What Is a Nassau in Golf? Rules, Presses & Strategy
A Nassau is a golf betting format made up of three separate bets in a single round: one for the front nine, one for the back nine, and one for the overall 18 holes. Each bet is decided on its own, so you can win one, two, all three, or none, and a bad stretch never wipes out the whole round.
The Nassau is the most widely played betting game in recreational golf, and for good reason. It keeps a match alive even when you fall behind early, because the back nine is a fresh bet. It works for two players or four, it scales to any stake from a dollar to a hundred, and the only math involved is counting holes won.
This guide explains how a Nassau works, how stakes and presses are calculated, how to play it with handicaps, the common variations, and the strategy that helps you win more of these bets.
How a Nassau Works
A Nassau is three bets rolled into one round. Before you tee off, you and your opponent agree on a stake, and that stake applies to each of the three bets:
- The front nine. Holes 1 through 9 are one bet. Whoever wins more holes in that stretch wins the bet.
- The back nine. Holes 10 through 18 are a second bet, decided the same way.
- The overall 18. The full round is a third bet, decided by who wins more holes across all 18.
The name is widely said to come from Nassau Country Club on Long Island, New York, where the format became popular. Nearly every course and golf group in the country has played it since.
Match Play Is the Standard
Most Nassaus are played as match play. On each hole, the player with the lower score wins the hole, and a tie halves it. You keep a running count of holes won rather than total strokes. A player who is "2 up" has won two more holes than their opponent. Some groups play a stroke-play Nassau instead, where each bet goes to the lowest total score for that segment. Match play is more forgiving, since one disastrous hole costs you a single hole rather than a handful of strokes.
What "$2 Nassau" Really Means
Nassau stakes are named for the amount wagered on each bet. A "$2 Nassau" means $2 on the front, $2 on the back, and $2 on the overall, so $6 is on the line in total.
Here is how the money plays out in a few common outcomes of a $5 Nassau:
| Front | Back | Overall | Net Result for Player A |
|---|---|---|---|
| A wins | A wins | A wins | A collects $15 |
| A wins | B wins | Halved | Even, $0 |
| A wins | B wins | B wins | A pays $5 |
| Halved | A wins | A wins | A collects $10 |
A halved bet is a push, so no money moves for that segment. Because each bet stands alone, the most you can lose in a basic Nassau is three times the stake, and splitting the nines is common.
Understanding Presses
The press is what makes a Nassau feel different from a simple match. A press is a new bet that starts partway through a nine, usually when a player falls two holes down. It covers the remaining holes of that nine, normally for the same stake, and runs alongside the original bet.
Say you are 2 down after the 5th hole. You can press, which starts a fresh bet on holes 6 through 9. If you win that stretch, you win the press even if you still lose the original front-nine bet. Presses give the trailing player a chance to get money back and keep the match interesting.
Manual vs. Automatic Presses
Groups usually decide this up front. In a manual press, the trailing player chooses whether to press and must ask. In an automatic press, a new bet starts on its own whenever a player goes two down, with no one needing to ask. Automatic presses move more money and can snowball, so be sure everyone in the group is comfortable with it before the first tee.
A Press Example
In a $5 Nassau, Player B is 2 down after the 6th hole and presses for $5 on holes 7 through 9. B wins the 7th, loses the 8th, and wins the 9th. In the original front-nine bet, Player A finishes 1 up and wins $5. In the press, B wins two of the three holes and takes the press for $5. The front nine nets out to zero, so the press turned a loss into a push.
Playing a Nassau With Handicaps
A scratch Nassau between two evenly matched players is easy. For mixed-ability groups, use handicaps so each bet is fair. The player with the lower handicap gives strokes to the other based on the difference in their handicaps, and those strokes are used on the holes with the highest stroke index (the hardest holes) on the scorecard.
For instance, if a 10-handicap plays a 16-handicap, the higher handicap player receives 6 strokes, one on each of the six hardest holes. On those holes, the stroke is subtracted from their score, and the lower net score wins the hole. Handicaps apply across the front, back, and overall bets, and strokes may fall unevenly between the nines. That is expected, and it is also why tracking a handicapped Nassau by hand is a headache. For a refresher on where those numbers come from, see our guide to the golf handicap system.
