Direct Fairways Complaints: Legit Business or a Scam?

More than 300 small business owners across the nation have filed complaints against Direct Fairways LLC and its sister company Digital Fairways, alleging a sophisticated scheme that has cost some victims thousands of dollars. The Arizona-based marketing firm, which promises affordable advertising on golf course materials, has accumulated a troubling pattern of complaints with the Better Business Bureau while maintaining operations for over a decade.

“They said it would be a one-time charge of $400,” explained one business owner who wished to remain anonymous. “But they kept charging my card every two months. I’ve lost over $3,000.”

The Alluring Sales Pitch of Direct Fairways: How It All Begins

The pattern starts with a cold call. Small business owners—particularly those who have recently opened—receive an unsolicited call from a Direct Fairways representative offering advertising placement on golf course scorecards, yardage markers, or course guides. The initial offer typically ranges from $350 to $499 for what’s described as a full year of advertising at local golf courses.

“The salesperson was extremely professional and convincing,” said a small construction business owner from North Carolina. “They mentioned specific local golf courses by name and provided statistics about golfer demographics that made it sound like an incredible opportunity.”

The sales pitch specifically targets service businesses that might benefit from reaching affluent customers who play golf—landscapers, contractors, real estate agents, cleaning services, and small retail businesses. The relatively affordable entry point—under $500—makes it an easy “yes” for many small business owners hoping to expand their customer base.

From Opportunity to Nightmare: The Billing Cycle

What begins as a seemingly straightforward advertising opportunity quickly transforms into a financial nightmare for many victims. According to BBB records and victim testimonials, the company follows a remarkably consistent pattern:

1. Initial Charge: The business owner provides payment information for the agreed-upon amount (typically $350-$499)
2. Quick Upsell Call: Within days or weeks, Direct Fairways calls back offering “premium placement,” “additional golf courses,” or “extended contracts” for additional fees
3. Unauthorized Charges: Whether the business owner accepts the upsell or not, many report seeing additional charges of $350-$800 appearing on their accounts
4. Recurring Billing: Despite promises of one-time payments, victims report being billed $400-$800 every 2-3 months with no prior authorization
5. Difficult Cancellation: When business owners attempt to cancel or request refunds, they encounter extreme difficulty reaching representatives

One Florida business owner reported: “I was initially charged $399, then $350 a week later, then $798 two months after that, and another $798 two months later. When I called to complain, they claimed I had verbally agreed to a two-year contract with quarterly payments—something that was never mentioned during our call.”

The Paper Trail: Documentation Issues of Direct Fairways

A review of BBB complaints reveals another troubling aspect of Direct Fairways’ business practices: a notable lack of written documentation. Customers repeatedly mention they never received:

• Written contracts outlining payment terms
• Clear billing schedules
• Detailed service agreements
• Proof of ad placement
• Receipts for additional charges

Instead, the company relies heavily on what they claim are “verbal authorizations” obtained during phone calls. When disputes arise, Direct Fairways representatives frequently reference “terms and conditions” that customers allegedly agreed to—terms that are often hidden in small print at the bottom of invoices sent after payment is processed.

“I asked them to send me proof that I agreed to these additional charges,” said a small business owner from Arizona. “They claimed it was all in the terms and conditions I agreed to over the phone, but they couldn’t produce any recording or documentation showing I had approved recurring payments.”

The Product Problem: Where Are the Ads?

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the Direct Fairways operation is that many customers report never seeing their advertisements actually appear at golf courses. Numerous complaints describe business owners visiting local golf courses only to discover:

• The course has no relationship with Direct Fairways
• No scorecards or yardage books contain their advertisement
• Materials with their ads exist but aren’t being distributed
• Golf course staff are unfamiliar with Direct Fairways

One Missouri business owner drove to the local golf course where his ad was supposedly being displayed only to learn the course had never heard of Direct Fairways and used a different company for their scorecards.

Another complainant noted:

When I finally received a digital proof of my ad, I visited the golf course to see it in person. The pro shop attendant had to search under a counter to find a small box of cards that weren’t even being distributed to golfers.

Inside Information: Former Employees Speak Out about Direct Fairways

Reddit posts and job review sites contain revealing testimonials from individuals claiming to be former Direct Fairways employees. These accounts provide disturbing insights into the company’s operations:

“I worked there for like a week and a half and then Covid hit so I left,” wrote one former employee. “When we got hired they never told us it was the type of job where we’d just sit all day making calls… They were constantly getting mad at people if they didn’t sell one of the ads. They had contest for cash if you sold a package. They wanted us to call 100-200 people a day.”

Another former employee was more direct: “I currently work at Digital Fairways and I could say that it is a legit scam.”

A particularly telling post came from someone who claimed they had just started working for the company:

I started on Monday this week, they walked me out yesterday because I didn’t make a deal on my second day in and didn’t make 400 calls to small businesses. Doing my research today… and man, my dad is right, them walking me out was a blessing in disguise.

Disturbing Complaints and Reviews On BBB

The Better Business Bureau has taken the unusual step of withholding a rating for Direct Fairways LLC, stating they are “evaluating a pattern of complaints before issuing a rating.” This rare action typically indicates serious concerns about a business’s practices.

