How a Solo Dev Used a Golf Handicap App to Hit 10K MRR

Episode notes

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a solo developer named Mike Chen built a SaaS product for tracking golf handicaps that reached $10,000 monthly recurring revenue in just eight months. Mike, a former software engineer at a midsize fintech company, created HandiCap, a web app that simplifies GHIN handicap calculations for casual golfers. He launched with a $5 per month pricing model and grew through word-of-mouth on golf forums like GolfWRX and Reddit's r/golf. Lucas breaks down Mike's specific tactics: how he targeted local golf clubs with a free tier for groups, used API integrations with scorecard apps, and leveraged seasonal spikes in spring sign-ups. Luna questions whether a niche sports app can scale beyond 10K MRR, and they discuss the trade-offs of building for a small but passionate audience. This episode offers actionable insights for indie hackers considering niche markets, including acquisition channels, pricing experiments, and retention strategies. No fluff, just concrete numbers and real decisions.