This is a classic game used among regular foursomes, in leagues and outings and even in nationally televised events.
Skins games basics are simple. Each hole is worth a set amount, and the player with the lowest score on that hole wins the skin. If two or more players tie, then all players are tied and the amount of the skin carries over to the next hole, making that one worth two skins. From there, the skins compound.

Here’s an example:

In this skins game, Sam wins the first hole outright because his three is lower than the others’ (shaded orange).

On the second hole, Mike and Sam tie, so no skin is awarded and the amount carries over to the next hole. No player wins the third outright, either, so it carries on to the next. On that hole, Bill wins outright and wins three skins (shaded light blue).

There are so many variants of this game, it would be impossible to catalog them all. In one, each skin stands on its own. A tie is a wash, with no payout now, or on future holes. This tends to be a low money game.

Another requires a winner to “validate” his win by winning the following hole. If he fails, the skins carry over. So, if Sam wins the first hole, but fails to win the second, the third hole is now worth three skins. In a regular game of 18 holes, it is possible that no one wins in this format.

Another validation format requires a player to score a par or better on the hole following a win.

In “High Handicaps” skins, a player must score better than a double bogey to win a skin. If all players are above double, the hole is a wash. Low handicaps skins requires players to get a birdie to win a skin.

Players can agree to play skins with full handicaps—or—use a variant in which the better players in the group must get a birdie or better to win a skin, while less skilled players can win with any low score.

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On every par 3, the player closest to the hole wins a bet from the other players—so long as he closes it out by making birdie or par on the next hole. If closest to the hole makes a bogey, all bets are off. If he double bogeys or worse, he pays the other three.

As with all golf games, be sure the terms of payout are set before teeing off.

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Elimination is an outing format for four player teams. Each player plays his own ball on the first hole, with the low score counting as the team score. That player may continue, but his score isn’t used again until the reset. On the second hole, the low player again is eliminated. That repeats for the third hole, when the low score of the two remaining players will be recorded. On hole four, the group “resets” and all four scores are again in contention.

This is a good format to ensure that everyone’s score is used at some point during the outing.

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Fairways and Greens awards points to players for hitting fairways and making putts. It’s a good game when there’s a disparity between players in terms of driving distance and irons skill.

For each fairway hit, a player scores five points. However, from that is subtracted the number of putts it takes to hole out once on the green. So, a hit fairway and a three putt scores two. A missed fairway and a three putt scores -3.

At the end of the round, each player totals their scores and a pre determined payout is made.

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This is a great game for people who like silly hats. I have one of the Cat In the Hat’s Fish In The Pot that would be perfect:

The rules are simple: The player with the highest score on each hole has to wear the hat for the next. Bring a camera.

This game features three separate bets: the first birdie of the day, the longest birdie of the day, and the most birdies of the day.

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In this game, players want to avoid scoring points by avoiding trouble. Players can agree on any point system, but generally, you score a point each time you commit any of the following offenses: ball out of bounds, failing to get past the ladies’ tees, ball in a hazard, ball in a bunker, failing to get out of a bunker, more than two putts or a whiff. Players may also decide that some offenses are worse than others, and scale the points accordingly.

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