What Is a Golf Skins Tournament?
- Definition
- History
- Rules. Skins is a match-play-type event in each competitors accumulate points or money over the course of the round.
- Tiebreaker. If money or points are carried over at the end of 18 holes, there's a playoff. ...
- Professional Skins Game. ...
Full Answer
What is the PGA Tour Skins Game?
It took place in November or December each year after the end of the official PGA Tour season. It was recognized by the PGA Tour but did not count towards the official money list. It was most recently sponsored by LG and was officially known as the LG Skins Game, hosted at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells, California .
What is skins in golf?
Skins is quite simply a golf game whereby players compete for a prize on every hole, with the prize being a ‘Skin’. If the hole is halved, then that Skin is rolled over and added to the Skin for the next hole. Whether it is money or points, a Skins game is played as a version of matchplay and is suited to either three or fourballs.
How many skins are there in a round of golf?
The unclaimed skin however is carried over to the next hole, whose value rises by 1 to become worth 2 skins and so on. Since there are 18 holes to play there are 18 skins up for grabs. The golfer who has managed to accumulate the most skins during the round is declared the winner. Like most golf game formats skins can be played either gross or net.
What is the Skins Game?
The Skins Game was an unofficial-money event on the PGA Tour from 1983 to 2008. It took place in November or December each year after the end of the official PGA Tour season.

What is a skin in a golf tournament?
Skins is a game in golf where players compete for a prize – usually money – on every hole. The prize at stake is called the 'skin'. The game tends to be played in either threeballs or fourballs, with monetary values decided before players tee off.
How do skins work in a golf league?
Skins is a betting game where the winners are those who have the best score on a hole without ties. If 2 or more people have the best score on a hole, that hole is "halved" and no skins is won. The pot is then divided by the number of skins, and winners are paid out.
How are skins paid out in golf?
Check the scorecards after the round to determine who won skins. If two or more players tied for the lowest score on a hole, nobody wins that skin. Once you've determined how many skins were won, divide the skins pool by that number, and pay each winner that amount.
Why is it called skins in golf?
According to an old legend, the name originated from American furriers who arrived in Scotland and took to the golf links and gambled the rounds with their pelts (animal skins). It is interesting to know that in the past, the game was known by many popular regional names such as cats, scats, skats, and syndicates.
How do you score Skins Game?
1:202:16Golfing Scoring & Tips : How to Compute Skins in a Golf GameYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe go to the next hole again. There's two scores to tie all tie. Now we finally go to the 5th holeMoreWe go to the next hole again. There's two scores to tie all tie. Now we finally go to the 5th hole and tigers back on his game he has a three which is the lowest score of this column here that means
What does skins stand for?
SKINSAcronymDefinitionSKINSStudent Kouncil of Intertribal Nations (various universities)SKINSSKills in INSurance
How do you win a skin?
To win the skin, you must have the lowest nett score on a hole unmatched by any other player within the group.
Do skins carry over?
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How does skins work with handicap?
Skins With Handicaps Skins games can also be played using golf handicaps. A basic example would be: Player A is a 5 handicap, Player B is a 9 handicap, and Player C is a 15 handicap. Working off Player A's handicap, Player B would receive 4 strokes, and player C would receive 10 strokes.
What does skins mean in slang?
slang a cigarette paper used for rolling a cannabis cigarette.
How do you handicap a golf skin?
How to Handicap Skins. Like most golf game formats skins can be played either gross or net. In Net Skins handicap modifications are introduced to level the playing field. Simply compare the handicaps of the golfers in the group and take note of the difference between each handicap and the lowest of the group.
What is skins game?
Updated February 13, 2020. In golf, a " skins game " is a gambling game played within a group of golfers in which each hole has a set value. The golfer who wins the hole is said to win the "skin," and whatever that skin is worth.
Who were the first golfers to play in the skins game?
This event was a made-for-TV tournament that drew huge ratings for its 1983 debut for two reasons: The skins format had never been used in a televised golf event before; and the four golfers who took part in that first Skins Game were Jack Nicklaus , Arnold Palmer , Gary Player and Tom Watson .
Why are skins more dramatic than match play?
