In August of 2011, I was hired as an Assistant Territory Manager for Dixon Golf. I presided over Phoenix, Tucson, and all of Florida. My job was to contact charity golf events and educate them about their Dixon Challenge, which was a putting/driving contest in which golfers donated money to participate.
I really enjoyed my job, and I was great at it. It got to a point where my manager Danielle would have to come to me and tell me, "no more events this weekend, I don't have enough girls to cover all of them". So I was great at it, and everyone seemed to really like me.
In October, I was laid off. I was so upset. A girl who worked above developed cancer, and with her on medical leave, they couldn't afford to pay as many people, and someone had to go. They had just hired a girl two weeks before who happened to be of the same religion they owners of the company were, but told me that because I had been with the company the least amount of time, I was the one they had to let go. Even though this girl of similar faith was fired a month and a half after I was.
That afternoon, I spoke with one of the Territory Managers, who had the same job as the woman who got cancer. This person (to protect their identity, I won't identify their gender) asked me if I had done any extensive research on the company. I told him no, that I had read the website and the information they gave me when they hired me, but that was it. He told me to look into them a little further, and what I found was shocking.
Dixon Golf uses an elaborate take on the PONZI scheme. They prey on charities they know are successful (Make-a-Wish, the American Cancer Society, Wounded Warrior, etc.), convince them to allow this Dixon Challenge under the false pretense that all proceeds go to the charity, when really, Dixon is skimming 80% off the top, claiming thats how much is required to pay their employees working the event, set up, supplies, travel, etc. But unless the charity asks how much of the proceeds go to them, Dixon won’t tell them until after the event. Which may not be entirely illegal, but it is shady and morally reprehensible. I do know, however, that they are a 501(c)(3) not profit organization that is not truly non-profit, and that it is illegal to misrepresent yourself as a non-profit organization, due to tax reasons. That being said, tax evasion my best guess for their misrepresentation of 501(c)(3) status.
In 2012, after I discovered what owners Dane Platt and William Carey were up to, I reported it and tried to draw attention to the issue so that these criminals would no longer be able to exploit charities, I was very aggressively threatened by their PR Specialist and they demanded I take it down. Fearing not only legal action, but other rammifications, I did as I was commanded by the company to do. Now, three years later, as I’m doing more research, I see that more people have come forward accusing Dixon Golf of the very same things I had. The exact things they are guilty of. Legal action needs to be pursued against this company and they need to be shut down.
Southpaw
GREENDALE,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, May 29, 2017
I was in upper level management with Dixon Golf from 2013 - 2014. I left voluntarily with great respect and meteorites of my time with Dison Golf. I realize the the company won't comment on many of these "complaints" pssoibly because: A: Legal Counsel has advised against it. B: some have been identified as "sour grapes" by ex-employees that were terminated for good cause, andnthey simply "created a work of fiction" as revenge (says slot about the possible issues behind the termination C: They were misled unintentionally by a new rep or a rep that got sloppy with the details. D: Confusuon, lack of experience in the
golf outing arenas. Or... E: Poor listening skills / they only hear what they want to hear, or make assumptions and ignore the details. I will not single anyone out as "A, B, C, D or E because either I know only through a 3rd party, I know for sure, but am not an authorized representative if the company any longer. And, I'm only interested in sharing facts, not in expaining or identifying who's is confused versus a fraud versus an attempt at slander. Facts: All if Dixon Golf literature, brochures, etc. CLEARLY state that the will provide: A professional Dixon Golf representative All display / marketing / signage for the event A $10 per person "hole contest"
which 100% optional to the player(s) 1 free Dixon Golf Ball for every golfer (no participation necessary) 1 free Aurelius hybrid gold club or Aurelius Wedge for all participants that opt-in for the contest. 1 free sleeve of 3 Dixon Earth golf balls if the participant opts in AND hit the green off the tee. - The charity is explained all details in advance (typically 1-2 months prior to the outing date and ALWAYS during the call or visit when the Dixon Golf sponsorship package is explained), those details include what the players are provided (aforementioned) and what the charity gets; a fun, memorable and no obligation event with free prizes for
everyone plus 20% off all player participation fees. Therefore if the outing has 100 players and 80 participate for $10.00 each, the charity will receive $160 (20% of $800). There is no hidden agenda, the information is explained and available in writing. If the cost of Dixon putting on the event is a debate. Or, the amount that should be donated is up for debate, certainly that's a debate one can have. But, as mentioned, with all that is provided along with knowing no one has to lift a finger, Dixon provided everything including staff, players get prizes, charity gets donation, and zero out of pocket or risk to the charity and its players ... that's a pretty
sweet deal (my opinion - but also thousands of tournaments and players across the USA). That said, I will tell you, no matter what I did as a former manager, there were always 2 or 3 tournament directors every single year that insisted they were promised ALL the revenue, even after I made it my routine to fully explain the program over the phone or in person, again a few days before the event, and again at the event before set-up. Dixon Golf does not provide this program as a "money making scheme" in actuality, this is Dixons "Marketing Plan" to get name recognition and get their product into the golfers hands. It's their way of helping
out a charity while also promoting the product in a cost effective way versus going the same route as Taylor Made, Bridgestone, Callaway, etc., which would be financially impossible for and entry level golf ball company. Now ask yourself, what would a new golf ball company use a charity , it's only source of branding and marketing., to skim money and trash its reputation? Do your Ken research and make your own opninion. As For the poster, I feel terrible that he (or she). Felt misled, but I can assure him that it was a mistake or misunderstanding and not a scam. I hope this helps people. Hit'em long and straight!
A.nonamas 70
Mesa,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, December 23, 2014
All the bad reports about Dixon Golf are true. Dixon is financially supporting child slavery in Rwanda, and ther owners are wanted in eight different countries for crimes against humanity. Once he finishes his 15 year jail sentence, the owner is facing extradition to Malawi. Dixon is just a front for a complex crime ring that is even linked to ISIS.