John Sullivan: Fifty-two golfers and you were the only female. I’m guessing there’s no way you were comfortable in that situation unless you started playing when you were young, right?

Rhonda Joyce: I didn’t start golfing until I was 32 years old, when I became a commercial lender. I’ll never forget. It was a Friday. I looked around the office and noticed all the guys were gone. I asked where they went and someone said, “Oh, they’re golfing.” My first thought was: this isn’t going to fly. My second thought was: I’m going to learn how to play golf. That’s when I started taking lessons. It was that simple, because I took the hard road in my banking career. I started as a teller and worked my way up. I’ve done every job in a bank. When I got to that role on the commercial side and saw that’s what they do, I wasn’t bitter. It was the exact opposite. It motivated me. Once I started playing, I got hooked. Golf just pulled me in, and it hasn’t let go.

JS: How hard was that, learning to play golf for the first time in your 30’s?

RJ: It was challenging because I was very much a beginner. Obviously, I wish I had played in high school. The fact is I didn’t, but I knew this was a way to network effectively, get greater exposure and accomplish more, achieve more. I also knew the bank wasn’t going to pay for me to take clients shopping, but they would pay for a round of golf. I quickly realized it would help my career, and it has – big time.

JS: Once you started taking lessons, how long was it before you felt comfortable being on a golf course in a business setting?

RJ: Less than a year.

JS: Do you try to convince other women to start playing? Do you explain that it’s an effective career strategy?

RJ: When I’m in meetings with female bankers who don’t play, I often wonder, ‘why?’ Is it because they’re intimidated? If that’s the case, my answer to that is get over it and go play. Recently, I met with a woman – she’s early to mid-career, works at a different bank – and told her my story. She texted me that night. Said she was so inspired; she signed up for lessons. I was thrilled and replied with this message: don’t get left behind sitting at the office. Get out and play golf with them.

JS: Tell me more about that because it’s such a cliche, male bankers bonding on a golf course.

RJ: Most of them aren’t as good as they say they are (laughing). I’ve played with enough men to know that some talk a big game, but don’t always back it up. Many times, I wanted to say: ‘Play your own ball, let’s see what your score really is,’ because they’re quick to pick up and fudge it. But we always have fun and enjoy ourselves. That’s what’s most important. There’s a misperception from watching the pros on television that you must be at least a bogey golfer to play in a business setting. That’s absolutely not true. The other players aren’t pro golfers. They have day jobs just like the rest of us. Yes, it takes time. On my first outing I was so nervous, but after that I was fine.

JS: Has anyone made you feel like you didn’t belong out there?

RJ: No, because I won’t let them get away with it. I’m always respectful, but I let them know that I can get around a golf course, that I know what I’m doing.

JS: Is there a particular moment that you’re especially proud of?

RJ: Yes. There was one event where I was playing with a younger gentleman who was extremely arrogant. It was obvious right away that he had an attitude about playing with a woman. I didn’t react. I simply reminded myself to play my own game. After I hit a few really good shots I caught him looking at me with an expression of, ‘Wow, that was impressive.’

JS: So he never actually said anything?

RJ: No, he was never going to do that. But the look on his face said it all.

JS: Have you ever closed a deal on the course after being introduced to someone you didn’t know?

RJ: It’s not often you meet someone new on the first tee, hear about a deal and by the time you’ve played 18 holes you’re shaking hands and the deal is done. Maybe that happens on TV or in movies, but I’ve been around for a long time and know a lot of people. Typically, what happens is you’re chatting casually as you’re playing, and if an interesting business opportunity comes up, I’ll say something like, ‘I’d like to learn more about that. Is it ok if I call you after the round?’ Or ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ What happens next is they take my call, and the wheels are in motion.

JS: You invited your team at the bank to play in last year’s NCBA Foundation tournament – and we’re hoping you’ll be back again in June. What was your motivation for getting involved last time?

RJ: We were American National before we were bought by Atlantic Union – our CEO would tell you it was one of the roughest conversions ever – so I decided to take the three local market presidents out to play because it would be good bonding time – relaxing outdoors, away from the chaos, low-stress.

JS: How’d it go?

RJ: It was wonderful. Everyone said it was a gift we all really needed.

JS: That’s great to hear, but I sense you have a competitive streak. Was there any trash talking?

RJ: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely there was. That’s part of team building (smiling).