Expert Reviewed: This tool and content were reviewed for accuracy by David Chen, CFA.
Calculate the total pot and the monetary value of a single skin in your golf betting game using this precise calculator. Essential for settling scores quickly on the 18th hole.
Golf Skins Calculator
Calculation Results
Golf Skins Calculator Formula:
Total Pot = Wager Per Player Per Hole × Total Players × Total Holes
Value Per Skin = Total Pot / Total Skins Awarded
Variables:
- Wager Per Player Per Hole: The monetary value each player puts into the pot for each hole played.
- Total Number of Players: The total number of golfers participating in the Skins game.
- Total Holes Played: Usually 18, but can be adjusted for 9-hole rounds or specific matches.
- Total Skins Awarded: The total count of unique holes (skins) won during the match.
What is Golf Skins Calculator?
A Golf Skins Calculator is a simple, yet essential tool designed to quickly determine the financial outcomes of a skins betting game. The core purpose is to calculate two crucial values: the total money collected in the game (the “Total Pot”) and, more importantly, the exact monetary value of a single “skin” won by a player.
Skins is a popular, high-pressure betting format where the lowest score on a hole wins the skin for that hole. If players tie, the skin is often “carried over” to the next hole, increasing the pot for that specific hole. This calculator uses the total number of skins awarded to provide an average value, simplifying the final payout process for the players.
How to Calculate Golf Skins (Example)
- Determine the Total Pot: Multiply the wager per hole per player by the number of players, and then multiply that result by the total number of holes. (Example: $5 Wager × 4 Players × 18 Holes = $360 Total Pot).
- Tally Total Skins Awarded: Count the total number of unique holes won by any player during the round (e.g., 10 skins were won).
- Calculate Value Per Skin: Divide the Total Pot by the Total Skins Awarded. (Example: $360 Total Pot / 10 Skins Awarded = $36.00 Value Per Skin).
- Determine Player Payout: Multiply the Value Per Skin by the number of skins each player won.
Related Calculators:
- Golf Handicap Index Calculator
- Putt Percentage Calculator
- Four-Ball Net Score Calculator
- Stroke Play Adjustment Tool
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A skin is a betting unit awarded to the player who achieves the lowest score on a given hole. If there is a tie for the lowest score, no skin is awarded for that hole, and the value is carried over to the next hole.
When two or more players tie for the lowest score on a hole, the skin (and its corresponding monetary value) is not awarded. This money “carries over” and is added to the pot for the next hole, making the next skin more valuable.
Yes, the skins game is often played using net scores (after applying player handicaps) to ensure fair competition among golfers of different skill levels. However, it can also be played using gross scores.
If skins carry over to the 18th hole and there is a tie, the match either ends with the final skin being split among the tied players, or the players move to a sudden-death playoff hole (like the 19th hole) to determine the winner of the accumulated skins.