Guides
The golf side game playbook.
Plain-English guides to the games your group already argues about: the Nassau, the press, and every format worth putting a friendly number on. Written by the team behind Press Tracker.
Start with the Nassau game (three separate bets in one round: the front nine, the back nine, and the total 18-hole match) and the press bet that rides on the remaining holes. Then work through skins, Stableford, scrambles, best ball, and the player-count games. Every guide covers the rules, the side bets, and how the format plays for any player or team.
- NassauHow to play a Nassau: golf’s favorite betting game.What a Nassau bet is and how to play it: front nine, back nine and overall matches, payout examples, presses, and variations of golf's classic 2-2-2 game.7 min read
- PressesWhat is a press in golf? Rules, auto-presses, and chains.A press is a new side match that starts when a team falls behind, usually 2 down. Press rules, the 2-down auto press, re-presses, air presses and etiquette.9 min read
- FormatsGolf side games: every format worth playing.The best golf betting games and side games for your group: Nassau, skins, match play, Stableford, Wolf, Vegas and more, and which ones you can press.9 min read
- SkinsThe skins game in golf: rules, carryovers, and strategy.How to play a skins game in golf: the rules, carryovers on tied holes, validation and house rules, handicaps, and skins with 2, 3 or 4 players.7 min read
- StablefordStableford scoring explained: points, handicaps, and modified rules.How Stableford scoring works: the standard points table, net Stableford and handicaps, what a good score is, Modified Stableford and the quota game.7 min read
- 3 PlayersGolf games for 3 players: the best 3-man formats.The best 3 man golf games: Nines (the 9-point game), three-way Nassau and match play, skins, 3-man Wolf and net Stableford, with rules and handicaps.7 min read
- ScrambleGolf scramble rules: the format, the variants, and how to win one.How to play a golf scramble: the rules, Texas and Florida scrambles, the shamble, team handicap allowances, strategy, and scramble vs best ball.7 min read
- Best BallBest ball golf: rules, formats, and why it's the team standard.What best ball is in golf: the rules, best ball vs four-ball, best ball vs scramble, handicap allowances, variations like 1-2-3, and the money game.7 min read
- Match PlayMatch play golf: rules, scoring, and strategy.How match play works in golf: hole-by-hole scoring, what dormie and 3&2 mean, concessions, handicaps, and match play vs stroke play.8 min read
- FoursomesFoursomes golf: how alternate shot really works.How to play foursomes golf (alternate shot): teeing order, the penalty-stroke rule everyone gets wrong, foursomes vs four-ball, greensomes and Chapman.7 min read
- 2 PlayersGolf games for 2 players: the best head-to-head formats.The best golf games for 2 players: head-to-head match play with presses, the singles Nassau, skins for two, and fair options for mixed handicaps.6 min read
- 4 PlayersGolf games for 4 players: the best foursome formats.The best golf games for 4 players: the 2v2 best ball Nassau, Wolf, Vegas, skins, 6-6-6 with rotating partners, and how to stack them in one round.7 min read
- TripsThe best golf trips in the US: budget, value, and bucket list.The 20 best golf trip destinations in the US, from budget golf vacations to bucket-list resorts: real per-person costs, best months and top courses.10 min read