Two sides · Three results from one round
How to play Nassau in golf
A Nassau tracks the front nine, back nine and full 18 as three separate contests. In the match-play version described here, winning a hole moves your side one up; losing moves it one down. A press adds a new contest without resetting the original.
Turnt Golf game guides · Examples are illustrative, not player results.
One scorecard, three independent matches
The front covers holes 1–9. The back covers 10–18 and starts all square, whatever happened on the front. The overall match uses all 18 holes. Keep all three results visible rather than treating the winner of each nine as one point toward the overall.
For example, Side A wins the front by three holes and loses the back by one. Side A still wins the overall by two holes. Winning a hole by three strokes is only one hole won in this match-play format.
Turnt’s Nassau compares two sides: one golfer against one golfer, or two partners against two partners. In team play, the lower net score on each side is compared. This is not alternate shot: partners play their own balls.
A press does not erase the original match
A press is an additional match beginning on an agreed hole and ending with its segment. Write down both the starting hole and the segment. A front-nine press does not silently become a match through hole 18.
In this invented example, Side A is three down after hole 6. A front-nine press starts on hole 7. A wins holes 7 and 8, then halves hole 9. A loses the original front nine by one, but wins the press by two. Both results stand.
| After hole | Hole outcome | Original front nine | Press from hole 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Starting position | 3 down | Not started |
| 7 | A wins | 2 down | 1 up |
| 8 | A wins | 1 down | 2 up |
| 9 | Halved | A loses by 1 | A wins by 2 |
Manual and automatic presses are different rules
Some groups call a press manually. Others agree to an automatic trigger, such as falling two down. Decide which matches can be pressed, when the new match starts and whether another press can be added. Do not assume “two down” means everyone has agreed to a new contest.
Turnt tracks recorded presses separately from the base match. A prompt suggesting a press is not proof that an automatic press has opened. Check the actual recorded press and its starting hole before relying on it.
Ties and handicap setup
Equal net scores halve a hole: neither side moves up. An all-square segment is a tie. A tied front nine does not carry its result into the back; the overall match still reflects every hole.
Agree on the handicap setup before starting. Read the net scores produced by that setup, not just the raw strokes. Keep the front, back, overall and each press on separate lines when reviewing the round.
See it in Turnt
Actual app capture using fictional demo players. Turnt tracks scores and results; it does not process wagers or payments.
Common questions
Is Nassau stroke play or match play?
The version explained here and Turnt’s described Nassau use match play. Other groups use variants, so confirm the scoring method rather than relying on the name alone.
Can four golfers play Nassau?
Yes. Two teams of two can play a better-ball Nassau, comparing each team’s lowest net score on a hole.
Does winning a press mean I won the nine?
No. The press and the original nine use different hole ranges. You can win one and lose the other, as the example shows.
Find your next game
Further reading: GolfApp’s Nassau overview and its own press variant. Other publishers may describe different rules or product settings. Turnt-specific explanations above describe Turnt’s version.