Golf App
for Nassau

How bagboy runs Nassau — front, back, overall, presses, handicap strokes, live tracking, and settlement.

bagboy runs the entire Nassau for you

bagboy is the best app for running a Nassau bet in golf. Set the per-bet amount, choose individual or team, configure press rules, and play. bagboy tracks the front nine, back nine, and overall match in real time, applies handicap strokes automatically, manages every press, and settles who owes who at the end. No mental bookkeeping, no confusion about how many presses are active, no post-round arguments. Download bagboy free on the App Store.

For a full explanation of Nassau rules, strategy, and press etiquette, see the complete Nassau guide.

Setting up Nassau on bagboy

When you create a round and add Nassau as a game, you configure a few settings:

Per-bet amount

This is the value of each of the three Nassau bets: front nine, back nine, and overall 18. A "$10 Nassau" means three $10 bets -- $30 total at stake (before presses). Every press adds another bet at the same amount.

Individual or team

In a foursome, Nassau can be played as individual match play (each player vs. every other) or as a 2v2 team match. In team Nassau, the best ball of each team is used on each hole. bagboy supports both formats.

Press rules

This is the most important setting. You choose:

• Manual presses. A player who is down can call a press -- a new sub-bet from the current hole through the end of the nine.
• Automatic presses. The match automatically presses when a player falls behind by a set number of holes (usually 2-down). Cascades: fall 2-down on the press, another fires.
• No presses. Just the three base bets. Simpler, but less exciting.

Once configured, the keeper enters scores on the shared scorecard. bagboy handles everything else.

How Nassau works during the round

Nassau is match play scored over three segments: front nine, back nine, and overall 18. On each hole, the lower net score wins the hole; ties are halved. bagboy tracks all three matches in real time on the scorecard.

The three-match structure is what makes Nassau the most popular format in group golf. You can lose the front nine badly and still win on the day by taking the back and the overall. There is always something to play for.

Presses: manual and automatic

Presses are what make Nassau exciting and what make it nearly impossible to track without an app. A press is a new bet that starts from the current hole and runs to the end of the relevant nine (or round). Every press is worth the same amount as the base Nassau bet.

Manual presses

On bagboy, any player can call a press at any time. The press appears as a new line in the match standings. You are down 2 after 5 holes? Press from hole 6 through 9. Now you have two bets on the front: the original (2-down) and the press (even). Win the press and you recover some of what you lost.

Automatic presses

With auto-presses, bagboy creates a new press whenever a player falls behind by the configured threshold (typically 2-down). This cascades: fall 2-down on the auto-press, another press fires. A $10 Nassau can generate five or six active bets by the end of the round. With six bets at different starting holes, no one can track them in their head. bagboy shows every bet, its status, and its starting hole in real time.

Handicap strokes applied automatically

In Nassau, handicap strokes are critical because every hole is a match play contest. On bagboy, the keeper always enters gross scores. bagboy calculates the handicap difference, places strokes on the correct holes via the stroke index, compares net scores to determine each hole's winner, and updates all match standings and presses instantly.

Manual Nassau requires looking up the stroke index and adjusting scores on every hole. On bagboy, the keeper enters "5, 6" and the app handles the rest.

What you see on your phone during the round

Every player sees live Nassau status: front nine match ("2-up through 7"), back nine match, overall match, and every active press with its starting hole and current status ("Press from 6: 1-down through 8"). You always know exactly where every bet stands.

Settlement at the end

After the 18th hole, bagboy settles every bet: front nine, back nine, overall, and each press individually. Everything combines into one net total per player. In a foursome with auto-presses, settlement can involve a dozen bets. bagboy resolves all of them instantly -- no 20-minute parking lot argument.

Full Nassau example

Two players: Alex (10 handicap) vs. Ben (18 handicap). $10 Nassau, auto-press at 2-down. Ben gets 8 strokes on the 8 hardest holes (stroke index 1-8).

Through 6 holes the front nine match is all square. No presses have fired. Ben's strokes on SI 1, 3, 5, 7 have kept the match competitive despite Alex being the better gross scorer. bagboy shows this exact status in real time -- neither player has to remember who got a stroke on which hole. They play golf; bagboy does the bookkeeping.

Frequently asked questions

How many players can play Nassau on bagboy?

Two to twelve, individual or team. The most common formats are 1v1 (two players) and 2v2 (foursome, team best ball).

Can I play Nassau and skins at the same time?

Yes. Nassau and skins are the most popular combination. One set of scores powers both games. See the skins guide for how skins work on bagboy.

What if we play only 9 holes?

bagboy supports 9-hole Nassau. The front nine bet runs as normal. There is no back nine or overall bet -- just the one 9-hole match.

Can I limit the number of auto-presses?

Yes. You can cap auto-presses at a set number (e.g., max 2 presses per nine) to keep the stakes from cascading beyond what your group is comfortable with.

Does bagboy handle team Nassau (best ball)?

Yes. In a 2v2 team Nassau, bagboy compares the best net score from each team on every hole to determine the hole winner. Strokes are applied individually, then the best ball from each team is compared.

Related