SofTrak Synthetic Putting Greens Help Tour Star Fred Couples Excel in The Skins Game


November 30, 2004. Fred Couples – who owns and practices on a high-performance SofTrak Synthetic Putting Green – rode his red-hot short game to win the fourth playoff hole Sunday to outlast Tiger Woods and claim his fifth title at The Skins Game. Couples ended up with 11 skins and $640,000 at a windy Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta, Calif.

SofTrak Putting Greens – developed by Wichita, Kan.-based United Turf Industries – feature high-performance synthetic turf that closely simulates the look and feel of natural turf for residential and commercial use.

“My SofTrak Putting Green helps me improve my short game yet it’s fun for our entire family and it looks great at our home,” says Couples, who’s SofTrak Putting Green is 1,200 square feet, complete with fringe, multiple cups, undulations and an adjacent bunker.

Couples, 45, also won last year’s edition of The Skins Game, outlasting reigning Masters Champion Phil Michelson. Couples is coming off a season in which he accumulated $1.4 million in prize money, along with three top-10 finishes. His earnings put him over the $16.5 million mark for his illustrious career.

Couples is not the only Tour star to embrace SofTrak. PGA Tour member Steve Flesch, Champions Tour member Bruce Lietzke and LPGA Tour member Donna Andrews all own and practice on SofTrak greens in the comfort and convenience of their private residences.

“We’re thrilled that Fred Couples excelled in The Skins Game, and that Bruce Lietzke and Steve Flesch won Tour events this year,” says Lance Pierce, President of United Turf Industries, developer of SofTrak. “We’re especially proud their short games excelled during their victories. Improved putting and chipping is often directly connected to owning and practicing on SofTrak Putting Greens. Golfers boast that SofTrak turf performs similarly to the natural turf found in Tour events – without the maintenance, of course.”

Unique to the synthetic putting-green industry, SofTrak’s design and construction process includes two layers of crushed stone base, which enables undulations and conTours to be sculpted into greens, as well as quick, thorough water drainage. Furthermore, SofTrak’s proprietary RQS in-fill material – which looks and performs like sand – is unique to the industry in that it resists hardening over time, ensures it provides consistent-rolling putts and it “holds” shots from more than 125 yards away. The surface fibers of SofTrak greens are UV-ray resistant to help maintain their lush, green appearance.

About SofTrak Putting Greens

From homes to commercial venues, golfers and businesses are turning to SofTrak for its convenience, affordability, and realistic performance. SofTrak Putting Greens help golfers improve their game and provide entertainment for family, friends and business associates. Developed by United Turf Industries of Wichita, SofTrak greens are virtually maintenance free. SofTrak’s exclusive fibers are finer, softer, and denser than those of other synthetic greens. Combined with SofTrak’s exclusive RQS infill, the SofTrak system provides the most realistic roll and effective practice surface on the market. The SofTrak certified installer program offers extensive technical training in the design-and-construction process of SofTrak greens.

For information about SofTrak, call toll-free 800/540-4899 or 866/SOFTRAK, or visit www.unitedturf.com.