Skins Game Rules
Players: 2 or more
A skins game gives a 'skin' to whoever wins a hole outright. Tie the hole and no one wins it, so the skin carries to the next hole. That carryover is what makes skins fun: one hole can be worth a stack of skins.
How it plays
Every hole is worth one skin. Lowest score on the hole wins the skin. If two or more players tie for low, the hole is halved and the skin carries forward and is added to the next hole.
Because skins carry, a run of tied holes can pile several skins onto a single hole, turning a routine par into the most valuable shot of the day.
Gross vs net skins
Gross skins use raw scores, which favors the better players. Net skins apply handicap strokes hole by hole, so a higher handicapper who gets a stroke on a hole can win the skin with a higher gross score. Net skins keep a mixed group competitive.
Validation and carryovers
Some groups play 'validation', where to win the accumulated carryover you must win the hole outright AND beat a set mark (for example, a par or better). It stops a sloppy hole from scooping a big carry.
Decide up front whether a final-hole tie splits the remaining skins or carries to a playoff.
Common questions
What is a skin in golf?
A skin is the prize for winning a single hole outright. One skin per hole, unless ties have caused skins to carry over.
What happens when a hole is tied?
Nobody wins the skin. It carries to the next hole, so that hole is now worth two skins (or more if ties keep stacking).
Gross or net skins?
Gross uses raw scores and favors low handicaps. Net applies handicap strokes per hole and keeps a mixed-ability group fair. Pick one before you tee off.
How do you settle skins?
Total each player's skins won and multiply by the agreed value per skin. Skins Golf tracks this live so the final count is never in dispute.
Keep reading
In the app
Skins Golf keeps score for you
Set it up once and Skins Golf scores it live, applies handicap allowances, and keeps the leaderboard honest every hole. We keep score, you keep your word.