Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 4, 2025

Welcome to Fairway Friends. By using our app and services, you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Fairway Friends, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use our services.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old to use Fairway Friends. By creating an account, you confirm that you meet this age requirement and that all information you provide is accurate and complete.

3. Account Registration

To use Fairway Friends, you must:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Promptly update any changes to your information
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Not create multiple accounts or impersonate others

4. User Conduct

You Agree To:

• Use the app in a respectful and lawful manner
• Provide truthful information in your profile
• Respect other users' privacy and rights
• Honor your commitments when joining flights
• Report inappropriate behavior or content

You Agree NOT To:

• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Post inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
• Use the app for commercial purposes without permission
• Attempt to access other users' accounts
• Use automated tools or bots to access the app
• Reverse engineer or copy any part of our services
• Share or sell your account access

5. Flight Creation and Participation

Creating Flights

When you create a golf flight, you agree to:

• Provide accurate information: Correct date, time, location, and player requirements
• Account limits: Free users can have maximum 3 active flights; Premium users have unlimited
• Manage join requests: Review and respond to join requests in a timely manner
• Update or cancel: Promptly update flight details or cancel if plans change
• Book tee times: Fairway Friends does not book tee times; you must coordinate separately

Sending Join Requests

When you request to join a flight:

• Request limits: Maximum 3 join requests per hour (to prevent spam)
• Honest intentions: Only request to join flights you genuinely intend to participate in
• Respect decisions: Flight organizers have the right to accept or reject your request
• Rejected flights: Flights you reject via swipe are permanently filtered from your discovery

Flight Participation

As a flight participant:

• Communicate with other participants through the flight chat
• Show up on time to the agreed meeting point
• Respect other players' skill levels and pace of play
• Pay your own green fees and cart rental (unless otherwise agreed)
• Optionally rate your match experience after the flight (helps improve our algorithm)

Flight Permissions

Fairway Friends uses a permission system for flight management:

• Owner: Full control (edit flight, manage participants, delete flight)
• Co-Owner: Nearly full control (cannot transfer ownership)
• Manager: Can manage participants but not edit flight details
• Editor: Can edit flight details but not manage participants
• Participant: Can only view flight details and chat

Important: Fairway Friends is a platform for organizing flights, not a golf course booking service. All participants are responsible for their own:

• Tee time reservations
• Green fee payments
• Equipment and transportation
• Golf club membership requirements

6. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of content you post (photos, messages, profile information). By posting content, you grant Fairway Friends a license to use, display, and distribute your content within the app.

Our Content

All app features, design, logos, and branding are owned by Fairway Friends. You may not copy, modify, or distribute our intellectual property without permission.

7. Premium Subscription

Premium Features

Premium subscribers receive:

• Unlimited Flight Creation: Create as many flights as you want (vs. 3 for free users)
• Ad-Free Experience: No advertisements throughout the app
• Full Chat History: Access complete chat history (vs. 30-day limit for free)
• Advanced Discovery Filters: Enhanced filtering options for finding flights
• Priority Support: Faster response times for support requests
• Detailed Statistics: Advanced analytics about your golf activity and matches

Subscription Terms

• Billing: Premium is offered as monthly or annual subscription via in-app purchase
• Auto-Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal
• Cancellation: Cancel anytime through App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) settings
• No Refunds: Refunds are handled according to Apple and Google's respective refund policies
• Free Trial: If offered, trial converts to paid subscription unless canceled before trial ends
• Price Changes: We reserve the right to modify pricing with 30 days notice to existing subscribers

Feature Changes

We may add, modify, or remove Premium features over time. Current Premium subscribers will be notified of significant changes. We strive to maintain or improve the value of Premium membership.

8. Golf Club Accounts

Golf Club Registration

Golf clubs can create verified business accounts on Fairway Friends. To register as a golf club:

• Select "Golf Club" account type during registration
• Complete the onboarding process (basic info, contact details, opening hours, green fees)
• Submit for verification by our admin team
• Verification typically takes 2-5 business days

Golf Club Features

Verified golf club accounts can:

• Create Club Profile: Showcase course details, facilities, photos, and amenities
• Manage Information: Update opening hours, green fees, contact information
• Post Announcements: Share news, events, and special offers with the community
• Event Management: Create and promote golf events and tournaments
• Analytics: View profile views and engagement metrics
• Member Discovery: Connect with golfers looking for new courses

Golf Club Obligations

Golf club accounts must:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date business information
• Respond to inquiries from potential visitors in a timely manner
• Honor any pricing or offers posted on their profile
• Comply with local business laws and regulations
• Not engage in misleading advertising or false claims
• Maintain a professional presence on the platform

Golf Club Subscriptions

Golf club accounts require a business subscription. Benefits include profile visibility, announcement posting, and analytics. Contact business@fairwayfriends.app for pricing and details.

Verification: Only verified golf clubs appear in public searches. Unverified accounts have limited visibility. We verify clubs to ensure quality and prevent fraud.

9. Reporting and Moderation

Report System

Fairway Friends has a comprehensive GDPR-compliant reporting system. You can report:

• User Reports: Report profiles for inappropriate behavior, fake information, or harassment
• Chat Reports: Report specific messages or conversations for offensive content
• Flight Reports: Report flights for misleading information or fraud

How to Report:

1. Navigate to the user profile, chat, or flight you want to report
2. Tap the report button (flag icon)
3. Select a reason: Inappropriate Content, Harassment, Spam, Fake Profile, Other
4. Optionally provide additional details
5. Submit report

Zero-Tolerance Policy

We take immediate action against:

• Harassment, bullying, or hate speech
• Sexually explicit or inappropriate content
• Fake profiles or impersonation
• Spam or commercial solicitation (unless golf club account)
• Fraudulent or misleading information
• Illegal activities or content

Admin Review Process

All reports are reviewed by our admin team (with TOTP 2FA security):

• Reports are reviewed within 24-48 hours
• Admins can view report details and take action
• Actions include: warning, temporary suspension, permanent ban
• Serious violations may result in immediate account termination
• You will receive a response notification about your report

False Reports

Submitting false or malicious reports is a violation of these Terms. Users who repeatedly submit false reports may face account suspension.

10. Privacy and Data

Your use of Fairway Friends is subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations

Limitation of Liability

Fairway Friends is not liable for:

• Disputes between users
• Injuries or accidents during golf activities
• Financial losses related to golf course fees or travel
• Data loss or technical issues
• Third-party actions or content

To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for Premium subscription in the past 12 months, or €100, whichever is less.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Fairway Friends harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the app
• Your violation of these terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person
• Content you post or share

13. Termination

You may delete your account at any time through the app settings. We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms of Service
• Your account is inactive for an extended period
• We are required to do so by law
• We discontinue the service

Upon termination, your access to the app will cease, and your data will be deleted according to our Privacy Policy.

14. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms of Service at any time. We will notify users of material changes through the app or via email. Continued use of Fairway Friends after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

15. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Germany. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Germany.

16. Dispute Resolution

If you have a complaint or dispute, please contact us first at support@fairwayfriends.app. We will make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue amicably.

17. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full effect.

18. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service:

• Email: legal@fairwayfriends.app
• Support: support@fairwayfriends.app
• Contact Page: fairwayfriends.app/contact

By using Fairway Friends, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.