Skins
Winner takes all
Skins is one of the most exciting and popular golf betting games. Each hole is assigned a value — called a "skin" — and the player with the outright lowest score on that hole wins it. If two or more players tie, no one collects and the skin carries over, stacking onto the next hole. This carryover mechanic creates dramatic, high-stakes moments as the round progresses, especially on the back nine when multiple skins may be riding on a single hole.
Pro Tip
Great for groups of 3-4 players. High-risk, high-reward format that keeps everyone engaged until the final hole.
Rules & Scoring
Winning a Skin
The player with the lowest score on a hole wins the skin outright. If you score a birdie on a par-4 and everyone else makes par or worse, you take the skin for that hole.
Carryovers & Stacking
When two or more players tie for the lowest score, the skin is not awarded and carries over to the next hole, increasing its value. There are two common payout options: (1) Per-hole carryover: each hole is worth a set amount (e.g., $10), and if no skin is won, the next hole is worth double, triple, etc., until someone wins. (2) Total pot: all players contribute to a total pot, and at the end, the pot is divided by the number of skins won—each skin has equal value regardless of carryovers. Choose the method your group prefers before starting.
Handicaps
To keep things fair across skill levels, handicap strokes can be applied to each player (optional, enable if your group wants handicaps). BirdieBet handles this automatically based on the handicaps entered before the round.
Settlement
At the end of the round, each skin has a set dollar value. Players are paid based on how many skins they won. BirdieBet's 19th Hole feature tallies everything automatically.
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Play Skins on BirdieBet
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