Name –Kitty (Nicastro) Doyle
UW-Stout graduation year – 2011
Major – Golf Enterprise Management
Sport Played – Volleyball & Golf
Years Played – Volleyball (2007-2009) Golf (2009-2011)
Hometown (High School) – Mondovi, Wis.
Currently Reside – Naples, Fla.
Give us a brief synopsis of your life since graduating from UW-Stout.
After graduating, I moved to Milwaukee where I started my career as an assistant golf professional at Milwaukee Country Club. I now live in Southwest Florida where I have been living with my two dogs, Carl and Hobbes. I currently work as a PGA Teaching Professional at Club Pelican Bay in Naples, Fla.
How are you using your Stout education in your occupation? In your daily life?
I am a golf professional and I use my Golf Enterprise Management Degree daily. Stout helped me to learn all aspects of the golf industry from tournament operations to administrative responsibilities.
Why did you choose to be a collegiate student-athlete at UW-Stout?
I chose to be a collegiate athlete because I knew it would help further my career and my all-around college experience. I have always been so passionate about playing sports and that helped me choose my career path as a golf professional. I get the best of both worlds where I get to compete in the local PGA section and chapter events, and I also get to persue my career as a golf coach.
What did you like most about competing in collegiate athletics?
I loved the lifelong friends I made throughout my time at Stout. I got to meet so many types of people that I would have never met otherwise. Competing also taught me responsibility and time management. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to continue playing golf and use that in my daily life.
What is the greatest lesson you learned from being a collegiate student-athlete?
The greatest lesson I have learned from being a collegiate student-athlete is that if you set goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term, and try to do the right thing, you will be successful.
Who are the most influential persons in your athletic career?
Howie Samb and Kris Schoonover were the most influential people in athletics and pursuing my career. (Samb and Schoonover are former UW-Stout women's golf coaches and both taught in the university's Golf Enterprise Management program.)
Which former Blue Devil student-athletes are you still in contact with?
I am in still in contact with a lot of other student-athletes but mostly Kristen Laramy (basketball), Emily Kotyza (volleyball), Stephanie Velasquez (dance), and Kristine Connell (golf) . Kristine and I actually had a similar career path and we both ended up moving to SW Florida together and now live in the same neighborhood!
How would your teammates describe you as a person and as a student-athlete?
I think competitive and fun would be how my teammates would describe me.
What are some of your career highlights, both athletically and academically?
Athletically, now that I can look back almost 10 years, one of my highlights would be my improvement. Volleyball was my original passion, but I am so grateful that Howie Samb let me join the golf team. I didn't realize at the time that golf would be such a huge part of my life. Academically, one of my highlights would be my continued desire to learn. I am constantly continuing education. After college I completed the PGA member program and currently I am working on my TPI certification.
You were on some of the first women's golf teams at Stout. How did you see the program grow during your years as varsity?
I saw the program grow with the ability of the players that Howie Samb recruited. The talent that he sees in his players is obvious and (I) love seeing their continued success.
What are some other activities you were involved in on campus (or off campus) while in Menomonie?
Once I joined the golf team, I decided that I still wanted to play volleyball, so I joined the club volleyball team where we got to represent Stout. The social scene at Stout was amazing and so much fun. I always look back on the fun times and great people I met, and I am glad that I chose Stout.
