What is Nassau?
Nassau is one of golf's oldest and best-loved wagers. Instead of a single bet on the whole round, the game is split into three: one on the first nine holes, one on the second nine and one on all eighteen. That means a poor start is not the end of it. You can let the front nine go, hit back on the back nine and still take the overall.
How to play Nassau
- Three separate bets at the same stake: front nine, back nine and the full 18.
- Played by 2 to 4 players. Classically it is a duel between two, but with three or four you must be outright lowest to win the hole.
- Each segment is settled as a match play, hole against hole. Most holes won in the segment takes that segment's pot.
- If a segment is tied, the stake for that segment is returned.
- Fall behind and you can call a press, starting a fresh parallel bet.
What is a press?
The press is what makes Nassau come alive. When you are behind in a segment you can press, which starts a new bet from that hole to the end of the segment, at the same stake as the original. The press is settled entirely on its own. You can lose the front nine bet but win the press you started on the 5th, and even things out that way.
Several presses can run at once. That is why Nassau sometimes ends in a long series of small settlements rather than one.
How Nassau is worked out
Think of three matches played at the same time. In each one you win the holes where you have the lowest score, and level holes are halved. Whoever won the most holes in a segment takes that segment's pot. Add any presses, which are counted exactly the same way but over a shorter run of holes.
It quickly becomes a lot to keep track of, especially with presses running. Wager Golf works out all three segments plus every press automatically, with the right handicap strokes per hole, and shows the standing as you go so you know exactly where you stand.