The skins game is one of the most exciting ways to add stakes to a round of golf. Every hole has a cash value (the "skin"), and if nobody wins it outright, the pot grows. A single clutch birdie late in the round can be worth ten times the original stake. Here is everything you need to play.
Decide how much each skin is worth. Common friendly stakes range from $1 to $5 per hole. Multiply by 18 to understand the maximum possible loss for any player (though skins rarely max out that way due to carryovers).
Each player records their gross score (or net, if using handicaps). After the hole is complete, identify the lowest score among all players.
If exactly ONE player has the lowest score on that hole, they win the skin and collect the pot for that hole. The pot resets to the base stake for the next hole.
If two or more players tie for the low score, nobody wins the skin. The pot carries over to the next hole — it is now worth two skins. Carry-overs accumulate until someone wins a hole outright.
Add up each player's total skins won. Calculate who owes whom. In a $5-per-skin game with 18 holes, the total pot is $90 — redistributed based on how many skins each player won.
| Hole | Par | Player A | Player B | Player C | Result | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | Player B | $5 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | TIE — carries over | $10 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | TIE — carries over | $15 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | Player A wins | $15 |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | TIE — carries over | $5 |
In the example above, hole 4 becomes worth $15 because holes 2 and 3 both tied. Player A wins 3 skins ($15) for outright winning hole 4 with a par while the others made bogey.
| Variant | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic skins | Each hole is worth $1 (or a set amount). Ties carry the pot to the next hole. First outright winner takes the accumulated pot. | Any group size (2-6 players) with a fixed stake |
| Team skins | Played in two-person teams. A skin is won when one team has the lowest score on the hole with no tie on that team. | Groups of 4 playing 2v2 |
| Net skins | Same rules but uses net scores (gross minus handicap strokes on that hole). Levels the playing field for mixed-handicap groups. | Groups with handicap differences of 5+ strokes |
| Snake / moving skins | Instead of carrying over, the pressure shifts: the last person to lose a hole pays everyone else a set amount on each subsequent hole until someone else loses. | Groups who want continuous action without big carry-over pots |
A skin is the prize for winning a hole outright in a skins game. Each hole has a set dollar value (or points value), and if one player beats all others on that hole with the lowest score, they win that hole's skin. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole.
When two or more players tie for the lowest score on a hole, the skin carries over to the next hole, doubling (or more) the value. This is what makes skins exciting — a single hole late in the round can be worth many skins if there have been multiple consecutive ties.
Skins can be played with any number of players, but the most common formats are 2, 3, or 4 players. More players mean more potential ties and bigger carryover pots, but also means any one player's chances of winning outright on a given hole decrease.
Yes — net skins use handicap-adjusted scores instead of gross scores. Each player subtracts any handicap strokes they receive on a given hole (based on the stroke index on the scorecard). Net skins is recommended when players have different handicaps, as it keeps the competition fair.
In a standard skins game you only pay for skins that others won — you do not pay a fixed amount per hole you lost. The total payout equals the total pot won (stake × number of holes won), redistributed from the losers to the winners based on skins count.
In stroke play you count every stroke across all 18 holes. In match play you win or lose individual holes against one opponent. In skins, each hole is its own independent contest with a money value, carry-overs stack up, and one big hole can swing the entire game.
A common friendly stake is $1-$5 per skin. At $5 per skin across 18 holes, the total pot is $90. If one player goes on a hot streak and wins 10 holes, they win $50+ and everyone else splits the rest. Keep stakes at a level where no one leaves feeling burned.
No — skins games are self-contained within one round. Any skin that is not won by hole 18 (because the last hole was tied) is either lost, split between all tied players, or can be agreed to carry to a playoff hole. Most groups just split unclaimed skins at the end.
Start with a low stake. $1-$2 per skin keeps it fun without anyone leaving unhappy. You can always raise the stakes once the group knows how the format flows.
Watch carryovers. Keep a running tally of how many skins are in play on each hole. A 5-skin hole in a $5 game is a $25 swing — it changes how aggressive each player plays.
Decide the tie-break rule before hole 18. If the last hole ties, you need to know upfront: split the unclaimed skin equally, or play a sudden-death playoff hole.
Use net scores for mixed groups. If there is a 10+ handicap difference in your group, net skins keeps it competitive. Everyone enjoys it more when they have a realistic chance to win each hole.