Common Nassau Variations
- Two-man team Nassau. Players form teams and use the better ball of each pair, or combined scores, to decide each hole. This is a staple of weekend foursomes.
- Stroke-play Nassau. Each bet is decided by total strokes for that segment instead of holes won.
- Press limits. Groups cap the number of presses per nine to keep the stakes from running away.
- Pressing the overall. Some groups allow presses on the 18-hole bet as well, usually starting a new bet on the remaining holes.
- Rotating partners. In a foursome, partners change each nine so everyone plays with different people.
As with any golf wager, agree on these rules before the round. Most Nassau arguments come from a press that one player thought was automatic and another did not.
Nassau Strategy: How to Win More Bets
- Treat the nines as separate matches. A poor front nine does not cost you the back. Reset mentally at the turn and play the back nine as a new match.
- Be selective with presses. Pressing when you are two down and playing well is smart. Pressing out of frustration, when you are not hitting the ball well, usually just doubles your losses.
- Press when your opponent is cold. If your opponent just lost momentum and you are two holes behind, a press starts a new bet at a moment you may have the edge.
- Play the match, not the card. In match play, you only need to beat your opponent on the hole. If they are in trouble, take the safe par rather than a risky birdie try.
- Protect a lead late. With a lead on the 8th or 9th, prioritize keeping the ball in play. A press against you only covers the few holes left, so steady pars are usually enough to hold on.
- Know the overall bet. It is the only bet that carries across the turn. Winning the front gives you an edge on it, so a strong start gives you leverage for the back.
Is a Nassau Right for Your Group?
The Nassau shines in two-player matches and foursomes. It gives each player something to play for on every nine, so a round rarely feels over at the turn. It is also friendlier than a single 18-hole bet for players who are still learning, since there are three chances to win.
If your group likes a bit more variety, you can run a Nassau alongside other games in the same round, such as a skins game. Our guide to competitive tournament formats compares the Nassau with other popular options, and setting up competitive golf matches with friends walks through running several games at once.
The hard part of a Nassau is the bookkeeping: tracking holes won across both nines, applying handicap strokes, and counting presses. That is why many groups now use an app. Double Ace Golf supports Nassau as one of its game formats and tracks the front, back, and overall results with live scoring, so you can organize your weekly game without a pencil. On a golf trip, it can also split the winnings and other expenses when the round is over. You can see the formats on our golf matches page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Nassau in golf?
A Nassau is a golf betting format made up of three separate bets in one round: one for the front nine, one for the back nine, and one for the overall 18 holes. Each bet is decided on its own, so a player can win one, two, or all three.
What does a $2 Nassau mean?
A $2 Nassau means $2 is wagered on each of the three bets, front nine, back nine, and overall. A player who loses all three pays $6, and a player who wins one and loses one nets zero on those two bets.
What is a press in a Nassau?
A press is a new bet that starts when a player is losing a nine, usually when they fall two holes down. It covers the remaining holes of that nine, typically for the same stake, and runs alongside the original bet.
Is a Nassau played as match play or stroke play?
Most Nassaus are played as match play, where each nine and the full round are decided by holes won. Some groups play it as stroke play, where each bet goes to the lowest total score for that segment.
What happens if a Nassau bet is tied?
A tied bet is halved, and no money changes hands for that segment. A player can still win or lose the other two bets, so a halved front nine does not affect the back nine or overall bet.
Can you play a Nassau with handicaps?
Yes. Players receive strokes on the holes set by the course's stroke index, and each hole is decided on net score. This lets golfers of different abilities play the front, back, and overall bets on equal terms.
Can I track a Nassau in an app?
Yes. Double Ace Golf supports Nassau among its game formats and tracks the front, back, and overall results with live scoring, so nobody has to keep the running tally on a scorecard.
Want to run your next Nassau without the scorecard math? Download Double Ace Golf and let live scoring track every hole, press, and payout for you.