Over the past three years, Direct Fairways has accumulated 302 formal complaints with the BBB, with 98 complaints closed in just the last 12 months. A review of these complaints reveals alarming patterns:

Common BBB Complaint Themes

1. Unauthorized Charges: “They said it would be a one time charge $700 and they did try to call me and tell me there was more space for more money… but come to find out they ended up charging me $700 every 2 months (4 times).”
2. Missing Advertisements: “Paid them $1125 in October of 2023… But have not gained any customers from this. My ads are not on the scorecards I’ve paid for and it’s been a year.”
3. No Written Contracts: “We were never provided with a clear contract or agreement outlining this payment structure, nor did we authorize recurring quarterly charges.”
4. Misrepresentation: “We were told the cost was $399 for two years. In reality, the charge is $399 per quarter over two years—a critical detail that was not disclosed at the time of agreement.”
5. Difficult Cancellation: “Transaction happened Thursday June 6th… I am simply attempting to terminate the agreement with this company. They have a policy which auto renews annually. I submitted my request for non-renewal in 2023. It was ignored and the agreement auto renewed.”

Despite this troubling record, the company continues to operate and appears to respond to BBB complaints quickly—often claiming the issues have been “resolved” without providing details. In many cases, the company offers refunds only after formal BBB complaints are filed, suggesting they rely on most customers not taking this step.

Customer Review Ratings

The BBB shows Direct Fairways has an average rating of 2.68/5 stars based on 91 customer reviews. However, a closer examination reveals the vast majority are 1-star reviews describing similar experiences to the formal complaints. The few 5-star reviews contain vague praise without specific details, raising questions about their authenticity.

One reviewer noted:

I would leave zero stars if that was an option. This company is using my name and my business name to extort money from others, thus discrediting my good name and my company’s good name in doing so.

Is Direct Fairways Legitimate or a Scam?

While Direct Fairways is a legally registered business that sometimes delivers advertising services, the evidence suggests their operation exists in a troubling gray area. The consistent pattern of complaints across multiple platforms over several years indicates systematic issues rather than isolated misunderstandings.

Several factors suggest intentionally deceptive practices:

1. The company has operated for over 10 years despite hundreds of nearly identical complaints
2. They appear to have rebranded from “Direct Fairways” to “Digital Fairways” while maintaining the same business model
3. Customer complaints consistently describe the same pattern of unauthorized charges
4. The company provides just enough service to avoid legal consequences while systematically misleading customers about costs and deliverables

Red Flags: How to Identify Similar Schemes

Based on the Direct Fairways pattern, small business owners should watch for these warning signs when considering advertising opportunities:

• Unsolicited cold calls offering “exclusive” advertising opportunities
• High-pressure sales tactics urging immediate decisions
• Requests for payment information over the phone
• Vague descriptions of what exactly you’re purchasing
• Reluctance to provide written contracts before payment
• Claims of relationships with local businesses that can’t be independently verified
• Offers that seem too good to be true for the price point
• Limited or non-existent online presence for the advertising company
• Sales representatives who can’t connect you with satisfied customers
• Terms and conditions only provided after payment

Protecting Your Business: Safety Measures

Small business owners can protect themselves from similar schemes by taking these precautions:

1. Research thoroughly before providing payment information to any advertising service
2. Request written contracts that clearly outline all payment terms, deliverables, and cancellation policies
3. Use credit cards with strong fraud protection rather than debit cards or bank transfers
4. Set up payment alerts for all business accounts to quickly identify unauthorized charges
5. Directly contact venues where your ad will supposedly appear to verify their relationship with the advertising company
6. Request references from other businesses who have used the service
7. Review BBB ratings and complaints before engaging with marketing companies
8. Consider using virtual credit cards with spending limits for new vendor relationships
9. Document all communications with sales representatives
10. Trust your instincts — if something feels suspicious, it probably is

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Direct Fairways a legitimate business?

Direct Fairways is a legally registered business that has operated for over 10 years. However, they have accumulated hundreds of complaints with the Better Business Bureau and across social media platforms alleging deceptive billing practices, unauthorized charges, and failure to deliver promised services. The BBB is currently evaluating their pattern of complaints before issuing a rating.

2. How can I get a refund from Direct Fairways?

Based on customer experiences, the most effective ways to pursue a refund include: filing a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau, disputing charges with your credit card company, directly contacting their customer service (866-768-6449) with clear documentation of unauthorized charges, and in some cases, leaving negative reviews that prompt the company to offer refunds in exchange for removing the reviews.

3. Do Direct Fairways advertisements actually appear at golf courses?

Results appear to vary significantly. While some customers report seeing their ads on materials at golf courses, many complainants state they visited the golf courses and discovered either: no materials with their ads were present, the materials existed but weren’t being distributed to golfers, or in some cases, the golf courses had no relationship with Direct Fairways at all.

4. How is they able to continue operating despite hundreds of complaints?

The company appears to operate in a legal gray area by providing just enough service to avoid fraud charges while using verbal agreements that are difficult to disprove. They also respond quickly to formal BBB complaints (often with refunds), which helps maintain their ability to operate. Additionally, they have rebranded from Direct Fairways to Digital Fairways, which can make it harder for potential customers to find negative reviews.

5. What should I do if I receive a cold call from Direct Fairways or Digital Fairways?

Business owners are advised to: research the company thoroughly before engaging further, request written contracts and terms before providing payment information, contact local golf courses directly to verify their relationship with the company, ask for references from satisfied customers, and consider the numerous complaints and warnings from other business owners before making any decisions.

What to Do If You’ve Been Victimized

If you believe you’ve been targeted by Direct Fairways or a similar operation, take these steps immediately:

1. Contact your financial institution to dispute unauthorized charges and prevent future withdrawals
2. File a complaint with the BBB with detailed information about your experience
3. Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their website
4. File a report with your state’s Attorney General’s office
5. Document everything, including dates of calls, names of representatives, and copies of any materials received
6. Share your experience on business review platforms to warn others

The most effective protection against these types of operations is widespread awareness. By sharing information about deceptive practices, business owners can help each other avoid falling victim to sophisticated schemes that target their hard-earned money.

If you’ve had experiences with Direct Fairways or similar companies, please share your story in the comments below.