Conference 7.286::golf

    I'm not sure this is totally correct, but here goes:
    
    A "Nassau" bet is where the wager is the dollar amount on who wins
    the front nine, who wins the back nine, and the who wins the 18
    hole match. I believe it is holes won, not stroke play.
    
    Can anyone tell me if I'm right?
    
    

    A NAUSAU is a bet made for front nine, back nine and total. It could
    be any denomination you'd like $2, $5, $10, etc. It normally is
    played within a foursome 2 on 2, best ball.
    
    Good luck
    
    Stu,

    
     Just to add to the betting scheme, a "press" can also be wagered
    when ever a side is being won by the other opponent(s), sometimes
    automatically whenever you are two down on a side.  Using automatic
    presses can get expensive, even in a two dollar nassau.

    OK, now I need some more help- I have heard about "Presses" for
    years, but have been unwilling to show my ignorance by asking:
    
    "Whatinell does "press" mean?"
    
    OK world, Stan Z. now shows he's a dummy! 
    
    EXPLAIN "PRESS" TO ME!!!  PUHLEEZE!

    
    
      A "press" is making another bet.  If, for example, you are playing
    a two dollat nassau and are losing the front side (say down three
    with two holes to play) and you press the front side.  You are then
    playing for twoo dollars for the last two holes on the front side.
    You can press at any time, multiple times on any side and total.
    
      

And when you say best ball, say both players of the same team tee off,
do THEY choose or the opponents choose which is the "best ball" and 
is it a must to only choose the longest ball that happens to be in front
of a tree with the other one 100 yards back in the fairway, must you 
play the one in front of the tree.  Please excuse my severe ignorance.
The press sounds something like the Doubling Dice in backgammon (2,4,8,16,32,64)
Isn't there a Nassau Game that goes on a per hole basis?

Kevin

    
    Kevin, best ball is the same as best score.  This NET score.  If
    two players score 4 on a hole and one player according to his 
    handicap gets a stroke on that hole, his net score is 3. If they
    were partners, the team would use the 3 as the score for that hole
    because it was the lowest score, or best ball played by the team.
    
    A press is not a doubling of a bet, but another bet.  It can be
    for a different amount than nassau bet.  A two dollar nassau is
    two dollars for the front nine, two dollars for the back nine and
    two dollars for eighteen holes.  It is match play.  Lowest net
    score wins the hole.  At the end of the front nine you have won
    more holes than your opponent you win that bet.  If your opponent
    wins the back nine they win that bet.  When you total the holes
    you won on the front minus the holes you lost on the back, this
    total determines who won the eighteen hole match.  At any time,
    an opponent may want to make another bet on a side they are losing,
    or in the eighteen hole match (if they are behind).  This starts
    another match for the remaining holes on the side or match, whatever
    the bet is for.  This often happens if they stroke on the holes
    and you don't or they believe they can beat you.  You do not have
    to accept a press if you don't want to.  Or you can ask for, or
    give strokes, as part of the press (bet).
    
    I hope that is a little clearer.  The easiest way to learn about
    presses and nassaus is to play them and lose money.  You learn very
    quickly that way.

    
    
    A "Press" is typically offered or asked for only when a side is
    two holes down. Also another bet frequently used during Nassau's
    is refered to as a "Hog Bet". In a "Hog Bet" the losing side on
    the front gets an automatic side bet on the back nine, with a "up"
    equal to 1/2 the loss on the front. ie. team A beats team B 3 "up"
    on the front side, team B could then ask for a "Hog Bet" on the
    back, and begin the back side even on the back nassau, 3 "down" on
    the 18, and 1 1/2 "up" on the hog bet.
    
    Easy isn't it...........
    
    
    
    					Fred Deady

	My understanding is that automatic presses can get really expensive
	when the match rapidly swings back & forth.  For example if Team A
	gets up by two after 2 holes (& you are playing automatic presses
	after two down) that sets off another bet.  If team B wins the next
	two holes then you suddenly have 3 bets going.

	Bet 1 - All even
	Bet 2 - Team B 2 up
	Bet 3 - Brand new

	It's much simpler to play for your beverage of choice on the match.

	This sort of betting is also the cause of slow play.  My slowest
	round 7 hrs. on the North course at Stow was playing behind a
	foursome with obviously heavy betting going on.  Each hole they played
	slower & slower.  The obviously had side bets & a lot of junk
	(sandies, greenies, etc.)  You could tell by the delay as they lined up
	2 foot putts.  On the 16th hole they putted out, went to the next
	tee to account, & tee off.  We teed off, walked up, putted out, &
	walked to the next tee and they were just starting to tee off.

	Just had to vent my spleen!  Of course Lee Trevino will probably
	recount the character building aspects of playing for money without
	a dime in your pocket.

    
    All of this sounds very complicated, so perhaps I can make it all
    a little simpler.
    
    What you need to remember is that Nasaua is a place in the Bahamas.
    When it is bitterly cold, and snow is on the ground in New England,
    you can go down there with your golf clubs and play a nice round
    of golf, sit on the beach, and have a wonderful time.
    
    To me, this is the true meaning of "a nasua", and it is the only
    one worth remembering.
    
    Jim

    A little history. The NASSAU (corrct spelling) originated at the
    NASSAU C.C. Westbury NY. Circa 1910. A couple of old codgers I'm
    sure banging a feathery over some pasture. Who knows for sure?

    
    Has anyone ever heard of a nassau bet referred to as a meatball?
    
    I was told that it is called a meatball because a meatball sub
    generally has three meatballs in it.