What is a skins game in golf?

Each hole has a pot (a skin). Lowest score on the hole wins it. If two or more players tie, the skin usually carries over to the next hole — which is why you want it tracked in-app, not on a napkin.

What happens when players tie in skins?

Typically nobody wins that hole and the skin carries to the next hole. Some groups play “validation” rules or split pots — agree before the round.

Can I play a full skins game in Rounds?

Yes. Live group scorekeeping, skins on the round, and in-app settlement — the whole skins game stays in Rounds.

Do I need a separate skins calculator app?

No. Rounds handles skins in-app — scorekeeping, hole winners, carryovers, and settlement.

Can skins work with handicaps?

Some groups play gross skins; others net. Decide up front. Either way, honest hole-by-hole scoring is what keeps the game fair — and that’s what the live card is for.

Golf skins

Skins golf that doesn’t fall apart after a three-way tie

Lowest score wins the hole. Ties carry. Then someone asks “wait, how many skins is that?” Rounds runs skins with a live scorecard — hole winners, carryovers, and settlement — so you never need a separate skins calculator.

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Skins rules, plain English

Each hole has a pot (a skin). Lowest score on the hole wins it. If two or more players tie for low, nobody wins — the skin usually carries to the next hole, and the pot grows. That’s why skins gets spicy on stretch runs of halves, and why napkin math fails after a few carries.

Carryovers are where groups lose the plot

A clean birdie after three carried skins is a big swing — if everyone agrees the carry count is right. Enter scores hole by hole in Rounds so winners and carries stay attached to the live card instead of a half-remembered tally on the tee.

Skins pots plus side action

Many groups run skins as the main game and still fire head-to-heads or birdie pots on top. Because Rounds is live scorekeeping plus peer-to-peer challenges, the skins game and the side bets can share one round.

Validation at the 19th hole

When 18 is done, settle in-app from the scores you already entered. No “did hole 11 carry?” debate. Free for most features on the App Store for iOS — built for the group round, not yardages.

Worked example

Example hole with a carry

Setup

Four players, $5 a skin. Holes 6 and 7 tie for low — two skins carry. On hole 8, Jordan makes birdie alone.

Result

Jordan wins three skins ($15 from each of the other three if your house rule pays the full carried pot that way — agree before you tee off). Rounds keeps winners and carries on the live card so you’re not reconstructing hole 6 while standing on 9.

How to play skins in Rounds

Agree stakes and carry rules
Set the per-skin amount and whether ties carry. House rules first — then play.
Keep the live scorecard
Everyone’s scores go in hole by hole so “who won the skin?” isn’t a debate.
Track skins with the round
Hole winners, carries, and the money on them stay with the live card inside Rounds.
Settle in-app
When 18 is done, settle from the scores you already entered. No second skins calculator.

Frequently asked questions

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Live scoring, side bets, and in-app settlement — free for most features on iOS.