Skins
Win a hole outright, win a skin
Skins is the classic side game. Every hole is worth a skin, and you only win it if you beat everyone else on that hole. Tie with anyone and nobody wins it. Because each hole is a fresh chance, skins keeps everyone playing hard even after the main match is decided.
- Players
- 3 or more, each playing for themselves
- Handicap allowance
- Your choice; 80% is common for net skins
- Pace
- Normal round
- Best for
- A side game next to your main format
How skins works
- 1
Set the value
Agree what a skin is worth, or put a fixed pot together and split it by skins won at the end.
- 2
Decide gross or net
Gross skins use real scores. Net skins subtract handicap strokes first, which gives higher handicaps a chance.
- 3
Play the hole
If one player has the lowest score outright, they win the skin.
- 4
Handle ties
If two or more tie for the lowest score, nobody wins. With carryovers, that skin is added to the next hole’s value.
- 5
Settle up
Count each player’s skins at the end of the round and pay out.
Scoring example: four holes of net skins with carryovers
Four players, $5 a skin, with carryovers. Scores below are net.
| Hole | Low net | Result | Skins on the hole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike 4 | Mike wins | 1 ($5) |
| 2 | Dan and Joe 3 | Tie, carries over | — |
| 3 | Chris and Mike 4 | Tie, carries over | — |
| 4 | Joe 2 | Joe wins | 3 ($15) |
Mike wins 1 skin and Joe wins 3. Without carryovers, holes 2 and 3 would simply have no winner and Joe would win 1.
Handicaps in skins
There is no official allowance for skins. Full handicaps can make net skins easy for high handicaps, so many groups use 75–85%, or play strokes off the lowest handicap in the field.
Some groups cap strokes per hole (for example, no more than one stroke on a par 3) so a single big handicap can’t win too many skins.
Pros
- Every hole is a fresh contest
- Works with any number of players
- Runs alongside any team format
Cons
- With big groups, outright wins are rare
- Carryovers can pile up and decide the whole pot on one hole
When to play skins
Run skins alongside your main team format so players still have something to play for on every hole, especially after their match is over.
Skins in CupTracker
CupTracker counts net and gross skins automatically for every round, across everyone who plays that round. Net skins use 80% of course handicap by default, with strokes off the lowest handicap in the field; the admin can change the percentage.
CupTracker awards a skin only for an outright win; tied holes don’t carry over. It counts the skins; settling the pot is up to your group.
Mix it with other formats across your rounds, or even within one round. Building your event is free; you pay when you publish it to your group.
Skins FAQs
- How do skins work in golf?
- Each hole is worth a skin. The player with the lowest score on the hole wins it, but only if nobody ties them. Tied holes either have no winner or carry over to the next hole, depending on your rules.
- What is a carryover in skins?
- When a hole is tied, its skin is added to the next hole. The next outright winner takes all the skins that have built up.
- Should skins be gross or net?
- Gross skins favour the best players. Net skins (scores after handicap strokes) give everyone a chance; most groups with mixed handicaps play net, often at a reduced allowance like 80%.
- How do you split a skins pot?
- Divide the total pot by the number of skins won, then pay each player that amount for every skin they won. If nobody wins a skin, most groups return the money or roll it into the next round.
