Korean Style Golf Betting Games – SKINS

“GUYS!!! Guys! I just made an EAGLE!”

“No Money, No Matter, No Care”

– Hur Jang

One of my non-Korean friends was so excited when he made his first eagle. The Korean guy we were playing with, in a thick accent, cut him off – “no money, no matter, no care.”

Of course we congratulated my friend on his eagle, and even took some pictures of the hole and the ball. But, we were not playing for anything because everyone’s skill level was different and the non-Koreans were not used to golf betting games. That day we realized something. We had to play for money – even for a dollar. Otherwise, there is no incentive to watch what others are doing. Golf is hard enough as it is, and most of us just focus on what we ourselves are trying do. Yes it is an “individual” sport, but played in match with others. Besides, when we do hit the occasional good shot, it hurts when no one is watching – or worse yet, no one cares.

Koreans will almost always have some wager going when playing golf.

As mentioned in other posts, Koreans need instant satisfaction (8282). So games that run and track things over 9 holes or 18 holes (e.g., Stableford, Rabbit, Nassau) are rarely played by Koreans. There must be a cash result on each hole (so you must bring cash).

Generally Koreans do not like complicated games either.

MatchPlay

When the money game is “friendly” (someone doesn’t like “high stakes”) then a set hole amount is paid to the winner of each hole.

If two or more players tie the hole, then sometimes the loser(s) divide payment of the stake to the winners. This is complicated and rare. Usually if there is a tie, then no one wins and no one loses and the stakes do not carry over. Again friendly, but a little dry, so not as common as Skins (outlined below).

StrokePlay

StrokePlay for Koreans usually means on each hole, the players set a per stroke dollar amount ($1, $10, $100, etc.), and settle up on the spot after each hole. So for example, Player A and Player B par, Player C bogies, and Player D double bogies – if each stroke is $1 then:

Player D pays Player A $2; Player B $2; Player C $1 (-$5 on the hole)

Player C pays Player A $1; Player B $1; but gets $1 from Player D (-$1)

Player B pays no one; but gets $2 from Player D; and $1 from Player C (+$3)

Player A pays no one; but gets $2 from Player D and $1 from Player C (+$3)

The difference in skill level is usually accounted for at the beginning of the round where the better players give cash to the higher handicappers. For players of similar skill level, there isn’t much money in this format unless you have a blow up bad hole, then its mostly bad feelings. So again, straight up stroke play is not as common as Skins.

SKINS

Probably the most common money match format for Koreans.

The prize of each hole is a “Skin” (set dollar amount). The winner of a hole is paid the Skin from each loser at the end of each hole. If you have a bad blow up hole, it doesn’t really matter since the cumulative round score is not determinative.

Push

If there is a tie on Hole 1, then the Skin rolls over (push) to the Hole 2 (now worth two Skins), and if there is another tie on Hole 2 then all the Skins are pushed to Hole 3 (now worth 3 Skins), and so on until someone wins the accumulated Skins. As long as two players push, you can wait for that one lucky hole where you happen to play better than the rest and win!

Handi

Handicap strokes are given to even the competition between players of different skill levels. So, for example, if I am given 5 “handi” on the round (always try to negotiate more handis), then I would get a stroke on each of the five hardest holes on the course (rated Handicap 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 per the scorecard).

Progressive Skins

We will cover all the different variations of Skins games in other posts, but six holes seem to be a common theme for rotation and progression.

A $1 – $2 – $3 (or $2-4-8) Skins Match means the Skin dollar amount increases every six holes. For example, a $1-2-3 Skins Match would mean Holes 1-6 are each worth $1; Holes 7-12 are each worth $2; and Holes 13-18 are $3.

Bonus Skins

Par 3s “On-gap / Sulsa”

On each Par 3 hole, the player whose tee shot is closest to the pin (must be on the green) earns an additional skin whether or not that player wins the hole. This reward is called “on-gap” (money for getting on) – however, if the closest to the pin on the green fails to make PAR or better, then that player must pay all the other players a skin as a penalty. This penalty is called “sulsa” (diarrhea).

Hole Outs

A bonus Skin can be rewarded to a player who chips-in. No penalty for missing, but the hole out should be made with a wedge and the score should be par or better to collect the bonus.

Birdies & Eagles

Birdies are rewarded with an extra skin from each player.

Eagles are two skins when your group is highly skilled. We usually reward $20 for an eagle since they are rare for our group.

If you get an Ace (hole-in-one) then we just leave the course, and you will be paying for a wild night. In Korea, people buy hole-in-one insurance. Seriously.