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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Eloise Trainor grew up on Shaker Farm, a sprawling estate in Canaan, New York. Her father was the estate’s caretaker. Mom worked as the cook and housekeeper, while raising the family’s five kids. After the estate’s horses died, owner John Roberts converted a field into four golf holes. Trainor began mowing the greens at age 12.
“It’s outlandish that had that not happened,” said Trainor, “I would’ve never gotten into golf.”
And, quite possibly, the Symetra Tour would’ve never been born.
The LPGA development tour celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, with an average purse size of $180,000. That’s up nearly 50 percent from $121,000 in 2015. In 2019, the tour eclipsed $4 million in total prize money.
To kick off the season, 70-year-old Trainor flew down from New York to serve as a starter at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Florida, not too far from where it all began in Tampa four decades ago. While the LPGA had 13 founders, the Symetra Tour has one, and that’s Trainor.
“There may not even be a Symetra Tour if it wasn’t for Eloise,” said Mike Nichols, the tour’s chief business officer. “Fifteen to 20 years ago, I’m not sure the LPGA tour had the resources or the initiative to say we need to go do this. These players could potentially be in the same place today that they were 40 years ago, when Eloise realized they need to have this tour.”
Trainor moved to Florida with dreams of competing on the LPGA. When she realized there weren’t any events in the area to compete in before Q-School, she went to the bank and put down $10 to open up an escrow account. From there she collected $125 entry fees so that 30 LPGA hopefuls could compete for a $3,600 purse.
Judy Ellis won the first event at Northdale Golf Club in Tampa. In 1983, the Tampa Bay Mini Tour was renamed the Futures Golf Tour, and then Trainor expanded it nationally.
“We needed to get them out to travel, and give them the complete experience,” she said. “We wanted them to get on the LPGA, but we wanted them to be able to stay out there.”
People used to ask Trainor why she continued on year after year. Well, the honest answer is that she had to piece together the schedule for the next year so early that she had no choice but to carry on. Even on the tough days, however, she deeply loved it. It’s evidenced in her warm smile and occasional wink.
“I had no business plan,” said Trainor, wearing a vintage red Futures Tour visor. “Just keep going.”
In 1999, the LPGA first recognized the Futures Tour as the official developmental tour of the LPGA, awarding cards to the top three players on the money list. Future major winner Grace Park was among that original trio.
SBC Communications became the tour’s first title sponsor that same year, and the next season, Trainor sold her interest to Zayra Calderon, who took over as president and CEO. In 2007, the LPGA acquired the Futures Tour. Duramed took over as title sponsor from 2006 to 2010. Symetra assumed naming rights as entitlement partner in 2012.
Today, LPGA cards are awarded to the top 10 players on the money list each season. Trainor still looks back in awe at the players who have come through the developmental tour, Hall of Famers like Laura Davies, Inbee Park and Lorena Ochoa. She remembers when Dottie Pepper won as an amateur in Colonie, New York. They had to find a long rope to keep the gallery at bay.
Even Althea Gibson competed during those early days.
“I still have her card with her signature on it,” gushed Trainor.
Lucy Li, 17, makes her pro debut this week at the Country Club of Winter Haven. She’s looking to join the 157 players who have graduated to the LPGA. Hotshot players like Nelly Korda, currently the top-ranked American in the world, used the Symetra Tour as a springboard rather than take the traditional college route.
Heather Daly-Donofrio, a tour VP who won twice on the LPGA, competed on the Futures Tour from 1995-97 after graduating from Yale. Her story is more common.
“I never would’ve made the LPGA had I not played on the Futures Tour for three years,” said Daly-Donofrio, who won four times on the development circuit. “It was a great tour for me coming from a college program that wasn’t very strong. I needed the experience; I needed the reps; I needed to be playing against more difficult competition.”
Countless others can say the same.
Eloise Trainor never competed on the LPGA. Never won a major. But she’s got a rich and deep legacy in this game, and everyone who steps on the first tee this week should take a moment to say thanks.
She’s the reason you’re here.
[opinary poll=”should-there-be-an-age-limit-for-turning” customer=”golfweek”]