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How to play Skins.

Skins turns every hole into its own contest. Win a hole outright and you take its skin. Tie, and the skin rides on to the next hole, so one great hole late in the round can swing the whole game.

Players
2 to 4 players
Scored in
Skins
Good for
Any group. Every hole is a fresh chance, however the round is going.

The rules

  1. Each hole is worth a skin.
  2. The one lowest score on the hole wins it.
  3. If two or more tie for lowest, nobody wins it and the skin carries over: the next hole is worth two.
  4. Carry-overs keep piling up until someone wins a hole on their own.

An example hole

Holes 3 and 4 are both tied, so hole 5 is worth three skins. Ben makes the only birdie on 5 and takes all three.

Who wins

Most skins wins. Skins still tied after the last hole go to nobody.

Handicaps

Full handicaps by default, so net scores decide each hole.

Ways to set it up in YipLinks

  • Tied holes: Carry over or Nobody wins it. Carry over: a tied hole adds its skin to the next one.
  • Handicap strokes: Full handicaps or Off the low man.

More games for your group

Stroke Play

Every shot counts. Lowest total wins.

1 to 4 players. Read the rules

Nassau

Three matches in one: the front nine, the back nine and all 18, a point each.

2 to 4 players, in two sides. Read the rules

Wolf

Take turns as the Wolf: pick a partner each hole, or go it alone.

3 or 4 players. Read the rules

Best Ball

Two sides, match play. Your side counts its best score on each hole.

2 to 4 players, in two sides. Read the rules

Stableford

Points for every hole against par. Most points wins.

2 to 4 players. Read the rules

Vegas

Two teams of two. Your two scores make one number: a 4 and a 5 is 45. Low number wins the difference.

4 players, in two teams of two. Read the rules

Sixes

Three six-hole matches, a new partner for each. A point for each match you win.

4 players. Read the rules

Nines

Three players share 9 points a hole: 5 for the best score, 3 for the next, 1 for the last.

3 players. Read the rules

Low Ball, Low Total

Two teams of two, two points a hole: one for the best score, one for the lower team total.

4 players, in two teams of two. Read the rules

Quota

Points for every hole against a target set by your handicap. Beat your quota by the most to win.

2 to 4 players. Read the rules

Bingo Bango Bongo

Three points a hole: first on the green, closest once all are on, first in the hole.

2 to 4 players. Read the rules