How to Play Nassau in Golf
Nassau is the standard bet for a foursome — three separate games packed into one round, so a rough front 9 doesn't have to ruin your whole day.
What is Nassau?
Nassau splits one round of golf into three separate bets: the front nine, the back nine, and the full eighteen. Whoever posts the lowest total strokes wins each bet on its own — sweep all three and you've won the Nassau outright.
Because each segment is its own bet, a blown-up front 9 doesn't cost you the whole match — you can lose the front, win the back, and still walk away even (or ahead) on the overall. That's what makes it the default bet for most golf groups.
How scoring works
- Three bets, one round: front 9, back 9, and the total 18 — each scored independently.
- Lowest strokes wins the bet. Net score if your group plays with handicaps.
- A tie is a push. Nobody owes anybody on that particular bet.
- Stakes apply per bet, so sweeping all three pays out 3x the base stake.
Scoring example
Alex and Sam play a $5 Nassau — $5 on the front, $5 on the back, $5 on the overall.
| Player | Front 9 | Back 9 | Total 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | 41 | 44 | 85 |
| Sam | 44 | 42 | 86 |
Alex wins the front (41 to 44) and the overall (85 to 86). Sam wins the back (42 to 44). Two bets to one for Alex, but the front and back payouts cancel each other out — so Sam owes Alex $5, net, for the overall bet.
Nassau presses, explained
Most groups add presses to a Nassau: if you fall 2 down in a segment, you can call a press — a brand-new bet at the same stakes, starting from that hole and running to the end of the 9. It gives the trailing player a chance to win their money back before the segment is over, instead of waiting for the next one. Buddies tracks presses automatically once you turn them on for a round, so nobody has to remember which bets are still live.
Pick Nassau, set your stakes, and Buddies scores all three bets — plus presses — live as you play.
Ready to play?
Download Buddies and let the app track every bet, hole by hole.
Download on the App StoreBuddies Bet Tracker is a scorekeeping and tally app. It does not process payments, hold money, or facilitate gambling. All settlements happen between players outside the app.