How to play Skins
Each hole is worth one skin, and the lowest score wins it. Any tie for the lowest score carries the skin to the next hole, so the pot grows until someone wins a hole outright.
The rules
- Everyone plays their own ball, individually or in teams.
- The lowest score on a hole wins the skin.
- Any tie for lowest, two-way or more, means nobody wins. The skin carries to the next hole.
- The next outright win takes the whole pot.
- Most skins after 18 wins.
Two holes, start to finish
Player A takes 2 skins (hole 2 plus the carry from hole 1). B and C have 0.
On the board
Who it's for
Any number of golfers. With more than four, split the field into playing groups and everyone stays in one pot. A hole waits until every group has posted it or moved past it, so the skin goes to the right golfer.
Variations ForeBoard supports
Carryovers are always on. Choose these when you set up the round.
Individual or team
Individual is every golfer for themselves. Team Skins is below.
Gross or net
In a net round, handicap strokes come off before scores are compared. In a mixed group, net keeps everyone in it.
Team Skins
Each team's best ball is its score on the hole. The lowest team score wins the skin and ties carry, exactly like the individual game. Team A's 4 and 6 make a 4, which beats Team B's 5 and 5.
When hole 18 ties
If the last hole ties with skins still carrying, the organizer settles the pot at the end of the round. Choose one winner, choose several and split it evenly, or void the pot so nobody gets those skins.
Questions golfers ask
What if a golfer has no score on a hole?
Once the group has moved on, that golfer is out of the hole and it's decided among those who posted. One missed score never holds up the rest of the round.
How much is a skin worth?
Whatever your group agrees. ForeBoard counts the skins, and you settle up afterward.
Can we split a skin?
Only the final pot. On every other hole, a tie for lowest carries.
Score it free on ForeBoard
Choose Skins, share the link, and everyone sees the score as you play. No app, no account.
Start a round