What is the Origin of 'Skins,' as in 'Skins Game'?
There is no definitive answer to the question, unfortunately. There are, however, a couple of commonly offered explanations, and one of golf's governing bodies also weighs in on the question.
"The skins game supposedly originated centuries ago in the holy land of golf, Scotland. ... According to legend, furriers arriving in Scotland from other countries, having sailed for months in leaky boats with other smelly sailing men, icky stacks of decomposing hides, rats, and other privations, would, instead of looking for female companionship, a bath, or a decent meal, opt for a round of golf before heading into town.
These furriers gambled their pelts or 'skins' on golf and the name stuck." This version of the origin of "skins" is a legend.
Another explanation, more believable but not as frequently offered, is that "skins" derives from the word's connotation of "skinning" an opponent. If someone lost a hole for a large amount of money, they might be said to have been "skinned alive." This meaning of "skin" is well-known, if no longer common in everyday use. It means to fleece or swindle someone.
Which brings us to one more possible explanation: This one is offered by the Library of the United States Golf Association in its FAQ.
The USGA Library writes:
"As a format of golf gambling, 'skins' has been around for decades, but really only became popular after the creation of 'The Skins Game' in the 1980s.
According the USGA Library, the term goes back only to an antecedent from the 1950s. Given the source, the USGA's explanation seems the most credible, even if their explanation doesn't hold the same charm as the first one, or make as much sense as the second one.
The possibility that the golf use of "skins" derives from its serving as slang for "dollars" certainly makes great sense, given the nature of skins games (where "skins" often represent a dollar amount).