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What Is a Nassau Bet?
The Nassau is the most popular and enduring golf betting format, invented at the Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, New York around 1900. It consists of three separate bets in one: the front 9, the back 9, and the overall 18. Each bet is for the same agreed-upon amount, making a "$10 Nassau" potentially worth $30 total ($10 for each of the three bets).
The beauty of the Nassau is that a player who has a terrible front 9 can still win two of the three bets by winning the back 9 and overall. This keeps the match competitive throughout the entire round. Many groups add "presses" -- automatic or optional additional bets triggered when a player falls behind by a specified number of holes.
Nassau Scoring System
In net Nassau play, handicap strokes are distributed across holes. The lower handicap player gives strokes to the higher handicap player based on the difference in their course handicaps. These strokes fall on the holes with the lowest stroke index numbers. For the front 9, approximately half the strokes are applied; for the back 9, the remaining half.
Skins Game Explained
Skins is another popular golf betting game often played alongside a Nassau. Each hole has a set value (the "skin"). The player with the lowest score on a hole wins the skin. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole, increasing the value. Carry-over skins can make later holes worth multiple times the base value.
- Standard skins: Each hole worth one skin, ties carry over
- Increasing skins: Holes 1-6 = $1, 7-12 = $2, 13-18 = $3
- Validation skins: Must make par or better to win a skin
- Net skins: Use handicap-adjusted scores for skin determination
Common Golf Betting Games
| Game | Format | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau | 3 bets: Front, Back, Overall | 2 players, match play |
| Skins | Lowest score wins each hole | 3-4 players |
| Wolf | Rotating captain picks partner | 4 players |
| Bingo Bango Bongo | Points for first on, closest, first in | Mixed skill levels |
| Dots (Trash) | Points for birdies, sandies, etc. | Any group size |
| Vegas | Team scores form 2-digit numbers | 4 players (2 teams) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a press in a Nassau?
A press is a new side bet that starts from the current hole and runs through the end of the current 9 (or 18). It is typically triggered when a player falls 2-down in any of the three Nassau bets. Some groups use automatic presses (mandatory when 2-down), while others allow optional pressing. Each press is worth the same amount as the original Nassau bet.
How do handicap strokes work in a Nassau?
The difference in course handicaps determines how many strokes the higher handicapper receives. These strokes are distributed by hole stroke index. For example, if Player A has a 10 handicap and Player B has an 18 handicap, Player B receives 8 strokes on the 8 hardest holes (stroke index 1-8). On those holes, B's net score is their gross score minus one.
Can a Nassau result in a tie?
Yes. Each of the three bets can result in a tie (called "halved"). When a bet is halved, no money changes hands for that portion. If both players shoot the same net score for the front 9, that bet is halved, but the back 9 and overall bets are still in play. Some groups have "no ties" rules where the bet carries over.