Skins games are often more dramatic than standard match play because holes are not halved. When players tie on a given hole, the value of that hole is carried over and added to the value of the following hole. The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff for winning a hole.
What is the third hole worth in golf?
Because of the tie, no skin (and no money) is won. On the third hole - which is now worth $2, because the skin from Hole 2 carried over - B wins the hole and the $2 skin. If there had been another tie, the $2 would carry forward again, making the fourth hole worth $3. And so forth.
When was the first skin game?
Explaining the game and the term, plus winners of the pro version. The first professional Skins Game, played in 1983 , boasted legends Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.
Can you use handicaps in skins?
The use of handicaps in a skins game is up to the golfers in your group. If you're all of similar skill level, play your skins game at scratch . But if there's a wide range of talent in your group, full handicaps are appropriate.
What is skins golf?
In a round of skins golf – also referred as a skins game – golfers compete against the other members of the foursome. A skin is awarded to the lone golfer who posts the lowest score for each hole; no skin is awarded in case of a tie. The golfer who has won the most skins is declared the winner.
How to play golf skins?
How to Play a Golf Skins Game. Each golfer hits his own ball throughout the round but after each hole scores are compared. If one of the scores is lower than all others for that hole then that player is awarded 1 skin and the golfers proceed likewise to the next hole until the end of the round. In case of a tie, no skin is awarded for ...
What does "no carry over" mean in skins?
No Carry-Over: In cases where holes end in a tie, a version of the skins game calls for no carry overs, meaning that the skin is not moved to the next hole but instead will remain unclaimed.
Can you play net skins or gross skins?
Like most golf game formats skins can be played either gross or net. In Net Skins handicap modifications are introduced to level the playing field. Simply compare the handicaps of the golfers in the group and take note of the difference between each handicap and the lowest of the group. That difference will equal how many holes ...
What is a "Skins Game" in Golf?
In golf, a " skins game " is a format where golfers compete for a prize called a "skin" on each hole. The group of golfers (or the event organizer of a formal event) agree to a prize amount for each hole before the round starts.
Example of a Basic Skins Game
For a better understanding of how to play skins, check out the following example of a skins game between three players with a $10 skin for each hole (each player risking $5 on each hole):
Whole Round Skins Games
A "whole round skins game" is an adaption of skins where you don't know who wins until all players complete the round. This format is usually used for skins games spanning multiple groups of golfers.
Progressive Prize Scale
While the most basic form of a skins game has the same prize for every hole, it's also common to increase the skins for later holes.
More Golf Formats
Now that you've learned how to play a skins game, check out our complete list of golf formats for more fun ways to enjoy the game.
When did the golf skins game start?
A skins game used to be a feature of the PGA Tour, with four invited players taking part over Thanksgiving weekend. The competition started in 1983 , when the four who played were Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
What is the game of skins?
Fred Couples with the skins trophy he won in 1999. Credit: Getty Images. Skins is a golf game whereby the players compete for a prize on every hole. This prize is the ‘skin’. The name comes from a bag of money, the bag itself made of skin.
What happens if you win the hole in golf?
If one player wins the hole outright then he wins the skin. If no-one wins the hole outright, the value of the skin gets added to the skin for the next hole.
What happens if you don't win on the 18th green?
If there are skins that have not been won on the 18th green then the game goes into sudden death. The rules for sudden death are slightly different in that an outright win still wins the skins, but if there is a tie for the lowest score, then only those who have tied for the win continue on to the next hole as players.
How many players can play Skins?
It can be played with two players just as easily as 100, skins can be worth anything from a nickel to a Benjamin, there are enough variations, add-ons and wrinkles to keep it interesting for a lifetime, and you can win big in skins even without playing your round-of-the-year.
How to run a skins game for multiple groups?
If you want to run a skins game for multiple groups or an entire tournament, the process is simple. Set the entry amount for each player and collect before the round begins. Typically for larger groups, each skin is worth an equal amount (the amount in the skins pool divided by the number of skins paid out), ...
How much is a skin worth in a threesome?
If you’re playing in a threesome and each person puts in a dollar a hole, you guessed it, each skin is worth three dollars . Next, decide what you’re going to do with any skins that carryover after the final hole. If nobody wins the skin on the last hole, that skin, and any that carried over before that, will be unsettled.
