
How to Play a Skins Game
- On the first hole, A scores a 5, B a 6, C a 4 and D a 5. ...
- On the second hole, A and C tie for low score with 4s. ...
- On the third hole - which is now worth $2, because the skin from Hole 2 carried over - B wins the hole and the $2 skin. ...
How does the Skins Game work in golf?
All players are then able to compete for the next skin as well as the skin from the previous hole. Three golfers play a game of skins where every hole is worth £3, with each player putting forward £1 per hole. Hole 1: Player A shoots a 4, while Player B and Player C make a 5.
What is a skins golf round?
Let us explain The skins golf format sees players compete head-to-head for a prize on each hole. Skins games are most commonly played in groups of three or four golfers and follow a match play format. Before the round starts, all players agree to a prize amount for each hole.
How do you win the $1 and $2 skins in golf?
Golfer C wins the skin and the $1 value. On the second hole, A and C tie for low score with 4s. Because of the tie, no skin (and no money) is won. On the third hole - which is now worth $2, because the skin from Hole 2 carried over - B wins the hole and the $2 skin.
What is the value of the skin in golf?
The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff for winning a hole. Let's say we have four golfers, A, B, C, and D, playing a skins game for $1 per hole (choose any amount your group is comfortable with). On the first hole, A scores a 5, B a 6, C a 4 and D a 5. Golfer C wins the skin and the $1 value.

How are skins paid out in golf?
Once you've determined how many skins were won, divide the skins pool by that number, and pay each winner that amount. For example, if 20 players paid $10 to enter the skins game for a tournament, and four skins were won, each winner would get $50.
What does playing skins mean in golf?
In a round of skins golf – also referred as a skins game – golfers compete against the other members of the foursome. A skin is awarded to the lone golfer who posts the lowest score for each hole; no skin is awarded in case of a tie. The golfer who has won the most skins is declared the winner.
How do you play skins with handicaps?
Skins games can also be played using golf handicaps. A basic example would be: Player A is a 5 handicap, Player B is a 9 handicap, and Player C is a 15 handicap. Working off Player A's handicap, Player B would receive 4 strokes, and player C would receive 10 strokes.
Do skins carry over in golf?
Skins is a fun and popular golf betting game where the lowest score on a hole wins a skin. In the event of a tie, skins can carry over to the next hole.
How do you keep track of skins in golf?
0:032:16Golfing Scoring & Tips : How to Compute Skins in a Golf GameYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut Kevin made a three so he would win the first skin. Okay. So I'd circle that and that would be aMoreBut Kevin made a three so he would win the first skin. Okay. So I'd circle that and that would be a skin for me to determine the value of that at the end of the round. Based on the purse.
What does it mean to win a skin?
Normally played when you have either a three or fourball, each hole is worth one “skin.” That skin is often allocated a monetary value. If a player wins the first hole outright (full handicap is applied) they get the skin.
How do you play skins golf with 3 people?
Each person brings a skin to the hole, and the winner of the hole wins a skin from each of the losing players. For a threesome this means that the winner wins two skins on a hole. For a foursome, this means three skins. In both cases the other players each lose a skin.
What is skins and Pins in golf?
The Skins and Pins Tour is a golf tour comprised of friendly match play and stroke play competitions primarily in Connecticut and New England.
How does skins work in golf scramble?
Normally played when you have either a three or fourball, each hole is worth one “skin.” That skin is often allocated a monetary value. If a player wins the first hole outright (full handicap is applied) they get the skin. If nobody wins outright, the skin is carried over and the next hole is worth two skins.
How do you play skins with 3 people?
Each person brings a skin to the hole, and the winner of the hole wins a skin from each of the losing players. For a threesome this means that the winner wins two skins on a hole. For a foursome, this means three skins. In both cases the other players each lose a skin.
What are Canadian skins in golf?
Canadian SKINS is a variant of a net skins tournament that favors a natural(gross) score over a net score. If multiple players tie for the lowest score on a hole, but only one of those players did it with their gross score, then that player wins the skin.
What is super skin golf?
Playing the on-course golf game of Superskins is simple! Each pack contains 18 No Win cards, 12 Caddy cards and 12 Handicap cards AND a full set of rules. Superskins is based on the tried and tested game of 'Skins' with a few 'tweaks'.
What happens if there is no lowest player in golf?
If there is no lowest player – because two or more of the golfers tied for the lowest score on the hole – the skin is rolled over to the next hole. Handicap indexes are not considered in skins.
How many points are in the first four holes?
For example, the first four holes could be worth 10 points each, the next four holes worth 15 points apiece, the next eight worth 20 points each, the 17th hole worth 25 points and the 18th hole worth 30 points.
What hole do you play if two golfers tie?
Continue the match with a playoff if two or more golfers tie on the 18th hole.
