Green on 19
Hole by hole

How to Play Skins

Also called: Skins game · skin game · carryover skins

Skins is a hole-by-hole golf game in which the lowest unique score wins the hole's skin. It is flexible for 2 to 8 golfers, works especially well with 4, and becomes more volatile when tied skins carry over.

Best for

Groups that want every hole to matter and enjoy a pressure spike after carryovers.

Handicaps

Gross works for similar abilities. Net skins are fairer for mixed handicaps; allocate strokes before the round.

The clean version

Skins Rules

  1. 1

    Assign a value to each skin or divide a fixed pot by the number of skins won.

  2. 2

    Compare the agreed gross or net score on each hole.

  3. 3

    A golfer wins the skin only with the lowest unique score; a tie means no outright winner.

  4. 4

    If carryovers are on, add the tied skin's value to the next hole.

  5. 5

    At the end, resolve any unclaimed carryover using the group's pre-round rule.

Before the first tee

Set Up the Game

  • Choose gross or net
  • Set per-skin value or a fixed pool
  • Turn carryovers on or off
  • Define what happens to an 18th-hole carryover

Worked example

How the Scoring Works

At $2 per skin, holes 6 and 7 tie and carry. The outright winner of hole 8 earns 3 skins, worth $6 under a simple per-skin setup.

A dispute-resistant starting point

Green on 19 Default Contract

Choose gross or net Set per-skin value or a fixed pool Turn carryovers on or off Define what happens to an 18th-hole carryover

Exact scoring math

Skins Formula

Hole value = base skin value × 1 plus consecutive carried ties. Only an outright low score collects the live value.

Settle it before it starts

Disputes and Edge Cases

Lock ties, timing, multipliers, handicap use and maximum loss before tee-off. The written round contract controls any house-rule variation.

Mix it carefully

Can Skins Be Played With Other Games?

Skins creates a clean hole-level contest and does not usually interfere with a larger match or points game.

Best complementary games

NassauRead the companion guideWolfRead the companion guidequotaRead the companion guideDots / JunkRead the companion guideSnakeRead the companion guide

House-rule territory

Popular Variations

  • No carryovers
  • Validate a skin only if the winner ties or wins the next hole
  • Birdie-only skins
  • Reverse skins for the highest unique score

Play smarter

Strategy Without the Spreadsheet

  • Know whether a safe par can win outright before attacking a flag.
  • After multiple carryovers, choose risk based on your position rather than the original $ value.
  • Use net scoring consistently; do not decide stroke treatment after a result.

Quick answers

Skins FAQ

What happens when 2 golfers tie in Skins?

Nobody wins that hole. With carryovers enabled, its value moves to the next hole.

Can Skins use handicaps?

Yes. Net skins apply handicap strokes on the appropriate holes; gross skins use actual scores.

How many players are best for Skins?

Four is the classic group size, but the game works with 2 to 8 players if pace and score verification stay manageable.