(Londonderry, New Hampshire) – Danish shoemaker ECCO, the premium market leader, announces that staff player Fred Couples will compete in its 2010 collection during his official Champions Tour debut at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, January 22-24.
Couples, who turned 50 last October, will display the ECCO logo on his headwear and showcase a range of styles from the brand’s extensive new collection, which includes Golf Street, a trend setting hybrid sport-casual shoe designed specifically for wear both on and off the course.
“These new ECCO styles really caught my eye,” says Couples. “They’ve got the comfort, stability and traction features that I rely on, combined with some great new looks.”
Captain of the victorious 2009 U.S. Presidents Cup team, Couples had four top-10 finishes in 16 starts on the PGA Tour last season, including a pair of T3s at the Northern Trust Open and the Shell Houston Open. Career highlights for the 1992 Masters champion include 15 PGA Tour wins, five Ryder Cup competitions and five international tournament victories.
“Fred remains one of the world’s most popular players and it’s great to be a part of the excitement he’s bringing to the upcoming Champions Tour season,” says Jesper Thuen, Sponsor and Event Manager, ECCO Golf. “He’s chosen to wear some very distinctive looks, including many of the more fashion forward styles we offer, which provides great exposure for our entire line.”
In addition to Couples, ECCO golf shoes are worn in competition by scores of international Tour stars, including Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby, Arjun Atwal, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and many others.
Coinciding with the recently introduced 2010 golf collection, ECCO has engaged in a series of major account and customer service initiatives. These include a supporting partnership of the PGA of America Golf Retirement Plus program, a new ECCO Golf Comfort Tech Van, a web-based retailer training module and the brand’s status as an official member of the Association of Golf Merchandisers.
Guaranteeing a level of quality that cannot be matched by any major footwear manufacturer, each ECCO golf shoe is made using a proprietary, direct-injection process. Touched by more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during production, each model is a testament to the brand’s unrivalled attention to detail that helps discerning players look, feel and play their best.
All ECCO golf shoes feature a network of built-in technologies to create the ideal platform for the perfect swing. These include a direct-injected, PU-constructed midsole/outsole that:
Creates a one-piece shoe construction
Ensures unrivaled durability, flexibility, lightness and weather resistance
Provides a superior level of cushioning and comfort that does not break down over time, unlike commonly-used materials such as air, rubber and EVA foam
Optimal performance is further guaranteed by:
Ultra-soft, high-grade leathers with hydrophobic treatments for superb weather-resistance
Internal stabilizer to reduce torque and create ideal swing stability
Double-layer insole with cushion that absorbs heel force to reduce stress on the knees, hips and back
Internal Air-Circulation System to maintain a fresh, dry and cool foot environment
Dynamic Energy Return System that provides a trampoline effect during foot-strike and follow-through to reduce fatigue and restore energy with each step
Green-friendly outsole designs featuring molded traction bars combined with Stinger cleats from Champ and the Q-Lok insert system to provide ideal traction and grip
About ECCO
ECCO is a world leading brand with fashionable comfort quality shoes.
Founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy, ECCO is the only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage the entire value chain from cow to consumer. ECCO has more than 15,000 employees, direct subsidiaries in Europe, the Far East and North America, and partners worldwide.
Based on ECCO’s many years of tradition in shoemaking, ECCO delivers uncompromising comfort and design and the products are sold in more than 3,800 shops all over the world. In 2008, ECCO sold over 17.5 million pair of shoes and reached a turnover of DKK 5.4 billion. However, ECCO’s aim has never been to be the biggest – but always to be the best.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226.
Contact:
David Griffith
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3391
dgriffith@buffalocommunications.com
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