If you asked most golf clubs ten years ago what their biggest concerns were, the answers would have been familiar: membership numbers, competition schedules, food and beverage income, or maybe the weather. Cyber attacks? That wouldn’t even have made the list.
But things have changed. Today, almost every part of a golf club relies on technology in one form or another —online tee bookings, email communication, membership databases, competition software, cloud accounting, and even bar tills. And as clubs have become more digital, cybercriminals have taken notice.
One thing I’ve learned from working closely with golf clubs is that many assume they’re too small or too local to be targeted. But cybercriminals don’t pick victims based on prestige — they pick victims based on vulnerability. And unfortunately, golf clubs often have exactly the kind of gaps attackers look for: busy staff, ageing systems, shared logins, and financial processes that can be easily manipulated by a convincing email.
In this article, we’ll look at the most common cyber attacks hitting UK golf clubs in 2025, how these attacks actually unfold, and the practical steps you can take to keep your club safe.
Golf clubs may not see themselves as digital targets, but to attackers, they’re a perfect combination of valuable data and imperfect security. Clubs store member information, financial details, invoices, staff data, and booking records — all of which can be exploited.
What makes clubs vulnerable isn’t a lack of intelligence or effort; it’s simply the nature of the environment. Many clubs rely on part-time staff, volunteers, or committee members juggling multiple roles. Cyber awareness varies from person to person, and the IT setup often grows organically over time rather than following a structured security plan.
That creates exactly the kind of openings attackers rely on.
If there’s one attack that consistently catches golf clubs out, it’s email fraud. These attacks almost always start with a message that looks completely legitimate — maybe something that appears to come from the club manager, the treasurer, or a trusted supplier.
I’ve seen emails asking for urgent payments, changes to bank details, requests for login information, or “new invoices” that look convincingly real. The criminals behind these messages are patient and clever; they tailor emails to look familiar and act at times when staff are understandably busy.
A single click on a malicious link or one incorrect approval can cost a club thousands of pounds.
Ransomware is one of the most disruptive attacks a club can experience. When it hits, it locks your files and systems, demanding payment to restore access. Clubs have lost booking systems, membership records, financial data, competition results — the entire backbone of daily operations.
Most ransomware attacks start with something small: a staff member accidentally downloading an infected file, clicking a rogue link, or using outdated software. The attack itself might not appear immediately; sometimes it lurks quietly before locking everything at once.
The fallout can be enormous, both financially and operationally.
Golf clubs often have more connected devices than they realise: tills, tablets, old office PCs, clubhouse Wi-Fi access points, CCTV cameras, pro shop systems, and even weather station tech.
If any of these devices are unsecured or out of date, attackers can use them as a bridge into your main systems. In one case I’ve seen, an old, forgotten Wi-Fi access point became the gateway for a full network compromise — all because it hadn’t been updated in years.
These aren’t dramatic Hollywood-style hacks. They’re opportunistic, simple, and easy for attackers to exploit.
Business Email Compromise is where criminals gain access to a genuine email account — usually someone with financial responsibilities. They then silently observe communications, waiting for the perfect moment to redirect a payment or send instructions that no one questions.
What makes Business email compromise so dangerous is how invisible it is. Everything appears normal until the money is gone.
Clubs have lost significant amounts through this type of attack, often without realising something has happened until long after the transaction.
The reassuring part is that most of these attacks can be prevented with straightforward, affordable measures.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the simplest and most effective protections. Even if a password is stolen, MFA stops attackers getting in.
Strong, modern email security tools can identify fraudulent messages, impersonation attempts, and harmful links before they reach your team. These tools work quietly in the background, catching the threats people don’t always notice.
Cyber Essentials is another key defence. It checks that your systems, devices, and settings follow UK-recommended security standards — and many clubs discover gaps they didn’t realise were there.
And for round-the-clock protection, 24/7 Managed Detection & Response (MDR) is becoming essential. Cyber attacks don’t wait for office hours. MDR watches for suspicious activity at all times, giving you an early warning and stopping threats before they escalate.
These aren’t complicated solutions — they’re the modern equivalent of locking the clubhouse door.
Imagine your office team processing an invoice that looks completely genuine — the right supplier name, the right tone, a believable request. Only later does anyone realise the bank details were swapped, the email wasn’t real, and the money has gone.
Or imagine your booking system freezing because ransomware has locked everything down. Members can’t book tee times, staff can’t log into email, and every screen is showing the same ransom message.
These aren’t unusual events anymore. They’re real situations golf clubs are facing right now.
Most cyber incidents are preventable, and the steps needed to avoid them are often simpler than people expect. The hardest part is taking the first step before an attack happens.
LinksGuard supports golf clubs across the UK with:
Cyber Essentials certification
Email security and phishing protection
24/7 MDR monitoring
IT security reviews
Clubhouse and Wi-Fi audits
Policy best practice for committees
Your club doesn’t need to learn the hard way. The sooner you act, the safer you’ll be.