Golf Games: Nassau

Nassau Hard to believe it has taken this long to get to, but today we are going to cover the most popular pure golf format in the world, the nassau.  The nassau is one of the oldest golf betting games in existence, starting in the early 1900's. 3 Bets In the nassau there are essentially three "games" between two opponents. The front nine is one game. The back nine is the second game. The third game is for the total of all 18 holes. Typically a betting amount is attached to each game: $2.00 for the front. $2.00 for the back. $2.00 for totals. Match play is the format for each hole of the competition. Lowest score on a hole is worth one point. Ties are a push. A player wins a side, say the front, when they have won more points than there are holes left, as in "three up with two to play." So if one player is up three with two holes left on the front nine, that player wins the front. The back nine starts over at 0-0, however the 18 is a running game for the whole round. Presses A side game to the nassau is presses. Sometimes an "automatic back press" game is initiated. In that case player who loses the front nine automatically presses the back nine. A press is essentially a new bet. With automatic back presses, a payer can lose the front and totals but win the back and back press for a tie. Other presses can be hole by hole. For instance a player may be down two with four holes to go. If that player were to win two of the remaining four holes and tie the other two, he would tie the front nine but win the press 2up. The number of press options in this format is deep. One other point on presses. They are an "agreement" between both players to start a new bet at the point that the press is initiated. If the player who is winning is pressed, he/she has the option to accept the press or not. Most players always accept the presses or will certainly catch much flack from their opponents! By Any Other Name Other names for nassuas include "best nines," or "2-2-2." Declaring The Game At the beginning of the round players may say "I have you for three fives," meaning that there is a nassau worth $5 per bet.  The front, back and 18 hole games are worth $5 each.  Another call at the beginning of the round may be "we are playing for four twos."  Four twos would mean the nassau is $2 per game, with a fourth game being the automatic back press.