Skins Golf Game: Rules, Scoring and How to Play

By the Big Fairways team · Updated 24 August 2026 · We build the scorecard app that keeps score for this game.

Play this game on Big Fairways Free. No account needed to start a round. Works on any phone.

Skins is one of the easiest and most popular golf games to play with a group. Each hole is worth a point, prize, or set amount of money called a "skin." To win the skin, a player must have the lowest score on that hole outright.

The simple rule is this: win the hole alone, win the skin. If two or more players tie for the lowest score, no one wins the skin and it usually carries over to the next hole.

Play a demo round

Saturday morning · four players · net skins, ties carry

This is a simulation, not a live round. Tap the green Start Simulation button to learn the game and watch this made up match unfold one hole at a time. Just like in our app, you'll see a summary of the drama below the holes and a leaderboard.

First tee

Live leaderboard, skins won

Through 0 holes

The scores above are invented, but the scoring is not: this is the same card and the same live leaderboard your group sees on Big Fairways while you play.

Play SKINS Now! Big Fairways tracks the carryovers so nobody has to remember them

What Is a Skins Game in Golf?

A skins game is a hole-by-hole competition. Every hole has a value. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins that hole's skin, as long as no one else ties them.

If there is a tie for the lowest score, the skin carries over. That makes the next hole worth more.

For example, if Hole 1 is worth one skin and two players tie for the best score, no one wins Hole 1. The skin carries over, so Hole 2 is now worth two skins.

A Brief History of Skins

Skins has been played casually by golfers for many years, but it became especially well known through televised professional golf events. The format was popular because it created drama on every hole. A single birdie or clutch putt could win a large prize, especially if several skins had carried over.

That same excitement is why skins remains popular with weekend golfers, golf trips, leagues, and charity outings.

How to Play Skins in Golf

Before the round starts, the group decides how much each skin is worth. It can be money, points, drinks, or anything else the group agrees on.

On each hole:

Every player plays the hole normally.
Compare everyone's score.
If one player has the lowest score outright, that player wins the skin.
If two or more players tie for the lowest score, no one wins the skin.
Any unclaimed skin carries over to the next hole.
At the end of the round, add up how many skins each player won.

Example of Skins Scoring

Let's say four players are playing skins.

Hole 1 scores:

Player A: 4
Player B: 5
Player C: 5
Player D: 6
Player A has the lowest score outright, so Player A wins one skin.

Hole 2 scores:

Player A: 5
Player B: 4
Player C: 4
Player D: 6
Player B and Player C tie for the lowest score. No one wins the skin, so it carries over.
Hole 3 is now worth two skins: the regular skin for Hole 3 plus the carried-over skin from Hole 2.

Why Carryovers Make Skins Exciting

Carryovers are what make skins so fun. If several holes are tied, the next hole can suddenly become worth much more.

That means a player who has been quiet for most of the round can win multiple skins with one great hole. It keeps everyone interested and creates pressure on important shots.

Gross Skins vs. Net Skins

There are two common ways to play skins:

Gross skins use actual scores without handicaps. The lowest raw score wins the hole.
Net skins use handicap-adjusted scores. This helps make the game fair when players have different skill levels.
For casual groups with mixed handicaps, net skins is often the better choice. For players of similar ability, gross skins works well.

Common Skins Rules to Agree on Before You Play

Before teeing off, agree on:

How much each skin is worth
Whether you are playing gross skins or net skins
Whether tied holes carry over
Whether carryovers continue all round
What happens if the final hole is tied
Whether teams or individuals are playing
Whether all players must finish the hole
These rules are simple, but agreeing upfront avoids confusion later.
What Happens if the Last Hole Is Tied?
Groups handle a tied final hole in different ways.

Common options include:

Carry the remaining skins into a playoff hole
Split the remaining skins among tied players
Let the skins go unclaimed
Award them based on a scorecard tiebreaker
For most casual rounds, splitting the remaining skins or playing a quick playoff is easiest.

Beginner-Friendly Skins Rules

If you are playing skins for the first time, use this simple version:

Each hole is worth one skin.
The lowest score alone wins the skin.
If two or more players tie for low score, the skin carries over.
The next hole is worth the regular skin plus any carried-over skins.
Use net scores if handicaps are needed.
Add up skins at the end of the round.
The player with the most skins wins.

Final Thoughts

Skins is a great golf game because it is easy to understand and exciting from start to finish. You do not need to win every hole or shoot the lowest total score. You just need to win the right hole at the right time.

If you want a simple golf betting game that creates pressure, rewards clutch shots, and keeps everyone in the round, skins is one of the best formats to play.

Keep score automatically and settle up in the app Every skin, every carryover, gross and net side by side

Skins Golf Game FAQs

How does a skins game work in golf?

Every hole is worth one skin, and the skin goes to the player with the outright lowest score. If two or more players tie for low, nobody wins the hole and the skin carries to the next one, so that hole is then worth two. At the end you count the skins each player won.

What happens when a hole is tied in skins?

The skin carries. Nothing is paid on a halved hole, and the value simply moves forward, which is why a run of tied holes turns an ordinary par 5 into the biggest hole of the day. The demo round above ends with a six skin pot on the 18th for exactly that reason.

What is the difference between gross skins and net skins?

Gross skins use the raw score, so the best golfer usually wins most of them. Net skins apply handicap strokes on the holes where they fall by stroke index, which lets a higher handicap steal a skin on a hard hole. Many groups play both at once and keep two columns. Big Fairways tracks gross and net side by side.

How many players do you need for a skins game?

Two is enough, and it works with any number above that. The more players in the game, the more ties you get, and the more the pots carry, which is why skins is popular with a large group on a trip.

Do you have to hole out in a skins game?

Yes. Putts are not conceded in skins, because a tap in that gets waved away can be the difference between winning the skin outright and carrying it. Agree that on the first tee and it saves an argument on the ninth green.