Whether you’re a novice just starting out in the game or a seasoned expert who is just short of being pro (professional PGA players don't use golf handicaps), you'll find the online golf handicap calculator at GolfZing to be an invaluable tool in figuring this aspect of your game.

A golf handicap is something that virtually every golfer figures out early on but for the benefit of the uninitiated, here's an explanation. It can be a little intimidating in the beginning – especially if math isn't your strong suit - but don't worry, because our online golf handicap calculator will do much of that for you and it's free. Golf handicaps aren't difficult to figure once you are familiar with a few basic concepts.

The first terms you need to be familiar with are:

− scratch golfer

− bogey golfer

These are two ends of the spectrum: the "scratch" golfer gets a golf handicap of zero, while the "bogey" gets a handicap of eighteen.

The next term you should know is something from algebra: variable. There are two variables in the game that are affected by whether a golfer is a "scratch" or a "bogey." These are:

− course rating

− slope rating

You'll find these terms on your scorecard. The former is a number that is usually somewhere between 67 and 77, which approximates a "scratch" score. The latter tells a golfer how difficult it will be for a "bogey" compared to his/her "scratch" counterpart.

Next, you determine your Equitable Stroke Control, or ESC; this is an estimate of the number of strokes (shots) you must count when playing a difficult hole, the maximum being ten. The sum of these for each hole equals your "Adjusted Gross Score."

Is your head spinning, yet? If so, you're definitely going to want to take a serious look at our online tools, including our golf handicap tracker, which brings us to the next part.

Putting It All Together

Now that you have all your figures, you'll need to figure your handicap differential. Given:

x = adjusted gross score

y = course rating

z = slope rating

the formula for determining your handicap differential is:

[(x – y) × 113] / z = Handicap Differential

Hmmm...it might just be easier to log on to GolfZing and use our free online golf handicap tracker and other web-based tools.

It's Fast – It's Easy

Instead of dealing with a lot of math, you can use our online golf handicap calculator by plugging in the numbers and get your results in under five minutes. These tools also help you in keeping track of your golf handicap index as your skills improve. The GolfZing golf handicap calculator is designed to be used by novices and experienced players alike, automatically making adjustments for USGA regulations and taking into consideration scores for tournaments, nine-hole courses and off-season play.

Our members find that our golf handicap tracker is an excellent evaluation tool that helps them to determine their strengths as a player as well as areas in need of improvement.

It's FREE

Members can take a "test drive" by using our free golf handicap online tools for thirty days. After that, if you decide to continue using GolfZing's Golf Handicap Tracking, you pay only $7.95 a year – just a little over two cents a day!