Nassau in Golf: Three Bets in One, and How Presses Work

Quick answer: A Nassau is three separate wagers on one round — the front nine, the back nine, and the overall eighteen. A "$5 Nassau" means five on each, so fifteen is on the table before anyone presses.

How it works

Settle on a stake. That amount applies three times over.
The front nine is one match, decided after nine holes.
The back nine is a fresh match, starting level.
The overall eighteen runs across the whole round.

Scoring

Each of the three is usually scored as match play — holes won, not strokes. Losing the front while winning the back and the overall leaves you up on the day.

A press is an additional bet started mid-match by the player who is behind, running from that point to the end of the nine. Traditionally you can press when two holes down. Presses can themselves be pressed, which is how a friendly Nassau turns into a spreadsheet.

When to play it on a golf trip

Nassau suits a head-to-head round between two players, or two pairs, who want more than one thing to play for. Because the back nine starts level, a bad front nine does not kill the round.

House rules worth agreeing first

The stake, and whether presses are allowed at all.
When a press can be called — automatic at two down, or only on request.
Whether presses can be pressed. Say no unless you enjoy arithmetic.
Gross or net.

FAQ

What does a $5 Nassau cost? Fifteen dollars before presses — five each on the front, the back and the overall.

What is an automatic press? A press that triggers by itself whenever a player goes two holes down, with no need to ask.

Can you lose all three bets? Yes. Lose the front, the back and therefore the overall and you owe all three, plus any presses.

Run it without the spreadsheet

GolfTracker Trips scores this format across every round of a trip, alongside whatever
else your group is playing, and rolls it all into one leaderboard for the weekend.
Start free at GolfTracker Trips — up to 8 players and 2 rounds, no card.