If you play golf for a while and hear people say “Nassau” and don’t know what it is and how it functions. You may not be alone. A few of my friends don’t know about Nassau either.
Golf is a sport, and it also is a game. And when playing games, we usually add something to make it become more interesting. And betting is an excellent option. It can promote emulation and eager players to try their best to win.
Nassau is the name of a golf wager. If you try to explore it by yourself, you may spend days or more and need help to clarify how it works. Let me help you by using my knowledge and experience in golf to explain how to play a Nassau below.
Table of Contents
What Is a Nassau in Golf?
The name Nassau may make you misunderstand that this game is complicated. However, I assume that it is the most popular wager and is easy to play. People play Nassau on weekends and even in tournaments.
First of all, we should understand that Nassau divides into three separate bets: the front nine (holes 1 – 9), the back nine (holes 10 – 18), and overall 18 holes. Money is wagered to the best score of each bet.
For example, if you play 3 dollars on each part, then when you can not win, you only lose nine bucks in total.
A Nassau is usually applied in match play, but other game formats like a stroke can easily adapt it. Moreover, you can play Nassau with or without a handicap. Therefore, many players like to use this type of wager.
Besides, I bet that you are curious about the name Nassau like me when I first entered golf games. And surprisingly, it is not the player or other human’s names. According to golfmonthly.com, it comes from the Nassau Country Club on Long Island.
In the Nassau golf club, players often win club matches.
And when they play their invented way of wager, no one has to be embarrassed by defeat anymore. If you lose all the matches, your result is 0 – 3.
And even when you did not win the front nine, you can regain the back nine and even tie the whole game or shorten the score to 1 – 2. This sounds better than losing a game with 0 – 7 or 0 – 8. Therefore, the word “Nassau” is added to golf vocabulary.
For more information about the origin of Nassau, you can refer to the video below:
If you’re interested in learning about other golf terms, like the mulligan, feel free to check my article on it.
The Nassau Format and Rules
Before playing any games, the compulsory thing is to read and understand the format and rules of the game. The Nassau is popular, and many players choose to add it to their matches. However, it does not mean you just have to grab a ball and strike it to score.
1. The Nassau Format
Basically, Nassau is played in match and stroke play.
If you choose to count the stroke, you need to pay attention to each other’s handicap scores. The low handicapper can have more strikes. For example, you are ten handicapped, and your friends are 5. You can get five strokes first.
If you play Nassau by team versus team, the match format is more suitable. Because in a group of players, not all the members have the same handicap index. Therefore, counting each individual hole is the best idea in this case.
Playing Nassau in a foursome game is the most popular way that my friend and I love to play. You can see the video below to learn more about it:
Besides, if you lose and want to get your money back, you can offer your opponent a “press” at any point in the match. The other player has the right to accept or decline your press. However, people usually choose to give you a chance as a polite etiquette in golf.
A press can be considered a side bet. It helps players break even or minimize the money loss. Though, I assume you need to be careful because a 2-dollar press can expand to 50 ones when involving the presses.
2. The Nassau Rules
The Nassau wager is an open game in which players can decide the rules that suit their game. Depending on the scale of your games, whether you play as a team or as an individual, the rules need to change.
However, I think you can understand the basic terms below:
- In original bets or side bets as presses, the monetary value in each round is equal.
- The lower handicapper is the one who strikes first. The number of his priority shots is the difference between his handicap and his opponent’s index.
- The losing team or individual is the one who can offer the press at any point of the match.
FAQs
After reading all the definitions, formats, and rules about Nassau above, I bet you can have something that needs to be explained. This is the reason why I chose the frequently asked questions and answered them for you below.
What Is a 5 Dollar Nassau?
A 5-dollar Nassau bet is when you spend 5 dollars for each part of the round (the front nine, back nine, and the total 18 holes). The maximum money you can lose is 15 dollars (5 dollars x 3). When you win all parts, the biggest prize you can receive is 45 dollars (15 dollars x 3).
What Is a 5 5 5 Nassau?
A 5 5 5 Nassau is similar in meaning to the 5-dollar Nassau. In this case, as an individual or a team, you need to spend 5 dollars for each part of the match (front nine, back nine, and overall). The number in Nassau is the amount of money you should spend.
How Do You Keep Score in Nassau?
In Nassau, there are three results: win, loss, and tie. The scores are the number of holes or strokes, depending on the game format you choose. Once a team or an individual player loses all the remaining holes, the game is over.
Final Thoughts
If you are a newbie in golf betting and want to know about Nassau, you may not want to miss my article. I used all my experience and reliable sources I have to explain to you, from the origin of the name Nassau to the rules to play.
Don’t hesitate to comment with your thoughts in the box below. I would love to hear everything from you. Please share my article with your buddies if you find it interesting. Good luck, and I hope you have the best game day ever!
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