Alignment Creates Seamless Transition from Duramed FUTURES Tour
LAKELAND, Fla., November 19, 2006 — The Duramed FUTURES Tour, the premier developmental tour for women’s professional golf, announces a new alignment with the LPGA designed to prepare players for the transition from the Duramed FUTURES Tour to the LPGA Tour. With valuable resources from the LPGA, the Duramed FUTURES Tour will debut in the 2007 season a new brand campaign, player development program and tournament development program.
"Our strategic plan was developed collaboratively with the LPGA to create a seamless transition for the players from the Duramed FUTURES Tour to the LPGA Tour," noted Zayra Calderon, Duramed FUTURES Tour President & CEO. "Currently, we have more than 280 alumnae on the LPGA Tour. It is imperative that we offer our players experiences both on and off the course to prepare them for the next step in their professional careers. This new alignment will give us the structure and resources to do that."
The new Duramed FUTURES Tour alignment has three key elements:
ï?? Branding – For the first time, the Duramed FUTURES Tour will roll out in 2007 a national and regional advertising campaign designed to increase awareness and expose fans to the future stars of the LPGA Tour.
ï?? Player Development – Using the LPGA’s "Five Points of Celebrity" as a model, the Duramed FUTURES Tour has created the "Foundation 4 Success" program to help young professionals understand the five points before they reach the LPGA Tour.
ï?? Tournament Development – The 2007 tournaments on the Duramed FUTURES Tour will have more of the look and feel of an LPGA event with more corporate hospitality, signage and "fans first" on-site programs for players to interact with fans.
"We are very excited about the start of the 2007 season because the tour is healthy and growing with an expanded pipeline of promising future stars on the horizon," added Calderon. "For a majority of amateur golfers, the Duramed FUTURES Tour is the place where they launch their professional career after college and prior to making the LPGA Tour."
For example, Calderon pointed out that Paige Mackenzie, a University of Washington All-American and U.S. Curtis Cup team member, along with SEC Player of the Year Maru Martinez of Auburn University, both competed in the Tour’s recent annual qualifying tournament to attain status on the 2007 Duramed FUTURES Tour after storied collegiate careers"
The alignment between the two professional golf associations reinforces the success and popularity of women’s golf around the world. The Duramed FUTURES Tour also adds 19 additional tournament markets to the LPGA’s current 35 tournament markets, as well as a portfolio of 300 players from 31 countries.
"The Duramed FUTURES Tour offers a wonderful competitive arena in which players can prepare for the LPGA," said Carolyn Bivens, LPGA Commissioner. "To start the preparation at this level will benefit the players and both tours greatly as these professionals take the next step."
The 2007 Duramed FUTURES Tour season will begin in March with the final schedule released next month.
Celebrating its 26th competitive season this year, the Duramed FUTURES Tour has remained committed to developing the skills and dreams of women golfers, establishing role models for youth and creating LPGA stars of tomorrow. With more than 280 alumnae as current members of the LPGA Tour, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 313 LPGA titles, including 33 major championships. Designated as "the official developmental tour of the LPGA," the Duramed FUTURES Tour has become the largest international developmental tour and the second largest women’s golf tour in the world. At season’s end each year, the top five players on the Tour’s money list earn automatic LPGA Tour exemptions for the following year. Throughout its first quarter century, membership has increased from approximately 150 North American players to more than 300 players from 31 different nations. The Duramed FUTURES Tour currently conducts 19 tournaments in 14 states and has raised nearly $4 million for charitable organizations since 1989. For more information, please visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Contact:
Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour, 863-709-9100, Ext. 2 or lisa@duramedfuturestour.com or Jackie Beck at 860.304.3643 or jackiebeck00@hotmail.com.
