Running a golf course today means managing far more than turf and tee times. The modern golf experience is digital, data-driven, and packed with guest expectations including mobile bookings, connected carts, and seamless payments.
But beyond the pristine greens, the backend often tells a different story. Names, addresses, payment details, and loyalty data all flow through booking systems, POS terminals, and third-party platforms. As the game grows, so does the risk: With U.S. course participation hitting its highest point since 20081 and data breach costs in hospitality averaging $4.03 million,2 the stakes have never been higher. Breaches now take an average of 241 days to identify and contain.2
In this two-part series, we’re unpacking the top ten IT issues facing golf course operators—starting with five challenges that can quietly undermine even the best-run clubs and resorts.
From tee-time bookings and clubhouse purchases to memberships and tournaments, every interaction generates sensitive personal data—names, phone numbers, passport details, payment information, and loyalty profiles. As participation surges, so does the volume of data—and the risk that comes with it. Most of this information lives across disconnected systems: CRM platforms, reservation tools, payment systems, mobile apps, and loyalty integrations. Keeping valuable data secure across every platform, vendor, and device is no small feat. One unpatched system or unvetted integration can put it all at risk.
The fix: Securing guest and payment data starts with knowing where it lives and how it moves. Map your data flows, consolidate fragmented systems where possible, and encrypt everything, both at rest and in motion. Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) and identity access management (IAM) to limit exposure, especially for third-party systems. The goal isn’t just control. It’s full visibility across the platforms powering the guest experience.
The fix: Standardization is your strongest defense against infrastructure sprawl. Establish a consistent IT baseline across all locations, even if the systems vary. Use centralized monitoring and update management tools to close the security gap between sites, and adopt cloud-ready frameworks that support easier remote control and scaling. When every course runs its own playbook, your risk multiplies. Shared standards bring it back in bounds.
Golf properties are prime targets, with high-value guests, seasonal staffing, and outdated systems creating plenty of openings. Legacy infrastructure, limited IT support, and constant turnover all contribute to an environment where risk is everywhere. And when a breach hits, it’s not just data that’s compromised—it’s your reputation.
The fix: Make it harder to get in, and easier to respond when they do. Use layered defenses: endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication (MFA), anomaly detection, and email filtering. Build an incident response plan and train your team to use it. Simulate attacks, update your playbook, and treat awareness as an ongoing effort. The threat landscape evolves fast—your defenses should too.
Many golf properties still rely on outdated technology such as legacy tee sheets and aging POS systems—tools built long before today’s cybersecurity threats emerged. Layering in mobile check-in, smart thermostats, and keyless lockers only adds complexity to an unstable foundation. Unpatched systems and poor integration hygiene make breaches more likely and render defenses harder to maintain.
Upgrades can be costly—but inaction leaves guests and operations exposed, often at a higher price.
The fix: A full rip-and-replace isn’t always feasible, but standing still isn’t an option. Identify the riskiest systems first. Apply compensating controls like segmentation, virtualization, or whitelisting, and roll out a phased modernization plan aligned with business priorities. It’s not just about keeping up. It’s about eliminating fragility before it breaks you.
In golf, your people are your brand, and your biggest risk. High turnover, rushed training, and lax policies make insider threats more likely. Internal missteps, both careless and intentional, continue to be one of the top causes of security breaches. With seasonal staff cycling in and out, maintaining good cyber hygiene is an ongoing challenge. Building a security-aware workforce takes effort, but ignoring it opens the door to data leaks, credential theft, or worse.
The fix: Culture is a firewall. When employees understand how their actions impact security, they become part of the protection. Start with onboarding that sets clear expectations. Reinforce it with real-world simulations—phishing, credential traps, policy gaps—to build awareness and resilience. Limit access by role, automate enforcement, and revisit controls regularly. The most secure teams are the ones that never stop learning.
From the first swing to the final signature, today’s golf guest experience is powered by digital systems that must be fast, seamless, and secure.
That’s where ESP, a NexusTek company, comes in.
As part of NexusTek’s Secure by Design IT Solutions portfolio, ESP delivers trusted infrastructure and tailored cybersecurity services for the golf and hospitality sector. We bring deep domain expertise and a robust suite of advisory, professional, and managed services—helping golf property operators minimize risk, protect sensitive data, and stay compliant without sacrificing performance. Through a collaborative approach, we customize every solution to fit your operational needs, so you can focus on delivering exceptional experiences, while we expertly manage the technology that powers them.
You’ve seen the early strokes, we’ll see you on the back nine. Part 2 will reveal the rest of the cybersecurity terrain, from IoT-powered golf carts to third-party vendor risks, and what it takes to stay secure, efficient, and guest-ready in today’s golf property landscape.
Want to stay out of the cybersecurity rough?
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.