How Skins works
Every hole is worth one skin. To win it, you need the lowest score on the hole outright — no ties. If two or more players share the low score, nobody wins that skin.
Before the round, agree on what a skin is worth. In OnlyBirdies, as in many groups, a skin is worth the stake from each other player: in a $5 skins game with four players, winning one skin earns you $15 ($5 from each of the other three).
Carryovers
When a hole is tied, the skin usually carries over to the next hole. The next outright winner takes every skin that has built up. Carryovers are what make Skins exciting: three tied holes in a row means the fourth hole is worth four skins.
If you’d rather keep things small, play without carryovers — a tied hole’s skin simply disappears.
A worked example: $5 skins, four players
Anne, Ben, Cal and Dev play $5 skins with carryovers. Here are the first five holes:
| Hole | Anne | Ben | Cal | Dev | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | Tie — 1 skin carries |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Anne wins 2 skins |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Tie — 1 skin carries |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Ben wins 2 skins |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | Cal wins 1 skin |
Each skin pays its winner $5 from each of the other three players. After five holes:
| Player | Skins | Won | Paid out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne | 2 | +$30 | −$15 (Ben 2, Cal 1) | +$15 |
| Ben | 2 | +$30 | −$15 (Anne 2, Cal 1) | +$15 |
| Cal | 1 | +$15 | −$20 (Anne 2, Ben 2) | −$5 |
| Dev | 0 | $0 | −$25 (all 5 skins) | −$25 |
The nets add up to zero, which is a handy way to check your math.
What if the last hole ties?
Decide this before you tee off. The common options are:
- Play it off on extra holes until someone wins outright.
- Split the carried skins evenly among the players who tied on 18.
- Let them go — nobody wins the leftover skins.
Popular variations
Net skins
Players get handicap strokes on the hardest holes, so a bogey with a stroke can beat a par. Net skins keeps the game fair for mixed groups.
Validated skins
To claim a skin you have to “validate” it by tying or winning the next hole. This rewards consistency and stops one lucky hole from winning everything.
Pot skins
Instead of paying per skin, everyone puts the same amount in a pot. At the end, the pot is divided by the total number of skins won, and each player collects for the skins they hold. This is common in large groups and club events.
Skins FAQ
Do you need to win a hole outright to win a skin?
Yes. A skin goes only to the player with the lowest score on the hole by themselves. If the low score is tied, nobody wins it and it usually carries over.
How do carryovers work in skins?
When a hole is tied, its skin is added to the next hole. The next player to win a hole outright collects every skin that has built up.
How do you pay out skins?
Most groups pay each skin winner the agreed stake from every other player. In a $5 game with four players, one skin is worth $15 to the winner. Pot skins is the other common method.
What happens if the 18th hole is tied in skins?
Agree before the round: play extra holes, split the carried skins among the tied players, or let them go unclaimed.
Can you play skins with handicaps?
Yes. In net skins, players receive strokes on the hardest holes by handicap index, and skins are decided on net scores.
