If you’ve spent any time around weekend golfers, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Let’s play skins today.” It’s one of the most popular side games in golf because it keeps every hole exciting, no matter how the rest of your round is going. Even if you’ve had a rough front nine, one good hole could still win you something.
Basically, if you want to know how to play skins in golf, the game is a scoring system in which every hole has a certain value in money, points, or bragging rights. Players compete individually on each hole. Whoever wins the hole outright earns the “skin”. But if two or more players tie, that skin rolls over to the next hole, which instantly adds to the total skin value for the next hole’s winner. Simple idea, fun pressure, and perfect for groups of all skill levels.
For a quick overview of what the format looks like in action, you can also check out this simple breakdown of the Skins in Golf game here.
How to Play Skins in Golf?
Therefore, if the question of how to play skins in golf has ever crossed your mind, the way is actually much simpler than it seems and you can just add it as a betting fun twist to any of your rounds.
To play Skins, you should follow these simple steps:
- Setting the Stakes & Format: Initially, agree on the amount that one skin will be worth and also make a decision whether the competition will be carried out in Gross (actual strokes) or Net (handicap-adjusted) scores.
- Everyone plays the hole as a separate event(Everyone plays their own ball).
- Lowest unique score on the hole wins: If a player has the only score for the hole they won. If there are two or more players that scored the same lowest score then the skin will be carried over to the next hole.
- Repeat and Settle: The process continues for all 18 holes and at the end of those 18 holes all skins will have been accounted for and settled up.
How Scoring & Carryovers Work?
Carryovers are essentially the lifeline of a Skins match. When no player wins a hole outright, the skin doesn’t vanish; instead, it is carried over to the next one and hence, increases the total value.
Just think about how much is at stake: Each skin is the value attached to a single hole. As an example on the first hole, Player A achieves a par while Player B also does a par. It’s a tie here. As a result of no one winning outright, the very first skin is saved. This implies that Hole 2 is now immediately worth two skins. If Player C wins Hole 2 alone with a birdie, they win both skins that carried over. If Hole 2 also ties, the value keeps building until someone finally wins a hole outright.
When the round finishes, the player (or team) with the greatest total number of skins is considered the winner of the ‘pot’. Additionally, when skin amounts become very large, all players must agree before they tee off, regarding how they will distribute any skins remaining after the last hole, in the event of ties (the most common solutions are to hold a sudden death competition or split equally between players or teams).
How to Set Skin Values (Money or Points)?
Before the golfing session, as a group decision-making process, you are expected to figure out the worth of each skin prior to the moment when everyone will be going off with their first shots. Besides, you can also agree on any rules or guidelines that you would like to set so that the game would be enjoyable for all the participants and fair to all the players.
All types of games have different stakes associated with them. A very relaxed stake level could be $1 per skin, while competitive groups may play at stakes from $5-$10 per skin.
Skins are typically played for a fixed monetary value per hole, but how that value is applied can vary:
- Equal Value Per Hole (Standard): This is the easiest way. Just to illustrate, let’s say you have a $5 skin, then every hole is worth $5. In a skin carryover, the next hole’s possible payout thus becomes $10, then $15, and so forth. This method is perfect for casual weekend rounds and keeping the risk manageable.
- Rolling Value: This is a less frequently used method, in which the skin’s value gets higher with every carryover, usually by doubling. For instance, Hole 1 is $5. If it’s a tie, then Hole 2 will be worth $10, and if that also results in a tie, Hole 3 will be worth $20. This variation is typically reserved for experienced groups playing for higher stakes.
Net vs Gross Skins
Gross Skins count your real score (the number of strokes taken) on each hole. Net Skins involves the handicaps of the players; thus, the scores of the players are adjusted for a fair game.
Such an adjustment makes the competition alive in groups of different skills. As an illustration, if a player with a high handicap is allocated one stroke on a Par 4, his Net Score will be one stroke less than his actual score. In case he makes a 5 (Gross), his score for the Skins game will be 4 (Net). The player with the lowest Net score gets the skin.
Variations of Skins Game
One of the most significant features of Skins is the ability of different teams to modify the rules so that they can either increase the pressure of the game or speed up the play.
The following are some of the most common twists:
Back it Up
Imagine a situation where a person is the winner of a skin and the very next player surpasses his result on the next hole, this new player “backs it up” and thus takes the previous skin away from the first one. It adds pressure to keep your momentum going.
4+ Match
Best for larger groups. Multiple skins can be in play at once, and only a completely solo low score wins the skin. If four or more players tie, everything keeps carrying over.
No Carry Over
A pure version of skins where ties simply cancel the hole. If nobody wins outright, that skin disappears, no pressure buildup, just straightforward scoring.
Validation
Even if you win a hole, you only keep the skin if you “validate” it by at least tying or winning the next hole as well. If you fail, the skin rolls over to the next hole.
Ghost skins
In this version, an imaginary “ghost player” is added to the group and is automatically given a fixed score on every hole, usually par. To win a skin, a real player has to beat the ghost as well as the others. It adds pressure and makes winning skins a lot tougher, especially for smaller groups.
Automatic presses
Some groups like to add automatic presses when a player falls behind usually after losing a certain number of skins in a row. A press starts a fresh side bet for the remaining holes, giving players a chance to make a comeback instead of feeling out of the match early.
If you enjoy casual formats like Skins, you might also like other fun side games such as Bingo Bango Bongo, which keeps every shot interesting.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve walked through how to play Skins in golf from scoring and carryovers to fun variations it’s clear why this format is such a favorite. One of the simplest ways to make a round more exciting is by playing for money, points, or just bragging rights. Skins is the game that accomplishes this most effectively as it maintains the importance of each hole, introduces slightly more pressure, and allows players of any skill level to have an equal probability of winning something.
So, before jumping into any Skins match, loose muscles make a huge difference, this quick guide on golf stretching tips is worth a look.
FAQs
How to calculate skins in golf?
A skin is awarded when a player has the lowest unique score on a hole. If there’s a tie, the skin carries over to the next hole unless the group plays “no carryover”.
Do PGA players play skins?
Although the PGA Tour golfers are not using the Skins format in their official events, a famous, televised, offseason event called The Skins Game used to be associated with the PGA Tour. The event was a four-player head-to-head competition, thus making it the most exciting thing on TV. Unfortunately, the tournament came to a halt around 2008.
Why do they call it a Skins game in golf?
The name comes from old betting slang where a “skin” meant a prize or wager won outright in golf, it refers to winning a hole with a clear, unmatched score.
What is the highest skin ever won?
Due to a series of carryovers, the last hole of the 2001 Skins Game telecast professional golf was valued at $200,000. Tom Watson won that hole. In amateur play when groups are playing for their own verifiable stakes, the highest skin fully depends on the groups initially staked and the rolls in which the prize continues to roll over.
Who are some famous skins golfers?
The Skins Game was a treat for the greats on TV, with great fun and significant experiences for each one of the skins. Fred Couples is the person who holds the record for the most titles won in the event (five times) and the most money won in the format’s history. Other golf legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods have also participated in the skins game.
