Golf Game Format
Nassau is a golf betting format with three separate bets in one round: the front nine, the back nine, and the overall 18 holes. It's the most popular golf wager because you can lose the front nine but still win money on the back nine and overall.
Nassau Ledger
Match
The Basics
Each bet is independent - you can win, lose, or tie each one
Holes 1-9. Winner determined at the turn. A separate bet from the back nine.
Holes 10-18. Completely independent from the front nine result.
All 18 holes combined. You can win overall even if you lose both nines.
Step by Step
Nassau is typically played as match play
Set the Nassau stakes (e.g., "$5 Nassau" = $5 per bet, $15 total at stake).
Compare scores hole by hole. The player with the lower score wins the hole.
After hole 9, whoever is ahead in holes won wins the front nine bet.
Holes 10-18 are a separate match. The back nine score resets to all square.
After 18, tally the overall holes won. Settle front, back, and overall independently.
Example
A $5 Nassau between two players
| Bet | Player A | Player B | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front 9 | 3 holes | 4 holes | Player B (+$5) |
| Back 9 | 5 holes | 3 holes | Player A (+$5) |
| Overall | 8 holes | 7 holes | Player A (+$5) |
Result: Player A wins $5 net (lost front, won back and overall).
Advanced
The press is what makes Nassau exciting - and dangerous
A press is a new bet that starts mid-nine when you're losing. It's like starting a fresh match from that hole forward. The original bet continues, so you're now playing for two bets.
A press automatically triggers when a player goes 2 holes down. No need to ask - it just happens.
The losing player can choose to press or not. Some groups allow the other player to decline.
Allows pressing on hole 9 or 18 even if not 2-down. One last chance to get even.
Some groups play "flat" Nassau with no pressing to limit financial exposure.
You're playing a $5 Nassau and go 2-down after hole 3. You press. Now you're playing for the original $5 front nine bet AND a new $5 bet that runs holes 4-9. If you lose both, you owe $10 for the front nine alone.
Strategy
Know your exposure before you tee off
| Scenario | $2 Nassau | $5 Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| Base bet (no presses) | $6 | $15 |
| With 1 press per nine | $10 | $25 |
| Worst case (multiple presses) | $18-24 | $45-60 |
Tip: Agree on a "cap" - maximum number of presses allowed - to limit exposure. Common caps are 2 presses per nine.
Free Tool
Enter your buy-in and player count to see how a Nassau pot splits - carryovers, presses, and standard splits included.
No account required. When you are ready to score a live round, caddie.fun settles Nassau automatically from hole-by-hole scores.
The Nassau format was invented at Nassau Country Club on Long Island, New York in the early 1900s. The club's members created it as a way to have multiple betting opportunities in a single round.
A common Nassau is '$2-2-2' meaning $2 for the front nine, $2 for the back nine, and $2 for the overall. You'll also hear '$5 Nassau' which means $5 for each of the three bets ($15 total at stake).
A press is a new side bet that starts when you're losing. If you're down 2 holes, you can 'press' to start a new bet from that point. The original bet continues alongside the press. Presses can double or triple the money at stake.
It depends on your group's rules. Some groups play 'automatic presses' where presses trigger automatically when down 2 holes. Others allow declining. Agree on press rules before starting.
Nassau is typically played as match play - you win or lose each nine and the overall based on holes won, not total strokes. However, you can play stroke play Nassau where lowest total score on each nine wins.
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