What Is a Nassau in Golf?

The Nassau is one of golf’s most popular and historic betting games, and for good reason - it’s the perfect way to add a bit of friendly competition and excitement to any round. Instead of a single 18-hole grind, it breaks the match into three distinct parts, giving you more chances to win and a fresh start even after a few bad holes. This article breaks down everything you need to know about the Nassau, from its simple three-bet structure to the thrilling scenarios that unfold when you start adding presses to the mix.

What Exactly is a Nassau? The 3-in-1 Match Explained

At its core, a Nassau is just three separate bets combined into one round of golf. If your group decides to play a "$2 Nassau," you aren't playing for just two dollars, you're playing for a total of six, broken down into three individual wagers. The bets are structured as follows:

• Bet #1: The Front Nine. This bet covers holes 1 through 9.
• Bet #2: The Back Nine. This bet covers holes 10 through 18.
• Bet #3: The Overall Match. This bet covers the combined result of all 18 holes.

This structure prevents one player from running away with the entire match after a hot start. If you have a terrible front nine and lose that first bet, the score resets on the 10th tee. You get a clean slate and a new opportunity to win the back nine. You could even lose both the front and back nines on the final hole but still win the overall 18-hole match if your margins of victory and defeat balance out right. It keeps everyone engaged from the first tee shot to the final putt.

How to Play and Score a Standard Nassau

The beauty of the Nassau is its simplicity. While you can play a Nassau using various scoring formats, it's most commonly played using match play rules. In match play, you're competing to win individual holes, not just counting your total strokes at the end. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your first Nassau started.

Step 1: Set the Stakes and Format

Before you even hit the first tee, your group needs to agree on two things:

1. The Amount: This is the value of each of the three bets. It could be a friendly $1 Nassau, a more serious $10 Nassau, or even just for bragging rights. For a $5 Nassau, the front nine is worth $5, the back is worth $5, and the overall is worth $5.
2. The Game: Usually, this is just head-to-head match play between two players. If playing with a foursome, you’ll typically play it as a team game, with the most common format being four-ball (also known as best-ball), where each team takes its lowest score on each hole.

Step 2: Play the Front Nine Match

You tee off on the first hole, and the match begins. In match play, your score is tracked relative to your opponent's.

• If you shoot a 4 and your opponent shoots a 5, you win the hole and are now "1 up."
• If your opponent then wins the next hole, the match is "all square."
• If you both record the same score on a hole, the hole is "halved," and the match status remains unchanged.

This continues for nine holes. A match on the front nine ends when one player is up by more holes than remain to be played (for example, "3 up" with only 2 holes left, which is a 3 &, 2 victory). At the end of the front nine, a winner is determined, and the first debt is paid.

Step 3: Reset on the Tenth Tee

This is where the Nassau's brilliant design shines. No matter what happened on the front nine - whether you won big, lost badly, or tied - the match score resets to "all square" on the 10th tee. The back-nine bet is a completely separate contest. You play holes 10 through 18 with the same match play rules, determining a winner for the second wager.

Step 4: Calculate the Overall 18-Hole Winner

Simultaneously, you've been keeping a running tally for the full 18-hole match. The overall winner is determined by the final 18-hole match play score. This is where it gets interesting, as someone can lose the front, win the back, and still win or lose the overall. Let's look at an example.

A Scoring Example:

Let's say Amy and Ben are playing a $5 Nassau.

• Front Nine: Amy plays great and wins the front nine match, finishing 3 &, 2 (3 up with 2 holes to play).
• Result: Ben pays Amy $5.
• Back Nine: The score resets. Ben finds his swing and battles back, winning the back nine match 1 up.
• Result: Amy pays Ben $5.
• Overall Match: For the full 18, Amy was +3 when her match ended, and Ben was +1. Therefore, Amy wins the overall match 2 up.
• Result: Ben pays Amy another $5.

Final Payout: Amy won $10 total ($5 front, $5 overall) and Ben won $5 (back). In the end, Amy is the net winner of $5. The three-bet structure gave Ben a chance to recover from his bad front nine and still win some money back.