What is skins game?
By Brian Hill. The skins-game format is a fun alternative to traditional ways of keeping score. The skins-game format in golf has long been a staple of friendly competitions among amateurs, but it reached national prominence in 1983 when a skins game was televised with four legends competing: Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
How do you determine who tees off first in golf?
Toss a coin to determine who tees off first. Each player tees off in turn, and normal stroke play continues until each player holes out.
Who is Brian Hill?
Brian Hill is the author of four popular business and finance books: "The Making of a Bestseller," "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital," "Attracting Capital from Angels" and his latest book, published in 2013, "The Pocket Small Business Owner's Guide to Business Plans.".
What is a "Skins Game" in Golf?
In golf, a " skins game " is a format where golfers compete for a prize called a "skin" on each hole. The group of golfers (or the event organizer of a formal event) agree to a prize amount for each hole before the round starts.
How do you pay for skins in golf?
All players put money into a pot for a skin on every hole. After all players have completed their rounds, the skins are divided up and paid to the winners.
What happens if you tie a hole for the best score?
If any players tie a hole for the best score, the skin gets added to the next hole, with all players able to compete for the first hole's carried-over skin and the second hole's skin.
What are the basic formats of golf?
You're probably familiar with golf's most basic formats, like stroke play and match play , but there are many other ways to compete in golf in casual rounds or organized events.
When was the skins game?
For example, The Skins Game, which was an unofficial PGA Tour event from 1983 to 2008, had progressively larger skins as the round progressed:
Can you play skins with golf handicaps?
Skins games can also be played using golf handicaps.
Why Are They Called 'Skins'?
When you win a hole in a skins game , you win a "skin." But what's up with that term? Where does it come from? The truth is no one is certain of the origin of the golf meaning of "skins." But there are enough theories about the matter (some more plausible than others) that we have a separate article to address the topic:
What is skins game?
Updated February 13, 2020. In golf, a " skins game " is a gambling game played within a group of golfers in which each hole has a set value. The golfer who wins the hole is said to win the "skin," and whatever that skin is worth.
What happens when a hole is tied?
When a hole is tied, the value of that hole carries over to the next, increasing the size of the pot for the following hole. Skins games are a popular gambling format among recreational golfers, but also are popular with golfers at the highest levels of the game.
Why are skins more dramatic than match play?
Skins games are often more dramatic than standard match play because holes are not halved. When players tie on a given hole, the value of that hole is carried over and added to the value of the following hole. The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff for winning a hole.
What happens on the second hole of the golf course?
On the second hole, A and C tie for low score with 4s. Because of the tie, no skin (and no money) is won.
How much is a $1 skin worth?
With $1 skins, if the first hole is tied the second is worth $2; if the second hole is then tied, the third hole is worth $4; if the third hole is another tie, the fourth hole is worth $8, and so on.
Can you use handicaps in skins?
The use of handicaps in a skins game is up to the golfers in your group. If you're all of similar skill level, play your skins game at scratch . But if there's a wide range of talent in your group, full handicaps are appropriate.
What is the game of skins?
Fred Couples with the skins trophy he won in 1999. Credit: Getty Images. Skins is a golf game whereby the players compete for a prize on every hole. This prize is the ‘skin’. The name comes from a bag of money, the bag itself made of skin.
What is the name of the game where players compete for a prize on every hole?
Skins is a golf game whereby the players compete for a prize on every hole. This prize is the ‘skin’. The name comes from a bag of money, the bag itself made of skin.
What happens if you don't win on the 18th green?
If there are skins that have not been won on the 18th green then the game goes into sudden death. The rules for sudden death are slightly different in that an outright win still wins the skins, but if there is a tie for the lowest score, then only those who have tied for the win continue on to the next hole as players.
Why did the Fred Couples skins stop?
The event ran until 2008, stopping because it lost its sponsor and could not attract another one. Fred Couples won five of these skins games in his 11 appearances.
What is a variation on the traditional golf skins game?
A variation on the traditional golf skins game is Back It Up.
When did the golf skins game start?
A skins game used to be a feature of the PGA Tour, with four invited players taking part over Thanksgiving weekend. The competition started in 1983 , when the four who played were Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
Is a similar aggregate score, but made up of bogeys and birdies more effective?
A similar aggregate score, but made up of bogeys and birdies is likely to be more effective. The golf skins game is reckoned to favour attacking play for this reason. There is reward for going low; little penalty for going high. If there are skins that have not been won on the 18th green then the game goes into sudden death.
How to play skins
Skins games are most commonly played in groups of three or four golfers and follow a match play format.
An example of skins
Three golfers play a game of skins where every hole is worth £3, with each player putting forward £1 per hole.
