Quick Facts
- BBB Complaints: 342 total (277 Direct Fairways, 65 Digital Fairways)
- Typical Losses: $399 to $2,500 per business
- Business Lawsuit: Amur Equipment Finance Inc. v. Direct Fairways LLC (Sept 2022)
- NLRB Case: 28-CA-303838 (closed May 2023)
- Offices: 6 locations across United States
- Status: Still operating as of August 2025
Direct Fairways LLC operates from multiple locations across the United States while facing mounting consumer complaints and a breach of contract lawsuit from Amur Equipment Finance Inc. filed in September 2022.
Table of Contents
Business Lawsuit Filed by Equipment Finance Company
Amur Equipment Finance Inc. sued Direct Fairways LLC in September 2022 for breach of contract. This commercial dispute involves payment obligations between the two companies, not consumer fraud allegations. Court records show the case remains in the legal system as of 2025, with no trial decisions publicly available.
The Amur lawsuit differs from consumer complaints. It represents a business-to-business dispute over contractual obligations rather than the consumer protection issues documented in BBB records.
Consumer Complaints Continue Through August 2025
Better Business Bureau records show 277 complaints against Direct Fairways LLC and 65 against Digital Fairways over three years. Recent BBB responses from July and August 2025 demonstrate ongoing disputes.
A July 2025 complaint states: “Direct Fairways continues to bill our firm quarterly for advertising services even though our contract ended February 2024. We continue to try to contact them without any response or answer. We have had to submit credit card disputes.”
Another business reported in November 2023 paying $400 for advertising at a country club. By July 2025, Direct Fairways claimed the golf course displayed the ad, while “the golf course says they are not.”
Company Maintains Standard Response Pattern
Direct Fairways responds to BBB complaints with consistent messaging. Company representatives state advertisements were “produced and shipped to the course as agreed” and claim they “were not made aware of any dissatisfaction until the submission of this BBB complaint.”
In an August 2025 response, the company wrote: “We want to clarify that we are a legitimate business committed to delivering the services we promise.” They provided tracking numbers for shipments while acknowledging some customers’ advertisements took months to deliver.
The company attributes problems to misunderstandings about service terms. When addressing unauthorized charges, representatives claim verbal agreements authorized recurring payments, though customers dispute these claims.
Golf Courses Contradict Partnership Claims
Business owners report golf courses deny relationships with Direct Fairways. A California business paid $499 for Bella Collina Golf Course advertising in San Clemente. The golf course manager stated the facility “does not do business with direct fairways.”
Good Works Auto Repair experienced similar confusion. The golf course they believed they were advertising with “had NO idea who these people were and did not authorize them to use their name.”
One business owner reported a golf course told them it was “in a lawsuit with Direct Fairways” and advised ending the business relationship.
Labor Board Case Documents Workplace Issues
National Labor Relations Board case 28-CA-303838 provides public documentation of internal disputes. The September 16, 2022 filing alleged:
- Retaliation against employees for protected activities
- Unlawful discharge and discipline
- Coercive statements including threats
- Section 8(a)(1) violations of the National Labor Relations Act
The case closed May 12, 2023, after the NLRB approved a withdrawal request, typically indicating parties reached a private settlement.
Employee Reviews Describe Training Failures
Indeed shows 392 employee reviews with a 4.3 overall rating, but individual accounts describe serious operational problems. A July 18, 2025 review states: “They are constantly hiring people because they will basically discard you if they don’t see you instantly making progress.”
A July 11, 2025 review adds: “New sales associates are there solely to keep the dial quota up for the branch. It’s a revolving door, no one survived training.”
Former employees on Revdex claim the company sells “ads on courses they don’t have accounts for.”
Financial Impact Documented in Complaints
BBB records show unauthorized charges following consistent patterns:
Case Example 1:
- Initial payment: $375
- Unauthorized charges: $375 (August 2024), $750 (October 2024), $750 (January 2025), $750 (March 2025), $750 (May 2025)
- Total unauthorized: $2,975
Case Example 2:
- Agreed amount: $399 for one year
- Actual charges: $399 initial, then $400 every other month
- Total taken: $1,600 in unauthorized charges
Business owners report the company offers partial refunds contingent on updating negative reviews. One complaint states refunds came “ONLY IF I AGREED TO UPDATE MY PREVIOUS REVIEW.”
Federal and State Laws Apply to Alleged Conduct
Federal Jurisdiction
The Federal Trade Commission Act Section 5 prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in commerce. Violations trigger cease and desist orders and monetary penalties.
