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Golf is a well-loved American pastime. In the United States alone, a reported 41.1 million people regularly take part in the sport recreationally. There are many reasons why the sport has such a strong influence on people worldwide. From the friendly competition to the oh-so-good fairway food, it’s hard to imagine why someone would dislike golfing.
One thing most people don’t realize is that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make golfing so enjoyable. In addition to maintaining their fairways, offering golfers food and beverages, and serving clients wherever needed, courses must also provide materials such as tee cards, scorecards, course maps, and yardage cards. These numerous responsibilities can quickly inundate a golf course, especially small courses that just want to offer a recreational site for their community.
Amid these challenges and responsibilities, one company stands above the rest to assist golf courses. The company, Direct Fairways, has created a novel business model that links local businesses with golf courses to develop advertisements that bolster the local economies of communities across the nation.
Direct Fairways Grows the Economy from the Ground Up
Direct Fairways is a company that creates and distributes course materials to fairways across the country. Their products include scorecards, pin sheets, course guides, and yardage cards. They are centered out of Arizona but have a growing team that is dedicated to serving over 3,125 courses nationwide. The shocking thing about their business plan is that their course materials are typically free for the courses they serve.
That can’t be the end of the story, though, right? How can a company offer to serve products for free?
Early on in their business, Direct Fairways took notice of the demographics of golfers across the nation. They noticed that many golfers were affluent, educated, and looking to spend their money for recreational enjoyment. To link the wants of golfers with the needs of courses, Direct Fairways looked to local businesses in the surrounding community.
Through the creation of a network of golfers, golf courses, and businesses, Direct Fairways found the perfect system to serve everyone involved.
Their success is not just perfect on paper, as their clients typically give stunning endorsements to their work. Most Direct Fairways reviews note their high-quality products and focus on the well-being of golf courses.
They supplied advertising for local businesses in the form of small printed ads within course materials. After approval from the courses, the materials were then supplied at no cost, allowing courses to keep on budget. Lastly, golfers who were already interested in spending money and supporting businesses were given great recommendations to read through while golfing.
In short, this business model allowed Direct Fairways to exceed expectations and meet the needs of everyone involved. Their inconspicuous scorecards centered the golfer first while also meeting the needs of businesses and courses. As a result, their practices have bolstered the economies of local communities, supporting local businesses along with golfers and their respective courses.
Direct Fairways Serves Golfers, Courses, and Communities
As mentioned, the business model of Direct Fairways is unique, to say the least. It deserves more attention, as it serves golfers, courses, and their communities.
Through their services, local businesses are supplied with affordable advertising that will be seen by countless local golfers. Shockingly, it is reported that the average golfer spends 4-5 hours with their scorecard, offering ample time for advertising to be seen.
Courses get free course materials through the arrangement, allowing them to reduce costs and help pay for other expenses that better serve their golfers. Likewise, courses get 100% say in what goes on their course materials. This gives them the assurance and peace of mind that their clients are supplied with appropriate advertising that they will appreciate.
As a result of these bonuses, the surrounding community and the golfers involved also receive benefits. Golfers get quality recommendations for places that they would enjoy visiting. Likewise, Direct Fairways has quoted that their materials are so aesthetically pleasing that many golfers keep them as cherished souvenirs of games well fought.
Lastly, the business is also dedicated to serving and supporting its employees. It has been said that the company is so close-knit that it can sometimes feel like a family. When asked about their employee satisfaction, Direct Fairways responded with, “We cultivate a supportive environment with weekly pay, uncapped commissions, spiffs, and bonuses, allowing employees to maximize their earnings based on their performance.”
With all of these separate parties having their unique needs met, it is clear that Direct Fairways has truly struck gold with its business model. With that said, their success isn’t defined solely by financial gains, which is possibly one of the many reasons for their success.
Sudden Succes and a Bright Future for Direct Fairways
As you can probably guess, Direct Fairways has experienced a lot of recent success as a result of its novel practices. Their success is just as diverse as their service, which is a testament to their values and focus.
In response to the idea of success, the business has gone on record to note the multiple metrics they use to measure success. In their response, choice words shine through, highlighting their care for their community and their employees.
For instance, they used words like “customer satisfaction," “employee satisfaction and engagement," “quality and innovation," and “operational efficiency." In short, these points of focus show their dedication to serving customers with quality materials in a way that is sustainable for the community and their employees. It is this care for the community that is cited to be a driver of success for the business. Likewise, the business has designed business practices that are meant to meet and even exceed these values daily.
They are a business that is built upon the feedback of clients, consumers, courses, and employees. Most Direct Fairways reviews reflect these values, highlighting how they exceed the expectations of their various customers and employees.
In the future, Direct Fairways has a goal of increasing their service in both quality and quantity. In addition to serving more courses across the nation, they want to continuously improve their services for the betterment of communities.
With future success, they also intend to give back more to the communities. They have even started efforts to work toward these goals. One such milestone was their “Direct Fairways Serves Day," in which they volunteered in thrift stores, gardens, and kitchens and assisted in packaging food for those in need.
With all of these successes and high aspirations, there's seemingly no end to how Direct Fairways can up its game.
So, next time you golf, take a moment to think about the hidden figures that help support the system. And who knows, maybe the scorecard you’re using will have some great recommendations courtesy of Direct Fairways.
