Skins game -- How does it work with handicaps?

[Rounders]

This year at our year end golf trip we want to play a round with a Skins game. We have different skill levels of golfers and have grouped them into flights (A, B, C) based on their handicaps. My question is how do you apply the handicaps for each flight to the game?

Example:

Flight A has
Golfer #1 Course Handicap: 7
Golfer #2 Course Handicap: 9
Golfer #3 Course Handicap: 10
Golfer #4 Course Handicap: 13

My thoughts:
Golfer 1 plays as a zero for the day
Golfer 2 gets 1 stroke on handicap holes 1 & 2
Golfer 3 gets 1 stroke on handicap holes 1, 2, & 3
Golfer 4 gets 1 stroke on handicap holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

Is that correct?

[Fourputt]

This year at our year end golf trip we want to play a round with a Skins game. We have different skill levels of golfers and have grouped them into flights (A, B, C) based on their handicaps. My question is how do you apply the handicaps for each flight to the game?

That's how I'd do it. Skins is sort of a bastardized match play event within a stroke round, so I'd apply the handicaps as you have listed them. The lowest handicap plays scratch and the others get the difference between his cap and theirs.

[Dugie]

thats how I've dont it too, works OK, if the hanicaps are accurate and no one is sand bagging

[David in FL]

That's my preference as well.

A handicap is designed to provide assistance on those holes where the less skilled player needs it most. If you were to use a full course handicap for all players, the less skilled players wouldn't be getting any help on the holes that they really need it.

[golf60561]

skins is for players of equal handicaps.  handicaps do not work well either full, or played off low hcp. playing off low hcp player gives all strokes between low and all other players correctly. But the differential between all others is allocated incorrectly. resulting in lower hcp players not giving higher hcp players strokes on the hardest holes deferring them to easier holes.

example: 7, 14  & 21 hcp players. 14 gets strokes on 1-7(7 strokes), 21 gets strokes 1-14 (14 strokes). Since both 14 and 21 get strokes on holes 1-7 they cancel each other and hcp advantage doesn't show up until holes 8-14. with more players this snowballs to lower hcp players mostly playing scratch against higher hcps on the hardest holes, while higher players see distinct advantages on easiest holes. players in the middle range get penalize at both ends hard holes against low hcps and easy holes against higher hcps.

we played skins with 14 players the average was 38-48% on the hcp difference between two players was allocated wrong. one player had 57% incorrect. the second low handicap played scratch against 10 others on the 2,3 and 4 hardest holes.

the metrics of this has it if the lower of two players is 9 strokes higher then base player. the other player is 18 strokes higher than the base player all strokes between them are allocated backwards. no strokes 1-9 hardest hole. extra stroke 10-18.

[Fourputt]

skins is for players of equal handicaps.  handicaps do not work well either full, or played off low hcp. playing off low hcp player gives all strokes between low and all other players correctly. But the differential between all others is allocated incorrectly. resulting in lower hcp players not giving higher hcp players strokes on the hardest holes deferring them to easier holes.

example: 7, 14  & 21 hcp players. 14 gets strokes on 1-7(7 strokes), 21 gets strokes 1-14 (14 strokes). Since both 14 and 21 get strokes on holes 1-7 they cancel each other and hcp advantage doesn't show up until holes 8-14. with more players this snowballs to lower hcp players mostly playing scratch against higher hcps on the hardest holes, while higher players see distinct advantages on easiest holes. players in the middle range get penalize at both ends hard holes against low hcps and easy holes against higher hcps.

we played skins with 14 players the average was 38-48% on the hcp difference between two players was allocated wrong. one player had 57% incorrect. the second low handicap played scratch against 10 others on the 2,3 and 4 hardest holes.

the metrics of this has it if the lower of two players is 9 strokes higher then base player. the other player is 18 strokes higher than the base player all strokes between them are allocated backwards. no strokes 1-9 hardest hole. extra stroke 10-18.

It always worked fine for the group I used to play with.  We had players from 4 to 19, up to 15 players in three to four groups with the players randomly matched, all playing handicapped skins within their group, and the results seemed quite fair.  Nobody ever dominated over the course of the season - the money tended to migrate from one pocket to another in an unforeseeable progression.  I was middle of the pack at about 11-12 at the time, and I both took money and donated it back in just about equal shares, and it was just as likely to come from or go to a higher capper as it was to a lower one.

I very much doubt that you could draw any finite conclusion from tracking the results from our games.  The handicap system worked exactly as it was supposed to because we all maintained accurate handicaps.

[b101]

If you're worried about giving away too many shots, giving strokes on 3/4 of handicap is no bad way to go - and more common, I believe.

[golf60561]

The logistics (14 players) insure that everyone has 4-5 holes that you will get a huge advantage.  9-11 holes you get shafted and the balance is mostly fair to you. So you will have chance to win skins but you will have more holes that you don't. On every hole there are 4-6 guys basically playing for the skin . The rest will be rendered irrelevant on that hole.

The handicap system works fine for medal play but the system for breaking handicaps down to single holes doesn't work as hcp differentials gets larger. High handicaps have a few strokes built into the index from blow up holes. If they don't explode those strokes become winners instead of equalizers on single hole basis. Low handicaps have little room for improvement and their gross score is usually their net score.

My Friday group plays skin and 2 low nets and best player we have will not play in the game because the highest handicappers win 80% of the skins. Along with winning the low net too.

[vangator]

I don't get into handicap skins. Only scratch. I really hate playing handicap anything. I had a match a few years ago where I stuck an iron for CTP and a tap in birdie. Another guy who was getting a stroke drains a long putt for birdie. Match over. Never had a chance. I know that's how handicaps work, but I still don't like it.