The Telemarketing Sales Rule mandates clear disclosure of material terms before obtaining payment. Companies must secure express verifiable authorization for all charges.
The Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act requires transparent presentation of billing terms before collecting payment information.
Arizona State Authority
Arizona’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act empowers the Attorney General to investigate consumer complaints, seek court injunctions, impose civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, and obtain consumer restitution.
FTC Precedents Apply to Golf Industry Marketing
FTC v. AAFE Products Corp. (2017) established federal authority over golf-related marketing schemes. The agency prosecuted companies for hiding recurring charges in fine print and processing unauthorized credit card transactions.
FTC v. The Sales Mentor (2023) addressed false partnership claims and high-pressure telemarketing tactics targeting small businesses.
FTC v. Growth Cave (2025) demonstrates current FTC focus on protecting small businesses from deceptive earnings claims.
Bench Craft Company Faces Identical Allegations
TJF Services, Inc. v. Transportation Media, Inc., filed in North Carolina federal court, alleges Bench Craft Company “accepted payments from small businesses for ads which were never placed in golf course guides.”
BBB records show similar complaint patterns against Bench Craft, indicating systemic issues within the golf advertising telemarketing industry rather than isolated company problems.
Company Operations Continue Across Six States
Direct Fairways maintains offices in:
- Tempe, Arizona (multiple addresses listed: 8260 S Hardy Dr. and 4600 S Mill Ave)
- Vancouver, Washington
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Syracuse, New York
- Gresham, Oregon
- Twin Cities, Minnesota
Customer service operates Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm MST at 866-768-6449. The Resolution Center promises responses within 24 business hours to complaints submitted through directfairways.com.
Recent Hiring Shows Continued Expansion
ZoomInfo data from March 2025 shows Direct Fairways hired new telemarketers and sales representatives, including Alx Dikeman (Outbound Telemarketer) and Alec Leege (Sales Representative).
The company advertises it was “founded in 2015” according to December 2024 media coverage, though some sources cite 2014 incorporation dates.
Consumer Protection Resources
Dispute Credit Card Charges
Federal law provides chargeback rights for unauthorized transactions. Contact your card issuer immediately with:
- Transaction dates and amounts
- Documentation showing agreed terms
- Evidence of non-delivery or unauthorized charges
File Regulatory Complaints
Arizona Attorney General Consumer Protection Division azag.gov/consumer Phoenix: 602-542-5763 Tucson: 520-628-6648
Federal Trade Commission reportfraud.ftc.gov 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
Better Business Bureau bbb.org/file-a-complaint
Document Everything
Maintain records of:
- Phone call dates, times, representative names
- Email correspondence
- Credit card statements
- Golf course verification attempts
- Screenshots of advertising absence
Legal Options
Small claims court handles disputes under state limits ($3,500 in Arizona). Consumer attorneys can evaluate cases for individual litigation or class action participation.
Documentation standards in civil litigation apply equally to consumer protection cases.
Red Flags During Sales Calls
Businesses report these warning signs:
- Immediate payment pressure
- “Today only” pricing claims
- No written contract before payment
- Vague service descriptions
- Reluctance to provide golf course contact information
- Claims of exclusive partnerships
- Verbal agreement emphasis
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a class action lawsuit against Direct Fairways?
A: No verified class action lawsuit appears in federal court databases as of August 2025. References online lack case numbers or court documentation. The only confirmed lawsuit is Amur Equipment Finance Inc. v. Direct Fairways LLC, a business contract dispute.
Q: Which golf courses work with Direct Fairways?
A: Multiple golf courses contacted by consumers deny partnerships. Businesses should verify directly with specific golf courses before purchasing advertising.
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Some businesses report receiving refunds after filing Arizona Attorney General complaints. Others received partial refunds contingent on removing negative reviews. Credit card chargebacks provide another recovery option.
Q: How long do advertisements take to appear?
A: Company terms state up to 180 days for delivery. Some businesses report waiting over a year with no advertisement appearing.
Industry Analysis Points to Model Problems
The golf advertising telemarketing model creates inherent conflicts:
- Commission-based sales incentivize volume over accuracy
- Verbal contracts lack documentation
- Service delivery verification requires customer initiative
- Geographic dispersion prevents coordinated consumer response
Similar companies face identical complaints, suggesting the business model itself generates disputes regardless of specific company practices.
Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Direct Fairways was contacted for comment beyond their BBB responses. This article will be updated with any additional response.
Last updated: August 19, 2025
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