How it’s played
Every hole is worth one skin, and a skin is only won outright: the lowest ball on the hole takes it, but any tie for low pushes the skin to the next hole (carryover, on by default), so a halved hole makes the next one worth two. Carried stacks are how a $5 game turns into a $25 hole on the back nine.
Two ways to pay it out. Fixed $ per skin is the classic: each skin is worth the set amount, losers cover the winners. Total split has everyone put in the set amount and the whole total divides by skins won at the end — nobody can lose more than what they put in.
Two optional tightening rules: a quality bar ("par or better" / "birdie or better") means a winning score worse than the bar carries like a tie; and validation makes a skin provisional — the winner must tie or beat the field on the following hole to keep it, or it carries over to the next hole (the last hole needs no proof). Skins is net by default; uncheck handicap strokes for gross skins.
Settings you can change
- Use handicap strokes (net skins)Default: On
- Handicap allowanceDefault: 100%
The % of course handicap each player gets. 100% is standard for this format.
Shown when “Use handicap strokes (net skins)” is on.
- Carry over ties to next holeDefault: On
- Score needed to win a skinDefault: Any
The winning score must be this good or better, otherwise the hole carries like a tie.
- Skin valueDefault: Fixed $ per skin
Total split: everyone puts in the $ amount and the total is divided by skins won.
- Validation (prove it on the next hole)Default: Off
A skin only counts if the winner ties or beats the field on the following hole; a failed skin carries over to the next hole. The last hole needs no validation.
- Gross birdie beats net birdieDefault: Off
Net skins only: when the low net ties, a natural (gross) birdie or better beats a handicap-stroke birdie and wins the hole instead of carrying.
Every game also has its money settings, set on the same screen when the game is added.