The three matches, broken down

Match 1

Front nine
Holes 1–9, scored as its own match play contest.

Match 2

Back nine
Holes 10–18, an entirely separate match from the front.

Match 3

Overall
All 18 holes combined, scored independently of the front/back splits.

Because each match is scored hole by hole rather than by total strokes, a player can lose the front nine 2 down, win the back nine 1 up, and end up tied or ahead overall depending on how the individual holes broke. That's the entire appeal of a Nassau: three separate chances to win or lose within one round, instead of one outcome riding on 18 holes alone.

How the betting amount works

A Nassau is usually quoted as three numbers, one per match. "$2-$2-$2" means $2 on the front, $2 on the back, $2 on the overall, for a maximum of $6 at stake per player if you lose all three. Groups can set this at whatever amount they're comfortable with, $1-$1-$1 for a casual group, $20-$20-$20 for higher stakes, the structure doesn't change, only the number does.

Example: Two players agree to a $5 Nassau. Player A wins the front nine (+$5), Player B wins the back nine (+$5), and the overall match ends tied (a "push," no money changes hands). Net result: each player wins $5 and loses $5, a wash for the round, despite a competitive 18 holes.

What's a "press"?

A press is an optional add-on bet that most groups use to keep a lopsided match interesting. If a player or team falls 2 holes down in any of the three matches, the trailing side (or sometimes either side, by agreement) can call a press, a brand new bet that starts from that hole and runs to the end of that same nine. It gives the losing side a fresh chance to win something back, rather than playing out a match that's already decided.

Presses can be pressed again if the gap widens further, which is how a casual $2 Nassau can occasionally snowball into several smaller side bets stacked within the same nine.

Common variations

  • Automatic presses: some groups auto-press the moment any match goes 2 down, rather than waiting for someone to call it.
  • Handicap-adjusted Nassau: players apply their handicap strokes on designated holes, so a mixed-skill group can compete fairly across all three matches.
  • Team Nassau: played in better-ball format, where each side's better score on a hole counts toward that side's match result.