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 the Nassau golf game: front nine, back nine, and overall match rules, payout examples, presses, history, and variations of golf's classic 2-2-2 wager.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, chains, air presses, ties, which golf games you can press in, and how to track them all.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 variations, Stableford, best ball, Wolf, Vegas, dots, and more, with player counts, how each works, 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 of skins, carryovers on tied holes, validation and house rules, handicaps, and running a golf skins match with 2, 3, or 4 players.7 min read
- StablefordStableford scoring explained: points, handicaps, and modified rules.How Stableford scoring works in golf: the standard points table, net Stableford and handicaps, what a good score is, Modified Stableford, the quota game, and playing points for money.7 min read
- 3 PlayersGolf games for 3 players: the best 3-man formats.The best golf games for 3 players: Nines (the 9-point game), three-way Nassau and match play, skins, 3-man Wolf, and net Stableford, with rules, handicaps, and how to track it all.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 scramble variants, the shamble, team handicap allowances, strategy, and how a scramble differs from 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 naming, best ball vs scramble, handicap allowances, variations like 1-2-3, and how to run it as a 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, match play vs stroke play, and the games built on top of it.8 min read
- FoursomesFoursomes golf: how alternate shot really works.How to play foursomes golf, the alternate shot format: teeing order, the penalty-stroke rule everyone gets wrong, foursomes vs four-ball, greensomes and Chapman variants, handicap allowances, and pressing the match.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, net Stableford, and fair options when handicaps don't match.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 scrambles, with how to stack them into 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, package tips, best months to go, and marquee courses.10 min read