Adding Excitement: Understanding "The Press"

The standard Nassau is great, but the match truly comes alive when you add "pressing." A press starts an additional bet that mirrors the original wager, running for the remainder of the holes available. Its main purpose is to give a trailing player a chance to get their money back, but it can quickly raise the stakes.

How a Press Works

Though rules vary group to group, the most common is the "automatic two-down press." Here’s how it works:

• The Trigger: Any time a player or team goes "2 down" during a match (front, back, or overall).
• What Happens: The trailing player or team can "press" the bet. This starts a fourth, identical wager. If it's a $5 Nassau, a new $5 bet immediately begins and is contested over the remaining holes of that nine.

This second bet runs a new, separate match. If you went 2-down and pressed on the 4th hole, this new bet is settled based on the results of holes 4 through 9 only.

Example of a Press in Action:

Imagine Amy and Ben's match again. On the front nine, Ben goes 2 down after the 6th hole.

• Ben decides to "press." A new $5 bet has just started for holes 7, 8, and 9.
• On holes 7-9, Ben plays better than Amy and wins that three-hole mini-match. Ben wins the press bet of $5.
• However, Amy still wins the original front-nine bet because her lead over the full nine holes held up. Amy wins the original front nine bet of $5.

In this scenario, their matchup on the front nine ends in a wash. Presses can be nested, re-pressed, and stack up quickly, adding a thrilling layer of risk and strategy to the game. It’s absolutely essential to be clear on a few things before starting:

• When can you press? Is it only when you're 2 down? Or can you press anytime you're trailing? Agree on this beforehand.
• Does pressing one match affect the others? Traditionally, if you press the front nine, you automatically press the overall match, too. This isn't always the case, so confirm before you play.

Playing a Nassau with Handicaps

Using handicaps makes a Nassau fair and fun for players of different skill levels. In match play, you don't adjust your final scores. Instead, the higher-handicap player gets to subtract "strokes" on certain holes.

Simply subtract the lower handicap from the higher one. The difference is the number of strokes the higher-handicap player receives. So, if Player A is a 10 handicap and Player B is a 16, Player B gets 6 strokes.

These strokes are applied on the 6 most difficult holes on the course, as ranked by the scorecard's "Handicap" rating (1 being the hardest). On Hole #1 (Handicap), if Player B gets a stroke and makes a 5, their net score for that hole becomes a 4.

Strategy for Your Next Nassau Match

Winning a Nassau is about more than just hitting good shots - it’s about managing the three separate matches and knowing when to be aggressive.

1. Mental Segmentation: This is the most important part of Nassau strategy. If you lose the front nine, you must mentally reset. Don't let a bad start bleed into the back nine. See the 10th hole as a brand-new day with a brand-new opportunity.
2. Play Offensively When Behind: If you're trailing big, especially on the back nine, you don't have much to lose. This is the time to hit driver where you might normally lay up, or fire at a tucked pin to try and make an eagle or birdie. You need to make something happen to win holes.
3. Play Defensively When Ahead: If you've already won the front nine by a large margin (say, 4 up), you have a huge cushion for the overall match. You can afford to lose the back nine 1 down or 2 down and still win the day. In this position, your goal is to simply manage your lead. Play safely, aim for the middle of greens, and force your opponent to play great golf to beat you. Don't make unforced errors that give them a chance to steal a hole back.
4. Smart Pressing: Don't press just because you can. Pressing when you're 2 down with only three holes left is a low-probability bet. The ideal time to press is early on the nine when you're 2 down, giving yourself plenty of holes to come back and win the new bet. Remember, a press cuts your time in half, so use it wisely.

Final Thoughts

The Nassau is more than just a bet, it's a dynamic format that keeps every part of a round of golf meaningful and exciting. By breaking the 18 holes into three distinct contests and allowing for presses, it ensures no one is ever truly out of the match, creating comeback opportunities and compelling decisions right up until the final hole.

When you're trying to win those crucial holes in a Nassau, making a smart, confident decision is everything. This is where a tool like Caddie AI can become your edge. You can get instant, shot-by-shot strategy for any hole on the course, helping you avoid big mistakes and manage the course like a pro. Having that expert advice in your pocket helps you play with more confidence and commit to your shot, especially when a press is on the line and you need to play your best.