How much does each player contribute to the skin pool?
As a reference, if each skin is worth five dollars and you’re playing in a foursome without any add-ons, each player would contribute $22.50 to the skins pool. To make things simpler, you can choose the amount each player contributes per hole.
What are the different types of pars in golf?
Sandies - Making par or better from the sand. Barkies - Making par or better when at least one of your shots hits a tree. Greenies - Closest to the pin on a par 3. Arnies - Making par or better without hitting a shot from the fairway.
Can you play a skin game after a round at Pebble Beach?
If you have access to the course after your round, you can simply start back on the first tee and playoff for the remaining skins. If you’re adding a skins game to your once-in-a-lifetime round at Pebble Beach, that won’t be an option.
Who wins the skin for the first hole?
You’ve settled the details, now it’s time to play golf. A player wins a skin for recording the lowest score on any given hole. EXAMPLE: Steve , Kristin, Ian and Nicole are playing a skins game and Steve makes par on the first hole while Kristin, Ian and Nicole make bogey. Steve wins the skin for the first hole.
When was the skins game?
The Skins Game was an unofficial-money event on the PGA Tour from 1983 to 2008. It took place in November or December each year after the end of the official PGA Tour season. It was recognized by the PGA Tour but did not count towards the official money list.
Why was the 2009 Skins game cancelled?
The 2009 Skins Game, originally set for Thanksgiving weekend 2009, was cancelled in May 2009 after LG pulled out of sponsorship. The event has not been held since, with no further announcements being made on the future of the event since. Prize money was awarded as follows in 2008:
How many golfers were invited to the tournament?
Only four golfers were invited to the tournament and the golfers played to win individual holes or " skins " in a match play format. Each hole was assigned a different monetary value and the golfer who won the hole with the best score outright won the money for that hole.
Where was the first skins game?
1983: First Skins Game held at Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Arizona, with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player as the participants. NBC televises the event throughout the U.S. with Vin Scully as the announcer.
When did golf rules change?
Rule change. In 2001, the player winning a hole outright had to tie or win the next hole to collect his skins from the previous hole, called "validation". This was very tough to do. Greg Norman was the only one that could back up his win on the previous hole.
What happens if two golfers tie on a hole?
In the event that two or more golfers tie (which is called "halving") on a hole, the skin is carried over to the next hole. In the event that two or more golfers halve the final hole, a playoff began until one golfer won a hole outright. (In a playoff that requires more than one playoff hole, if a player is not one of those ...
What is skins in golf?
A " skins game " is a golf betting game that pits members of a group of four (or three or two) against each other in a type of match play. Each hole carries a value, and the winner ...
Where did the skins game originate?
Do a Google search, or ask enough golfers, and the most common explanation for the origin of "skins" is likely to the one provided by the Web site The Straight Dope ( www.straightdope.com) in attempting to answer the question: "The skins game supposedly originated centuries ago in the holy land of golf, Scotland. ...
When did skins become popular?
The USGA Library writes: "As a format of golf gambling, 'skins' has been around for decades, but really only became popular after the creation of 'The Skins Game' in the 1980s. In other parts of the country, 'skins' is also known as 'cats,' 'scats,' 'skats,' or 'syndicates.'.
What does "skin" mean in Scottish?
Another explanation, more believable but not as frequently offered, is that "skins" derives from the word's connotation of "skinning" an opponent. If someone lost a hole for a large amount of money, they might be said to have been "skinned alive.".
Is "skins" a dollar?
The possibility that the golf use of "skins" derives from its serving as slang for "dollars" certainly makes great sense, given the nature of skins games (where "skins" often represent a dollar amount).

How to Play A Skins Game
Why Are They called 'Skins'?
- When you win a hole in a skins game, you win a "skin." But what's up with that term? Where does it come from? The truth is no one is certain of the origin of the golf meaning of "skins." But there are enough theories about the matter (some more plausible than others) that we have a separate article to address the topic:
What About The Skins game?
- In golf, 'The Skins Game' (upper case) is a reference to a former "silly season" event played by four professional golfers (usually PGA Tour players) each year from 1983 through 2008. This event was a made-for-TV tournament that drew huge ratings for its 1983 debut for two reasons: The skins format had never been used in a televised golf event befo...