We covered the first five IT pitfalls challenging golf course operators in Part 1—now it’s time for the back nine. With U.S. course participation at record highs1 and hospitality data breach averaging $4.03 million in costs,2 the stakes have never been higher. These next five hazards hit just as hard, from vendors with shaky security to guest Wi-Fi that’s a hacker’s dream. Ignore them, and you risk turning your clubhouse into an open course for cybercriminals.
Booking engines, payment processors, CRM platforms—vendors are the connective tissue of modern golf operations. But every integration opens a potential backdoor to your system. If a vendor’s security is weak, your systems may be exposed by association. Vetting every third-party partner is time-consuming, and ongoing monitoring often falls by the wayside. The risk is growing fast—the percentage of breaches involving a third party has doubled in recent years, climbing from 15 percent to 30 percent.3
The fix: Build vendor management into your security strategy. Require contractual security standards, conduct regular audits, and limit third-party access to the absolute minimum needed. Treat each vendor account like it’s a temporary guest pass, and be sure privileges expire unless actively renewed.
Golfing guests expect fast, free Wi-Fi from the first tee to the 18th hole, but open networks can be a hacker’s easiest scorecard entry. Without proper segmentation and encryption, one bad actor on the guest network can snoop on traffic or pivot into sensitive systems, making Wi-Fi security critical. Attackers often exploit these open access points to spread malware, harvest credentials, or quietly monitor activity for weeks before striking.
The fix: Deploy separate, firewalled networks for guests, staff, and operations. Strategies including WPA3 encryption, bandwidth controls, and automated threat detection help ensure your network traffic is clean.
Whether it’s PCI DSS for payment data, GDPR for guests, or CCPA for California residents, the rules for handling personal information are strict—and constantly shifting. Noncompliance isn’t just about fines; it’s a hit to your reputation that’s hard to recover from. Regulations differ across regions, and requirements change faster than many organizations can adapt. Inconsistent policies or outdated processes can quickly lead to violations, especially when multiple properties operate under different regional laws.
The fix: Appoint a compliance lead or partner with experts who can track evolving regulations and audit your systems regularly. Build compliance into your workflows. Don’t treat it as an annual scramble.When a breach happens, the clock starts ticking. Without a well-rehearsed incident response plan, precious hours or days can be lost to confusion and finger-pointing. Every hour of delay multiplies the financial and reputational damage. Many breaches escalate simply because the right people don’t have clear instructions, or critical recovery tools aren’t ready when they’re needed most.
The fix: Develop a clear, role-based incident response plan, test it quarterly, and update it after every drill. Have data backups ready, tested, and isolated from your production network so recovery is measured in hours, not weeks.
From fake booking inquiries to fraudulent vendor invoices, golf staff are constant targets for phishing. Front-desk, reservations, and finance teams can be caught in the crosshairs, as they handle sensitive data and payments daily. Training is often rushed, inconsistent, or forgotten. Attackers know that one hurried click or misplaced trust can hand over credentials or payment details faster than any technical exploit.
The fix: Make security awareness part of your culture. Run regular phishing simulations, reward good catches, and refresh training with real examples from your industry. Even the best filters miss a few shots—trained staff are your last line of defense.
In golf, a bad shot can cost you a hole. In IT, it can cost you your reputation. That’s why ESP, a NexusTek company, delivers Secure by Design IT Solutions tailored for the golf and hospitality industry. From vendor risk management to compliance tracking and incident response, we help you stay ahead of threats without slowing down play.
Want to keep your course out of the cybersecurity rough?
Schedule a consultation to protect your data, members, and reputation—both on the course and behind the scenes.
Founder, ESP, a NexusTek company
Jason Pullo is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with a passion for transforming the hospitality industry through innovative IT solutions. As Founder and CEO of Enterprise Solutions Providers, he leads the company’s vision and growth, helping hotels navigate everything from new builds and brand transitions to large-scale renovations. Since launching the firm in 2003, Jason has played a key role in the technology strategy behind more than 1,000 hotel acquisitions. His journey began at just 18 years old as an IT manager for a trade show company, and he’s since led major projects like a multimillion-dollar hotel renovation in New York City, delivering guest-centric technology with measurable business impact.