Who knew in 1980 what was ‘developing’ for women’s golf?
We have spotlighted one player from the Duramed FUTURES Tour and her quest to gain her LPGA Tour card and move to the next (and highest) level of women’s professional golf. That player is Carling Coffing who has delighted us with her great articles sharing what it’s like to compete on tour from the player’s perspective. We can’t thank Carling enough for the time she took from an already very busy schedule to take us ‘inside the ropes’.
However, there is so much more to the Duramed FUTURES Tour than this one player. Let’s take a look back at where it all started, who has come through the ranks and where it is today…
Back in 1980, Eloise Trainor, had a vision to help aspiring golfers like herself gain the competitive experience professionals need to hone their games. It wasn’t an easy start as she scheduled 12 events back then and no one noticed or participated until the 12th of those scheduled events. That was the beginning and it was then called the Tampa Bay Mini-Tour.
From that time until 1999, Trainor recognized the need and value of this type of tour for young female golf professionals and orchestrated the scheduling with her staff. The tour name was eventually changed to the FUTURES Golf Tour in 1983 to showcase the future talent of women’s golf. Trainor retired in June of 1999 and
handed the reins over to Zayra Calderon, President and CEO. It was at this time that I had the great fortune to connect with The FUTURES Tour and Zayra Calderon personally. A lasting and rewarding relationship has ensued.
Zayra was on a mission to gain corporate sponsorship, have the tour closely linked to the LPGA and improve the on-course experience for the young women participating and their fans. My company, Tee ‘M Up Enterprises, was hired to set-up hole-in-one prize packages that would reward the golfers during competition with a cash prize if they scored a hole-in-one in any of the tour stops. This was a first for the FUTURES Tour and a new way to try to add more money to the winnings of the players. Prize money wasn’t
and still isn’t great on this tour. That is not what it is all about but Zayra recognizes the financial struggles of her golfers and does everything possible to bolster the player’s earnings and keep them playing.
Zayra’s larger vision was for the positioning of the tour as ‘part of’ the LPGA Tour and to acquire a corporate sponsor. In 1999, she entered into a licensing agreement with the LPGA to make The FUTURES Tour the ‘Official Developmental Tour of the LPGA’. The sponsorship quest came to fruition in 2006, when Duramed Pharmaceutical Company signed on as the tour’s Title Sponsor.
During Zayra’s tenure the number of member golfers increased (over 500 Tour Alumnae have moved onto the LPGA), the number of events increased and the amount of prize money available also increased. Most important though is that from 1999- 2002, the top 3 FUTURES players each year were granted access to the LPGA by earning their Tour cards enabling them to start playing with the ‘big girls’. That number increased in 2003 to the top 5 tour players granted LPGA cards and today the top 10 money leaders on the Duramed FUTURES Tour receive their cards for full to partial exemption status on the LPGA Tour.
They’ve come a long way baby!!
In 2007, the LPGA acquired the rights of the Duramed FUTURES Tour thereby solidifying the relationship between the 2 tours. Zayra has remained as CEO with oversight responsibilities still in her control.
This tour is so instrumental in helping young golfers learn what tour life is all about. It is a grind and a business that needs to be taken seriously to be successful. The past players on the Tour are like a veritable who’s who in women’s golf with names like Penny Hammel, Tammy Green, Meg Mallon, Dottie Pepper, Michelle McGann, Karrie Webb, Laura Diaz, Kelli Kunene, Michelle Redman, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Christina Kim, Lorena Ochoa, Grace Park and so many more.
The value of the Duramed FUTURES Tour is priceless when it comes to making the LPGA a more viable product and increasing the fan base of women’s golf with the very approachable settings offered at every tour stop. Young people everywhere (boys and girls) get a close-up view of what the game of golf is all about and the talent these young women possess.
From its fledgling beginnings in 1980 with Eloise Trainor at the helm to the leadership of Zayra Calderon this tour is truly ‘The Road to the LPGA’ for countless young women worldwide. Hats off to these visionaries and what they have done to elevate the world of women’s golf!
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. To learn more about the Duramed FUTURES Tour please go to http://www.duramedfuturestour.com.
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Tags: game of golf, golf, Golf for Women, ladies golf, playing professional golf, professional golf tours, Women's Golf
Nice article, Sherry
I hope the next quarter century sees a lot more growth for the Futures and enables more great young women golfers to fulfill their dreams and to make their way to the LPGA.
It is a shame that the Futures Tour still remains one of the best kept secrets in professional golf. I think anyone who went out and watched an event would immediately fall in love with the players and their great golf games.
Keep spreading the word!!
Dave
Dave,
One step at a time, right?? Keep up what you do. You are a GREAT voice for the Tour and your foundation, Future Stars Foundation, is a wonderful tool to help support these fine young women financially!