Case Study: Delivering Seamless On-Course Payments with Starlink Connectivity
Client Overview
Our client, a popular golf course located in the picturesque hills outside the city, is well-known for its scenic views and premium service. However, its remote location comes with one major drawback: poor mobile and internet coverage. This challenge extended beyond the clubhouse and into day-to-day operations—particularly the roaming drinks cart that services players out on the course.
The Challenge
The drinks cart plays a vital role in the customer experience, offering cold beverages directly to players mid-round. However, due to the lack of mobile signal and internet access across the course, staff were unable to process digital payments in real time. This forced them to rely on outdated methods such as running tabs or taking payments post-round at the clubhouse—an approach that was inefficient, error-prone, and inconvenient for players and staff alike.
The client needed a solution that would:
- Enable live payment processing anywhere on the course
- Integrate securely with their existing POS system
- Be fully self-sufficient and mobile, without reliance on existing infrastructure
- Be reliable in all weather and terrain conditions
The Solution: Mobile Connectivity Powered by Starlink
GroupSupport designed and delivered a bespoke mobile connectivity solution built specifically for the unique conditions of the golf course. Our engineering team installed the following components on the drinks cart:
- A Starlink satellite dish, mounted to the roof of the cart for full visibility of the sky
- A portable lithium battery and inverter setup, capable of powering the Starlink equipment for a full day of operation
- A Windows-based tablet, running a secure VPN tunnel back to the golf course’s on-premises POS system
The VPN ensured that the roaming device could communicate securely and directly with the client’s POS environment, just as if it were connected from the clubhouse. This setup enabled the team to take payments in real time, no matter where they were on the course—even in areas with zero mobile coverage.
Results
The deployment was an immediate success. Key benefits included:
- Instant payment processing for all players, increasing sales and reducing payment errors
- House accounts are able to be accessed by members to purchase refreshments
- Improved customer satisfaction, with players appreciating the convenience and seamless experience
- Increased operational efficiency, freeing staff from manual record-keeping and reconciliation tasks
- Scalability, allowing the same model to be used for future carts or events on-site
Importantly, the use of Starlink’s low-latency satellite network ensured consistent and reliable connectivity, even in the most isolated parts of the course.
Conclusion
This case illustrates how smart, tailored technology can overcome significant geographic limitations. By thinking outside the box—and the clubhouse—GroupSupport enabled a regional golf course to modernise its operations and deliver a truly premium experience for its patrons.
Whether you’re facing connectivity issues in a remote setting or looking to extend your digital operations into challenging environments, GroupSupport can help design and deliver a solution that works where others don’t.
