How to Play Nassau in Golf: Rules, Scoring, and Strategy Guide

Published April 2026 · 8 min read

You're standing on the first tee with your foursome, someone says "let's play a Nassau," and everyone nods like they know exactly what that means. Meanwhile, you're over there pretending to fiddle with your glove while quietly panicking.

Don't worry — we've all been there. Nassau is the most popular scoring game in golf, and once you understand how it works, you'll wonder why it ever seemed confusing. Let's break the whole thing down so you can walk up to any first tee and play with confidence.

What Is a Nassau in Golf?

A Nassau is a golf scoring format that splits your round into three separate games:

• Front 9 — holes 1 through 9
• Back 9 — holes 10 through 18
• Overall 18 — the total match across all 18 holes

That's it. Three games in one round. Each game is worth one point, so there are three points up for grabs every time you tee it up. It's the simplest structure in golf that somehow makes every hole feel like it matters — because in a Nassau, it does.

The Nassau format works for match play (hole by hole) or stroke play (total strokes), though match play is by far the most common way to play it.

Nassau Golf Game Rules: How Scoring Works

In a match play Nassau, you're competing hole by hole. Whoever has the lower score on a hole wins that hole. If you tie, the hole is "halved" — no one gets anything.

You're essentially keeping three separate scoreboards running at the same time.

Front 9 Game

Holes 1–9 are their own standalone contest. Whoever is up (ahead) the most holes after the 9th hole wins the front 9 point. If you win 3 holes and your opponent wins 2 (with 4 halved), you're "1 up" and you take the front 9 game.

Back 9 Game

The scoreboard resets on hole 10. Doesn't matter if you were 4 down on the front — the back 9 is a brand new game. This is one of the best things about Nassau: you always have a fresh start at the turn.

Overall 18 Game

This one tracks the entire round. Every hole from 1 to 18 counts toward the overall match. So even if you split the front and back, the overall could go either way.

A Quick Example

Let's say you're playing your buddy Dave:

• Front 9: Dave wins 4 holes, you win 2, 3 are halved. Dave is 2 up. Dave wins the front 9 game.
• Back 9: You win 5 holes, Dave wins 2, 2 are halved. You're 3 up. You win the back 9 game.
• Overall 18: Across all 18 holes, you won 7, Dave won 6, 5 were halved. You're 1 up overall. You win the overall game.

Final score: You take 2 out of 3 games.

How to Play Nassau With Handicaps

Most Nassau games use handicaps to keep things competitive, especially when players have different skill levels. Here's how it works:

Take the difference between the two players' handicaps. The higher-handicap player gets that many strokes, applied to the holes ranked by difficulty on the scorecard (the "handicap" row).

For example, if you're a 15 handicap and Dave is a 9, you get 6 strokes. Those strokes go on the six hardest holes on the course. On those holes, you subtract one stroke from your score before comparing.

This keeps the Nassau competitive even when there's a gap in ability — which is exactly why it's the go-to format for mixed-skill groups.

What Is a Press? (The Nassau Game-Changer)

Here's where Nassau goes from a solid game to the most popular golf game ever invented: the press.

A press is a new side game that starts mid-round. Think of it as a "double or nothing" challenge on the remaining holes. When a player falls behind, they can "press" — which opens up a brand new game covering just the holes left to play.

How Pressing Works

The most common rule is the automatic 2-down press: if you fall 2 holes behind in any of the three games, a new game automatically starts from the next hole forward.

Let's say Dave is 2 up on you after 5 holes on the front 9. A press kicks in. Now you have:

1. The original front 9 game (still running)
2. A new press game covering holes 6–9

You're trying to win both — but at minimum, the press gives you a chance to earn back a point even if the original front 9 is out of reach.

Press Rules to Agree On Before You Play

Always agree on press rules on the first tee. Here are the decisions your group needs to make:

• Automatic or optional? Does a press happen automatically at 2 down, or does the trailing player choose to press?
• Can you press a press? If someone falls 2 down in the press game, does another press start?
• Back 9 presses: Do press rules carry over to the back 9, or does it reset?
• Last hole presses: Some groups allow a press on the final hole of any 9. Others don't.

The most common setup for a casual Nassau: automatic 2-down presses, yes you can press a press, and no last-hole presses. But there's no universal standard — just make sure everyone's on the same page.

Nassau Strategy Tips

1. Don't Give Away the Front Early

It's tempting to shake off a bad start with "I'll get it back on the back." But remember — the front 9 is its own game. Every hole matters. Play each one like it counts, because it does.

2. The Turn Is Your Best Friend

Down on the front? The back 9 is a complete reset. Take a deep breath at the turn, grab a snack, and come out firing. Some of the best Nassau players are back 9 closers.

3. Manage the Press Situations

When a press kicks in, you're now playing multiple games simultaneously. Keep it simple: focus on the current hole. Trying to track every press in your head will distract you from the shot in front of you.

4. Use Handicap Strokes Wisely

Know which holes you're getting strokes on. If you're getting a stroke on a par 5 coming up, play it smart — you don't need to be a hero. A bogey with a stroke is a net par, and that might be enough to win the hole.

5. Stay Aggressive When You're Up

If you're ahead in a game, keep pressing your advantage. Don't shift into cruise control. Closing out games early takes pressure off the rest of the round.

Popular Nassau Variations

Team Nassau (2v2)

Instead of individual match play, pair up into two-person teams. Use best ball (lower score of the two partners on each hole) or alternate shot. Same three-game structure — front, back, overall — but now you've got a partner to lean on.

Skins + Nassau Combo

Play a Nassau for the three-game structure, but also play skins on every hole. This way, every single hole has something on it, and the overall round has the Nassau framework. It's the best of both worlds for groups that want maximum action.

Wolf + Nassau

In a foursome, play Wolf to determine teams each hole while running a Nassau on top of it. This is for groups that love complexity and have someone willing to keep score — or better yet, an app that does it for them.

Points-Only Nassau

Plenty of groups play Nassau purely for bragging rights. Track points, keep a running season leaderboard, and let the results speak for themselves. Pure golf competition with no complexity.

Nassau FAQ

Can you play Nassau in a threesome or foursome?

Absolutely. Nassau works great for any group size. In a threesome, you can play three separate head-to-head Nassaus (A vs B, B vs C, A vs C). In a foursome, play 2v2 team Nassau or individual Nassaus between specific players.

What happens if the match is tied after 9 or 18?

A tie is a tie — the game is halved and nobody wins that point. Some groups play a sudden-death playoff hole, but that's a house rule, not standard.

Is Nassau only for match play?

Traditionally yes, but some groups play stroke play Nassau where you compare total strokes for each 9 and overall. Match play is more common because the hole-by-hole drama is what makes Nassau fun.

What's the difference between Nassau and a regular match?

A regular 18-hole match is one game. Nassau splits it into three, giving you more chances to compete and more reasons to stay engaged even when one game gets away from you.