Fareway SimCap

A better Handicap system for Simulator golf

Traditional handicaps don't reflect the reality of playing on a simulator - so we built something better. A Fareway SimCap is your personal simulator handicap, calculated with a smart, adaptive model that evolves with your game.

What is it?

It’s a fact - simulator golf is a different game than on-course golf. On-course handicaps do not directly translate to simulator play. This is our solution to bridge that gap.

  • A Fareway SimCap establishes a simulator handicap for any golfer who plays on our platform

  • Different than GHIN, a Fareway SimCap is simply a moving average of your past results with some modified math. We all have bad days - but we don’t throw out most of them like GHIN.

  • A Fareway SimCap is read just like a GHIN. But instead of representing your “potential” it is based in fact, focused on your average score to par, adjusted for field performance.

    • 10 SimCap means you might shoot around +10 on average

    • +5 SimCap means you might shoot around -5 on average

    • There will be modifications based on Field scores as well to adjust for Sim course difficulty.

How do I get a SimCap?

Fixed Leagues (Nightly Leagues)

You (and your teammates) will play a regular stroke play round to record a data point for your handicap.

  • Fall Leagues: the first 2 weeks of the schedule will be used to establish your Fareway SimCap

  • Winter Leagues: the first 3 weeks of the schedule will be used to establish or update (if you already have one) your Fareway SimCap

Floating Leagues

You must have a Fareway SimCap to compete for prizes on the Net Leaderboard. To get your official SimCap, you can follow one of 4 paths:

  1. Submit an on-course handicap: If you have an official handicap from GHIN, 18 Birdies, The Grint, Simple Handicap, or any accepted app (if you have something else, we will assess and decide) - we will seed your initial SimCap by taking 40% of your on-course handicap number.

  2. Go play! Play a round where an individual score is logged and submit a score to establish an initial SimCap.

    • Play an individual round and submit it outside of a contest

    • Play in a Best Ball contest (where your individual score will be logged)

  3. Share past results: Submit a screenshot of any past simulator round you have played

  4. Join a League with Handicaps: Participate in a Fixed League that includes handicaps and participate in the “Pre-Season” weeks to record your SimCap.

What if I don't have any of the above or don't want to do any of the above options?

  • You can still compete in all of the Fareway Golf events.

  • You will compete on the Gross leaderboard only.

How is my Fareway SimCap maintained?

We use an adaptive moving average model with a minimum round of 1 to establish a SimCap

  • We weigh newer data more heavily (first 5 rounds) to learn about your performance faster

  • The formula is super simple: New Index = Old Index + 0.2(New Performance - Old Index)

  • We will use the idea of a progressive allowance + expected results to incorporate Scramble results into your handicap - Coming with more testing and data

Other FAQs

    • We will use a progressive allowance per player based on their skill level to form a team SimCap

    • Progressive Allowances: The higher your SimCap the more of an allowance you get (eg. if you are a -1 to -5 SimCap, you get 0.0 allowance, if you are a -20 to -25 SimCap, you get .50 allowance) - after rounding

    • Your team SimCap is the sum of your individual allowances.

  • Players get hole-by-hole bumps (strokes) based on each individual's SimCap starting from the lowest handicap hole

  • Nothing. It's free.

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Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions

Call/Text: (612) - 208 - 6768

Email: hello@fareway.golf