Side Games

What side games/bets do you like to play?

Looking for something to do on the weekends with my brother-in-law. I'm about 3-5 shots better than him per 9 holes. He beats me occasionally, if he keeps his driver in play.

I've looked at a few games, but will probably just do skins with him.

Nassau seems interesting but I don't understand the press and automatic press that some people play that with.

The Nassau is the best game for 2. Skins only work well if the players are the same hdcp and there are several players.

You give him 4 shots per 9. Count the 4 hardest holes on the 9 and that is where he gets his shots.

(from http://golf.about.com/cs/golfterms/g/bldef_nassau.htm)

The Nassau is one of the most popular golf tournament formats and golf bets. It's essentially three tournaments (or bets) in one: the front nine, back nine and 18-hole scores all count as separate tournaments or bets.


In a Nassau tournament, the player (or team) winning the front nine wins a prize, the player (or team) winning the back nine gets a prize, and the player or team with the low 18-hole total wins a prize.

As a bet, the most common form is the $2 Nassau. The front nine is worth $2, the back nine is worth $2 and the 18-hole total is worth $2. A player or team sweeping all three wins $6. The type of scoring is really up the individuals. Stroke play or match play? Scramble, alternate shot, best ball? Full handicaps, partial handicaps, no handicaps? You decide.

While the $2 Nassau sounds innocent enough, winnings can pile up if a higher initial bet is made, or if a lot of "pressing" takes place.

A player or team that is trailing in a Nassau can "press" the bet - add the starting amount onto the original bet - for that nine. If the lead changes hands, the player or team now trailing can re-press, again adding the original bet on top of the amount already at stake for that nine. A Nassau that has been pressed and re-pressed and double-pressed and pressed even more can wind up costing someone a lot of money.

Here's where I get confused. It seems that a lot of people play an automatic press when you get 2 DN (obviously matchplay).

What if I go 2 DN after 8, do I pay double with no chance at a comeback?

Can you press for the 18 or only the 9.

I'm sure I'm making it more complicated than it actually is.

I assume that's because of the power of factoring? Doubling a doubled double up makes the bet worth 3 factors the original. (x ^ 3) So a $2 nassau is now worth $16, and a $3 is now $24.

I prefer little games like bingo bango bongo, and the occasional skills comp.

To expand, bingo bango bongo is a 3 point per hole system, and cannot be played when playing ready golf. The first point on any hole is for being first on the green. The second point is for closest to the hole once all players are on the green, and the third point is for the first to hole out.

As for skills comp, it's stuff like you're both lying about the same distance from the hole, and in similar lies. Closest to the pin wins a pint. Long drive on driver-friendly holes, closest to the hole on long putts, etc.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Here is a list of a TON of different games. http://golf.about.com/cs/golfterms/a/formatsbets.htm
Many are the same with different names.