Tour skins golf
An unofficial money event using skins ran on the PGA tour from 1983 to 2008. Four players were invited at a time to compete, with invitees including Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples, Tom Watson, and Gary Player. Couples achieved the nickname ‘Mr Skins’ due to his notorious success in the event.
Subscribe to NCG
'Club membership should be fair for all': Are the days of playing whenever you want coming to an end?
What is skins in golf?
Score a 25-foot birdie in one and you will feel like you’re on top of the world, but then watch the next player perform an 18-foot birdie and the feeling changes to an awful sting in your gut. But you let the feelings slide away, there is the next hole and a new opportunity to shift the tide. Skins is a game of renewal and hope, of putting aside all the unnecessary thoughts and aiming for that one perfect shot that that helps you bring home the bag.
Why are skins so popular?
Because of its competitive nature, unpredictability, and thrill, a game of skins tends to be highly popular with both spectators and golfers alike. It is one of those rare specimens of golf games where experienced or novice players can compete with each other on more of an equal footing. In this short guide, we’ll instruct you on how to play skins, ...
How does validation work in golf?
In validation, when a player wins a skin, they must validate that win by making the lowest score on the next hole (ties permitted). Failure to validate that skins result in the value getting “stolen” by the player with the lowest score on that hole. However, now the pressure would be on that golfer to win the following hole in order to earn both the stolen skin and the skin for the hole. This cycle continues all the way to the 18th green, resulting in a highly intense match.
How many players can play in a skin game?
Some skins games may incorporate more than four players, up to a dozen. The rules for this variation are similar except that holes tied by two or more players are not carried over to the next hole. Doing so, would obviously, complicate the otherwise simple game. In some cases, a 4+ match could be played as a regular skin game with a dedicated golf app being used to easily calculate the score.
How does the skins game work?
This is a type of skins game in which instead of simply pocketing the victory prize for each hole, you can instead choose to back it up. This doubles the prize amount for the next skin should you win it. However, if any other player wins the hole, they just receive the total original value of the two holes. If no one wins the second hole, only the original value of each skin gets rolled over to the next hole.
What happens if you don't win the 18th green?
If no skin has been won on the 18th green, the game experiences a sudden death. The rules for it are slightly different from a conventional golf game. Within the golf skins format, while an outright win still counts as a winning the skins, in case of a tie for the lowest value, only those players who have tied for the win continue on to the next hole.
Why do we use cookies?
We use cookies on our website to give you a better experience, improve performance and for analytics. By using this website you agree to the use of cookies, see our Privacy Policy
What does skins carry over?
Skins carry over for any hole in which multiple players tie for the lowest score on the hole.
What happens when two players tie for the lowest score?
In a skins game, the person with the lowest score on a hole wins a skin. When two or more players tie for the lowest score, that skin carries over to the next hole.
How much is a skin worth in a threesome?
If you’re playing in a threesome and each person puts in a dollar a hole, you guessed it, each skin is worth three dollars . Next, decide what you’re going to do with any skins that carryover after the final hole. If nobody wins the skin on the last hole, that skin, and any that carried over before that, will be unsettled.
How to run a skins game for multiple groups?
If you want to run a skins game for multiple groups or an entire tournament, the process is simple. Set the entry amount for each player and collect before the round begins. Typically for larger groups, each skin is worth an equal amount (the amount in the skins pool divided by the number of skins paid out), ...
How much does each player contribute to the skin pool?
As a reference, if each skin is worth five dollars and you’re playing in a foursome without any add-ons, each player would contribute $22.50 to the skins pool. To make things simpler, you can choose the amount each player contributes per hole.
How to determine who won the skins?
Check the scorecards after the round to determine who won skins. If two or more players tied for the lowest score on a hole, nobody wins that skin. Once you’ve determined how many skins were won, divide the skins pool by that number, and pay each winner that amount. For example, if 20 players paid $10 to enter the skins game for a tournament, and four skins were won, each winner would get $50.
How many players can play Skins?
It can be played with two players just as easily as 100, skins can be worth anything from a nickel to a Benjamin, there are enough variations, add-ons and wrinkles to keep it interesting for a lifetime, and you can win big in skins even without playing your round-of-the-year.

How to Play A Skins Game
Why Are They called 'Skins'?
- When you win a hole in a skins game, you win a "skin." But what's up with that term? Where does it come from? The truth is no one is certain of the origin of the golf meaning of "skins." But there are enough theories about the matter (some more plausible than others) that we have a separate article to address the topic:
What About The Skins game?
- In golf, 'The Skins Game' (upper case) is a reference to a former "silly season" event played by four professional golfers (usually PGA Tour players) each year from 1983 through 2008. This event was a made-for-TV tournament that drew huge ratings for its 1983 debut for two reasons: The skins format had never been used in a televised golf event before; and the four golfers who took …