Format guide
How to play a Nassau
Three matches in one: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18.
How it works
The front nine (holes 1 to 9), the back nine (10 to 18) and the overall 18 are three separate matches. You can play it one against one, or as two-player teams. Scores reset at the turn, so a bad front nine doesn’t ruin the back.
The press
A player or team who falls behind, usually two holes down, can press. That starts a new match for the remaining holes of that nine, running beside the original. Some groups make presses automatic at two down. Agree whether presses are automatic, optional or off.
Ties
A tied nine can be halved (nobody wins it) or carried over. Agree which before you tee off.
Tips
- Keep the stakes small: three matches plus presses add up quickly.
- Groups vary the rules, so agree the details on the first tee.