Skins
Every hole is worth a skin. Win the hole outright, win the skin.
2 or more players
A skins game is one of the simplest and most popular ways to bet on a round of golf. Every hole is worth one "skin," and the player with the outright lowest score on that hole wins it. Play it heads-up or with a big group — it works with any number of players.
The catch that makes skins fun is the carryover. If two or more players tie for the low score on a hole, nobody wins the skin and it carries to the next hole, so the next hole is worth two. Ties keep stacking skins until someone finally wins a hole outright, which can turn one clutch putt into a big swing.
How to play Skins
- 1Agree on a value per skin
Before you tee off, decide what each skin is worth (say $2). One skin is on the line every hole.
- 2Low score wins the hole
On each hole, the player with the single lowest score wins that hole's skin. You have to be the outright low — a tie doesn't win.
- 3Ties carry over
If two or more players tie for low, the skin isn't awarded. It carries to the next hole, which is now worth two skins (then three, and so on, until a hole is won outright).
- 4Use net scores if you play with handicaps
For a fair game between players of different abilities, apply each player's handicap strokes hole by hole and compare net scores instead of gross.
- 5Settle up at the end
Add up the skins each player won, multiply by the skin value, and net it out. In a group, each skin is typically worth the agreed amount from every other player.
A quick 4-player example at $2 a skin
- Hole 1: everyone makes par except you make birdie. You win 1 skin.
- Hole 2: two players tie for low. Nobody wins — the skin carries. Hole 3 is now worth 2 skins.
- Hole 3: one player makes the low score outright and scoops all 2 carried skins.
- At $2 a skin from each of the other 3 players, that 2-skin hole is worth $12 to the winner.
Common variations
The classic game carries tied skins forward. Some groups play "no carryover," where a tied hole simply dies and every hole is its own skin. You can also cap how high a carried pot can climb.
Gross skins reward the best raw scores; net skins apply handicaps so a higher-handicap player can still win holes. Pick one before you start.
In some circles a skin only counts if the winner "validates" it by matching or beating that score on the next hole. Most casual games skip this.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when players tie a hole in skins?
Nobody wins the skin. It carries over to the next hole, which is then worth two skins. Ties keep stacking the pot until a player wins a hole outright.
Do you need handicaps to play skins?
No. You can play straight gross skins where the lowest raw score wins. Handicaps (net skins) just make it fairer when players are different skill levels.
How much is a skin worth?
Whatever you agree on before the round. A common setup is a fixed dollar value per skin from each other player, so a skin is worth more the larger your group.
Can you play skins with 2 players?
Yes. Heads-up skins works fine — the low score on each hole wins, and ties carry over just like in a group.
Skip the 18th-green math
Three Putt scores Skins for you and shows exactly who owes who. Everyone can score from their own phone, or one person can handle it. Nothing to download.
Start a round