The Game

Main Game

Our main game is simple: $35 buy-in, $15 for skins and $15 for low net score, using 85% handicaps for both (plus a $5 tournament fee that pays for our online scoring system and other expenses).

Skins

The skins game pays for both gross skins (not handicapped) and net skins (85% handicaps). Usual payout per skin is around $20-$60.  More details on the Skins Page.

Low-Net

The low net game is similar to a Nassau and pays for low net scores (1st, 2nd, & 3rd, depending on the size of the field) on the front nine, back nine, and total for 18 holes.  We use 85% handicaps for this game as well.  First time players are not eligible for low-net prizes.  More details on the Low-Net Page.

The game includes BOTH skins and Low-Net Score.  Participation in both skins and Low-Net is mandatory (except for first time players).  This is done because we use handicaps, which won’t be accurate unless players are trying to shoot a low score (see Handicapping and Fairness page for more info).

Generally speaking, we play the same game every week, though there are a few exceptions per year when we play scrambles or other formats.

Optional Games

In addition to the main game, we offer several optional games for those who enjoy multiple wagers and/or higher stakes.  These are all totally optional and no one is ever pressured to play any game that they do not want to play.

Eagle Pot

Weekly buy-in is $5. The pot carries over until someone makes a natural eagle (no handicaps).  First time buy-in is $20, plus $2 for each week that the pot has carried over.  After that, the buy-in is $5 per week.  If you miss a week, you must pay $2 for each week that you missed.  More details on the Eagle Pot Page.

Higher Stakes Skins & Low Net

This game is offered optionally for those with an appetite for higher stakes.  Usual stakes are between $30 and $70, and buy-in varies based on the consensus of those who opt in.

This game is structured exactly like our main game, as described above (skins and low net, 85% handicaps).  The only difference is the stakes, and the number of players who elect to play.

Although the format is identical to the main game, the pots are totally separate.  And because the number of players who elect to play is different than the main game, the payouts, will all be different.  For instance, if Players A and B both make birdies to cover each other for a skin in the main game, but Player A opts out for the secondary game, the Player B’s birdie will no longer be covered.

Signing Up To Play

Once you are on our email list, you will receive an email every week announcing that week’s game.  In the email will be a link to a sign up page.  When you sign up to play, you are automatically entered in our main game. If you’d like to play in any of the optional games, you must notify us which games you’d like to participate in.

First-time participants are invited to play only in the skins portion of the primary and secondary games.  The reason for this is because we had a few first timers win all the money and not come back, so we just want to let everyone get to know you first. After your first round with us, you must play in both the skins and the low net games.  The good news is that your first-round buy-in is only $15!

Payouts

Payouts for skins are simple. The skins pot is divided by the number of skins and the entire skins pot is paid to the winners.  

Payouts for Low-Net depend on the number of players in the field, however, 100% of the buy-in money is paid out to winners.  We take no cut of any pot. You can find very detailed description of how the low net payouts work on the Low-Net Page.

Handicap calculations

We accept GHIN handicaps (or other course/league handicaps) as a starting handicap for your participation in our game.  After that, your handicap will be based on actual performance in the games you play with us.  We keep handicaps for all players who play with us.  This mitigates any differences in performance due to stress, playing riskier for skins, etc.  If you do not have a GHIN handicap or other handicap, we can work with you to establish a pretty good guess for a self-declared handicap.

We calculate handicaps based on the same USGA guidelines and mathematical formula used by the USGA/GHIN system, with one change; we use only best 5 of last 10 scores instead of 10 of last 20 (see below for when a new player has fewer than 10 rounds).  We even use the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) to adjust gross hole-by-hole scores for handicap calculations, as stipulated by the USGA, with one small adjustment: the highest score any player can take on any hole for purposes of handicapping is a double bogey (this is the same as the USGA rule for 0-9 handicappers).

Course handicap: 

Once we calculate 85% of every player's handicap, we adjust the handicap for each course using the USGA's slope rating system.  This usually adjusts the  final handicaps used in the game upward anywhere from one tenth of a stroke, to over 2 full strokes depending on the difficulty of the course and the player's handicap.  Higher handicap players will get more benefit on harder courses.  This is probably far more detailed than you wanted to know, but if you are one of the sick souls like us who need all the details, check out the Handicaps page, which has all of the scores, calculations, course ratings, scoring history, winnings history, etc.

For protection of players with established handicaps in our game, we take the following measures:

1) Prior to getting 10 scores, we use best 1 differential if 1-3 rounds that have been played, best 2 of 4-6, best 3 of 7-8, and best 4 of 9.  

2) A new player's handicap can go down but cannot go up from where he declared it until after his 4th round. 

     -  If a new player declares a 6 and shoots 72, his handicap will go down.  If he shoots 95, it will not.  

     -  Once he has 4 rounds, his handicap will fully reflect his performance in the game, and his declared handicap is no longer relevant.