Level The Playing Field: Golf Handicap Calculators
One of the problems when playing golf with a group of friends is that, in any group of golfers, the players are all at different levels of play — and this will be reflected in their scores. One may play a set of 18 holes for 120, another for 88, another for 68. When a group of players like this goes out, how do you determine the ‘winner?’ The one with the lowest (raw) score? Or perhaps a player of average ability, who has really improved their game, should be declared the winner over advanced players who have not improved.
The purpose of a golf handicapping calculator is to provide a way to level the playing field for all the players, and allow for comparisons between them, regardless of their present ability levels.
What Can You Do With A Typical Golf Handicap Calculator?
If you use a reliable golf handicap calculator, you will be able to determine your golf handicap, track all your individual game and round scores, the scores and ratings of other players, and more.
With the development of the Internet, many golf handicap calculators are available. Some of them are web-based, requiring you to have an Internet connection, and in some cases login permission as well, to access the calculating function. Typically you input your score information into the golf handicap calculator, as well as established parameters for each hole that you play on a particular course. After all the necessary information has been imputed, the web application takes over, and computes your game handicap.
Another type of golf handicap calculator is in the form of a software package, which you download from the Web and install on your PC at home. Much like the web-based application, you input the necessary data into the golf handicap calculator and allow the software to do all the calculation. These software packages can either be purchased or downloaded for free; typically the purchased software applications are more robust (powerful) than the free versions, but there are exceptions, so look around before your make your selection.
A third type of golf handicap calculator is in the form of software for your PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). These are smaller applications that allow you to input much the same types of information as the full-blown software packages or web-based forms. But the advantage of a PDA-based golf handicap calculator is that you can actually carry your device with you when you head out on the course, so you can do your golf handicapping calculations on the fly, as you go from hole-to-hole. This is a wonderful convenience as it takes handicapping out of the home and applies the technology right were you need it. These remain my favorite golf handicap calculators.
Finally, there are single-purpose golf handicap calculators that can be purchased as well. These resemble the PDA types, except that unlike PDA-based models, golf handicapping is all that these devices do. In general I would recommend that if you already own a PDA or cell phone, you look into software for golf handicap calculators that may be available for your device and operating system. However if you do not own one of these devices already, and do no plan on purchasing one in the near future, then you may be well-served by a single-purpose golf handicap calculator.