trophy for being a member of the winning team in the women’s division of the Mortgage Brokers Spring Golf Tournament. Yes, we were the only women’s team in the tournament, but that golf trophy rendered immediate benefits. The message was clear: I could turn golf into gold.

Since launching Golf for Cause,® I have advocated that “golf can bring gold into your life” regardless of how well you play, or even if you play at all. But, the gold I speak of is not just monetary. It is friendships, relationships and teambuilding. It is quality time with people you care about. It’s a way to connect with nature. It is healthy. It’s a vehicle for going places you never thought you’d go, and to meet new people.

One very special person I’ve met through golf is Marilynn Smith, a co-founder of the LPGA. I was in the audience when Marilynn was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Listening to her acceptance speech, I identified with her dream to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. She was an athlete and came to golf only after other sports were unavailable. Marilynn and I have become great friends and I love hearing her stories about the early days of the LPGA. Today’s LPGA would still be a pipedream if not for the pioneering commitment of Marilynn and her colleagues.

Marilynn and I also share a passion to make a difference for others. One of the best things about golf is that it constantly provides an opportunity to give back. I’m honored to help Marilynn raise money for her scholarship fund, which makes it possible for young women to play college golf. In addition to being the co-director for her annual charity pro-am tournament, a portion of the proceeds from my book, “Get Your Golf On, Your Guide To Getting In The Game,” benefit the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund.

Golf for Cause began humbly at my kitchen table. I felt a need to share with women what I have learned about this wonderful game and all it can do for any woman willing to give it a try. Golf has enriched my life beyond anything I ever expected. It has helped me achieve things I never dreamed possible. I am happy to say Golf for Cause is now part of a widespread effort and strategy to greatly expand women’s involvement in the game at the industry level.

Golf for Cause and three of the nation’s most highly respected women’s golf organizations, the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, and Ladies Links Fore Golf (LL4G) are founding partners of the National Women’s Golf Alliance™ (NWGA). NWGA’s mission is to increase the number of women playing and to increase engagement levels of existing women golfers.

It’s a grassroots effort in which we have combined our experience, data and observations to establish a base of standards that help golf facilities become more welcoming to women. The NWGA evaluates and certifies golf courses that Roll out the Green Carpet™. Women can now look to the NWGA for assistance in finding golf facilities that offer a women-friendly environment and do it well.

My husband and I drove past my old corporate office the other day on the way to a round of golf with two of our close friends. We were discussing how much we enjoy playing golf together — a discussion we’ve had countless times. I glanced over at what used to be my office window and thought of how different and how much better my life is now. I’m doing something I love and everything has fallen into place.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, not a smooth road – but without challenges, I don’t believe you stretch or learn or grow from the adventures along the way. When launching Golf for Cause I had a vision of the programs that I wanted to deliver.

My challenge was entering a new industry and convincing those already in the golf space that my vision was of value to them. An example would be that I wanted to offer 9-hole events in the afternoon – in 2000, most golf facilities looked at me as though I had two heads – 9 holes? Now, fortunately, that’s no longer the case.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Golf for Cause – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a speaker, author and business/golf networking consultant as well as the president and founder of Golf for Cause®LLC. I am passionate about helping others Turn Golf into Gold®, enriching their lives both personally and professionally.

A latecomer to the sport of golf, I quickly recognized how perfectly business and golf fit together. I credit the success of our business golf events to addressing and delivering what the customers want. A true advocate of the sport, I’ve been recognized by the Arizona Golf Association as a Champion of Golf at the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in 2015. In addition, I co-founded the National Women’s Golf Alliance, which evaluates and certifies golf facilities for how well they “Roll Out the Green Carpet™” for women, and am a former president of Women in the Golf Industry.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my relationship with LPGA Co=Founder Marilynn Smith. There were 13 women who trail-blazed and started the LPGA; Marilynn is one of 3 who are still living. I am the co-tournament director for her Annual LPGA Charity Pro Am and also I donate a portion of the proceeds of my book, “Get Your Golf On! Your Guide to Getting in the Game,” to the Marilynn Smith Scholarship Fund – which provides an opportunity for girls to play college golf.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently refreshing my book and adding a European version of the book. (It’s currently available in English and Czech!).

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Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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