Nassau
Three matches in one — front, back, overall
Three separate match-play bets running simultaneously: front 9, back 9, and the overall 18. Most popular friendly bet in golf — usually written as '$5/$5/$5'.
The rules
Three matches
Front 9, back 9, and overall 18 are scored as independent matches. Each has its own stake. You can win one and lose another.
Presses
When losing a match, the trailing team can call a 'press' — a fresh side bet starting from the current hole through the end of that segment. Auto-press at 2-down is standard.
The math
Each match settles independently. A typical $5/$5/$5 with one press could mean swing of $20+ on a single round.
Nassau with auto-presses
- 1.Front: Team A wins original ($5). Auto-press triggered on 4 → Team B wins press ($5). Front nets $0.
- 2.Back: Team A dominates 4 & 3, wins original + press ($10).
- 3.Overall: Team A 1up at 18 ($5).
- 4.Total: Team A wins $15.
Variations
- ·Skin-presses-on-loss — automatic when down 1
- ·Cumulative presses — each press doubles stakes
Nassau bet calculator
Enter the stakes and who won the front, back, overall, and any presses — get the settlement.
When to play
The classic. Pick this if you don't know what you want to play.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Nassau in golf?
A Nassau is really three bets in one round: one match for the front nine, one for the back nine, and one for the overall 18 holes. Each has its own stake, so a '$5 Nassau' (written $5/$5/$5) means $5 on each of the three — you can win one segment and lose another.
What does a press mean in a Nassau?
A press is a brand-new side bet a trailing team starts mid-segment, running from that hole to the end of the nine. It's a chance to win back what you're losing. Many groups play 'auto-press' where a new press kicks in automatically whenever a team falls two holes down.
How much can you win or lose in a Nassau?
Without presses, the most you can swing is three times the stake (front, back, overall). Presses add more bets on top, so a $5 Nassau with a couple of presses can easily swing $20–$30. Use the Nassau calculator to total it up.
How do you settle a Nassau bet?
Settle each of the three matches independently — win, loss, or push — then add any presses. Net it all out to a single figure that one side owes the other. mashie tracks every segment and press live so the number is right at the 18th.
mashie scores Nassau automatically and settles up at the end. See how it works