Paying out a skins game shouldn't be more stressful than a 4-foot putt for the win. Once you understand the basic framework and agree on a few rules before the first tee shot, splitting the pot is simple and straightforward. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up, track, and pay out skins so your group can focus on what matters: winning them.
At its heart, a skins game is one of the simplest and most exciting betting formats in golf. Instead of competing for the best total score over 18 holes, players compete to win individual holes outright. A "skin" is awarded to the player who posts the lowest score on a given hole amongst all players in the group.
The beauty of this format is that one bad hole doesn't knock you out of the running. You can have a triple bogey on one hole and come back to win the next with a birdie. Each hole is a fresh start and a new chance to win cash. If two or more players tie for the lowest score on a hole, the skin typically "pushes" or "carries over" to the next hole, raising the stakes and the pressure.
Before you calculate a single dollar, your group needs to decide on one fundamental rule: will you play Gross Skins or Net Skins? This single choice determines how winners are decided and is based entirely on whether you want to use player handicaps.
Gross skins is golf in its rawest form. Handicaps are thrown out the window, and the actual score you shoot on a hole - your gross score - is what counts. If you make a 3 and everyone else makes a 4 or higher, you win the skin. Simple as that.
Net skins incorporates each player's Caddie or Course Handicap to make the game fair for everyone, regardless of skill level. Players receive "strokes" or "pops" on certain holes according to their handicap.
Here's how it works: Before the round, you'll look at the scorecard, which ranks each hole by difficulty from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest). A player with a 10-handicap will get one stroke on each of the 10 hardest holes (handicap holes 1 through 10). If that player shoots a 5 on the 7th-hardest hole, their official score for the skin - their net score - is a 4.
The secret to a smooth skins payout is agreeing on the rules before anyone puts a peg in the ground. A quick 2-minute conversation on the first tee box prevents a 20-minute argument on the 18th green. Here’s your checklist:
Let's put this into practice. Imagine a foursome: Player A, Player B, Player C, and Player D. They've decided on a Gross Skins game with a $20 buy-in from each person, creating an $80 total pot. With 18 holes, each skin is worth $4.44 ($80 ÷ 18).
Result: Tie. Players A and C both shot the low score of 4. No one wins the skin. It carries over.
Running Tally: Hole 2 is now worth 2 skins ($8.88).
Result: Winner! Player B made a birdie 4, the outright lowest score. Player B wins the skin from Hole 1 and the skin from Hole 2.
Running Tally: Player B has won 2 skins. Hole 3 is now back to being worth its original 1 skin ($4.44).
Result: Tie. Three players made par. The skin carries over.
Running Tally: Player B has 2 skins. Hole 4 is now worth 2 skins ($8.88).
Now, let's pretend the same group was playing Net Skins. Player D has a 12-handicap and this hole is the #1 handicap hole, so they get a stroke. The scores were:
Result: Still a tie! Even though Player D's gross score was higher, their net score tied the low score of 4 from Players A and C. A tie is a tie. The two skins from Hole 3 and Hole 4 carry over.
Running Tally: Hole 5 would now be worth 4 skins! This is how the drama builds.
At the end of the round, you simply tally up who won what. Continuing our original gross-score example, let's say after 18 holes, the skins distribution was:
And let's say the last hole was a tie, so there are no leftover skins to award. Now, it's just multiplication:
You can see the total payout is $79.92, which is essentially the $80 pot (the small difference is due to rounding). Player B made a nice profit, Players A and C got most of their money back, and Player D, well, there's always next time.
Some groups find the "value per skin" math confusing. An easier, but perhaps more chaotic, method is to settle individually. Using the tally above, you can determine who owes who.
In this scenario, Player D could simply hand their $20 to Player B to cover their impressive winnings. It’s a bit less precise but often faster when calculating in the clubhouse bar.
Golfers love to customize their games. Here are a few common variations you might encounter:
Managing a skins game all comes down to clear communication before the round and accurate tracking during it. By determining the buy-in, deciding between gross or net, and clarifying the carryover rule, you set the stage for a fun and competitive match without any confusion at the end.
Those high-pressure moments - like standing over a putt on the 17th hole with five skins on the line - are what make the game so memorable. Knowing the right strategy and having complete confidence in your club choice can be the difference between winning a huge pot or watching someone else celebrate. For that, access to a tool like Caddie AI can give you the clarity you need to execute an intelligent shot when it counts the most.
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