The Skins Game Returns
A golf sicko's favorite Thanksgiving tradition is back.
Issue No. 52, November 26, 2025
It’s Thanksgiving weekend. That means turkey, college football rivalries, backyard pigskin games, holiday shopping (yes, we’ll have our own sales, too), and… golf?
Welcome to the From the Drop Zone newsletter, where we’re thankful you’re here and for the support you give us all year long.
I know there are a lot of newsletters out there, and I’m thankful this one found its way into your inbox. Let’s hang out, pour a cocktail, and talk some golf.
This issue of the From the Drop Zone Newsletter is brought to you by members of The Circle Golfing Society. Join The Circle today, the official golfing society of From the Drop Zone, to support our writing and other projects, get discounts to events and merchandise, and be a part of a community of golfers who don’t mind a cocktail in the clubhouse after the round.
This issue is also brought to you by Acorn Hills. Manufacturer of the official From the Drop Zone Polo, we partner with Acorn Hills because of their industry-leading eco-friendly way of giving back to the environment and community. Their clothing tags are seed paper that can be planted and to eliminate waste. And their clothing is high-quality. Use code DROP15 at Acorn Hills to get 15% off your order.
That’s right … golf! You can have your Ohio State-Michigan or the Maui Invitational (close to RIP status), for golf sickos, Thanksgiving weekend was the time for The Skins Game - the original made-for-TV golf exhibition and spectacle.
It blended everything we know about “TV golf:” top-tier talent, big money per hole, and playful competitive banter.
And this year, The Skins Game is returning and reintroducing a long-weekend favorite to a new generation of golf fans.
The inaugural Skins Game occured in 1983 at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona when four legends of the game — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Gary Player — competed.
Broadcast by NBC, with fame broadcaster Vin Scully calling the shots, this was one of the first made-for-TV golf events designed to draw viewers with golf’s superstars.
We know that style now, too. With The Match, TGL, and others in recent years, The Skins Game mix of high-profile names, relaxed atmosphere, and cash on the line on every hole drama instantly resonated with fans.
At its peak in the mid-1980s, the Sunday telecast drew more than 8 million viewers — outperforming even some major tournaments.
It also provided an opportunity for golfers and golf fans to enjoy the game at a time of year when golf season in many parts of the country began to wind down or be over. It scratched an itch for golfers who needed one more taste of the game before hanging up the clubs. And with a leftover turkey sandwich, having golf on the TV in the background of an “I’m just resting my eyes” Thanksgiving hangover nap is a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
The Skins Game was a unique format, unlike the standard stroke play format used about 35 times each year. Only four golfers were invited who competed hole-by-hole for “skins" - a predefined cash amount assigned to each hole. If a hole was tied, that value carried over to the next hole. In more recent editions before its final year in 2008, earlier holes were worth less while the finishing holes were worth larger amounts.
This format lent itself to tension, strategy, and a more freewheeling, fun, playful alternative to the strictness of regular Tour events.
In the original run, Fred Couples was a standout and earned the nickname “Mr. Skins.” He was (still is) emblematic of the event’s vibe. Oh, and he won the event five times and took home millions from his appearances.
However, by 2009, sponsor support was weakening and no replacements were found. That forced the cancellation of the 2009 edition, originally set for Thanksgiving weekend. And without major sponsors, golf tournaments are financially difficult, if not impossible, to run; the Skins Game quietly vanished from the calendar.
But this Friday, the Skins Game is back!
It will be played at Panther National Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and aired on Amazon Prime (because of course it is streaming in 2025) beginning at 9:00am eastern time. That leftover turkey sandwich might have to be moved up to match the time the golf will be on.
This year, the format has a unique twist: a “reverse purse.” In this version, each of the four players — Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, and Shane Lowry — starts with $1 million on the scoreboard and their balance will rise or fall after each hole depending on performance.
Nostalgia and tradition mean a lot to golfers. Some of the game’s traditions are fading (look at what happened to the Western Open!). Reviving The Skins Game brings back some of that nostalgia and longing for a time when everything seemed simpler.
For golf fans, this brings back the kind of “silly season” feel that once made Thanksgiving weekend a low-stakes but high-entertainment payoff: fewer players, more personality, and a playful break from the sterile PGA Tour.
From the (Price) Drop Zone: Par Four Day Pro Shop Sale
This Thanksgiving shopping week, we’re running four different sales in our pro shop. Promotions begin at approximately 9:00am each day. No promo code required, discounts or promotions where applicable, will automatically be applied at check out.
Black Friday (11/28): 15% off all orders, no minimum
Small Business Saturday (11/29): Free shipping on orders $100+ (economy shipping only, order subtotal prior to tax must be $100)
Shirt and Suds Sunday (11/30): Get a free can cooler with purchase of a t-shirt. Get a free pint glass with purchase of a polo shirt. (One can cooler or pint class per order.)
Cyber Monday (12/1): 20% off orders over $35 and $15 socks (only one promo, the larger of the two discounts will be applied)
Visit the pro shop by clicking here. Play hard, pro shop harder.