Three bets, one round
A Nassau splits a single round into three independent matches for the same stake:
- The front nine — holes 1–9.
- The back nine — holes 10–18.
- The overall 18 — all eighteen holes.
So a “$5 Nassau” isn't $5 on the round — it's $5 on the front, $5 on the back, and $5 on the 18. There's up to $15 on the line, and the three bets settle separately. Lose the front by a mile and you can still split the day by taking the back and the 18.
How each bet settles
Each match is decided by comparing the two sides' scores over its holes. GolfTrip settles every Nassau on each side's best ball— the lower of the side's two scores on each hole — totaled across the segment. The lower total wins the bet. A tie halves it: no money changes hands and you move on.
| Bet | Holes | Who wins it |
|---|---|---|
| Front nine | 1–9 | Lower best-ball total over the front |
| Back nine | 10–18 | Lower best-ball total over the back |
| Overall 18 | 1–18 | Lower best-ball total over the full round |
The three are genuinely independent — the front-nine result does notcarry into the back. That's the whole appeal: every nine is a fresh start, and the 18 keeps the steady side in it even after one bad stretch.
Presses — the bet inside the bet
A pressis a new bet a losing side starts in the middle of a match, usually once they go two down. It runs from that hole to the end of the nine and stacks on top of the original — so the loser gets a fresh chance to win their money back without erasing the bet they're already losing. A heated round can finish with the front, the back, the 18, and a handful of presses all settling at once.
Presses are optional and entirely a house rule — agree before you tee off whether they're automatic (every time a side goes two down) or by request. GolfTrip ships the three core matches; presses are the kind of running side-deal you settle in the cart.
House rules worth settling first
| Decision | The common call |
|---|---|
| The stake | One number for all three bets (a “$5 Nassau”). |
| Net or gross | Net (handicaps applied) keeps a mixed group fair. |
| Presses | Automatic at two down, or only when a side calls one. |
| Format underneath | Best ball per side is the default; singles work too. |
Common questions
What are the three bets in a Nassau?
A Nassau is three separate bets settled from one round: the front nine, the back nine, and the overall 18. Each is its own match for the same stake — so a classic "$5 Nassau" is really $5 on the front, $5 on the back, and $5 on the 18, with up to $15 on the line.
What happens when a Nassau bet ties?
A tied bet halves — no money changes hands for that match. If the two sides post the same best-ball total on the front nine, the front-nine bet washes, and you move on to the back nine and the 18 as their own independent bets.
What is a press in a Nassau?
A press is a brand-new bet a losing side starts mid-match — usually once they fall two down — that runs from that hole to the end of the nine. It stacks on top of the original bet, so a round can finish with several small presses settled alongside the front, back, and 18.
Why Nassau is worth running
Nassau is the bet that keeps everyone honest to the last putt. One disaster on the front nine can't sink the day, because the back and the 18 are still live — so nobody mentally checks out at the turn. It's simple to explain, scales to any stake, and works on top of almost any format. The only headache is the bookkeeping: three running matches plus presses is a lot to track by hand, which is exactly the part GolfTrip does for you.