How Presses Work in Golf Betting
A press is a new side bet that starts mid-round when you're losing. It runs alongside the original bet for the rest of that segment — so instead of sitting on a losing position for six more holes, you get a fresh bet where the slate is clean. The original bet stays active. The press is additional. That's why presses are the single most important mechanic in Nassau — they turn a potentially boring blowout into something worth playing through the last hole.
Here's the core idea: you're 2 down on the front nine with five holes left. You press. Now there are two parallel bets — the original front-nine bet (where you're still 2 down) and a brand-new bet (holes 5 through 9, starting even). You can lose the original and win the press. You can win both. You can lose both. The bets are completely independent.
Auto-Press vs. Manual Press
Auto-press triggers at a set threshold without anyone saying a word. The most common rule: a press fires automatically when a player (or team) falls 2 holes down in any active bet. This includes the original bet and any existing presses. Auto-press keeps the game moving — no negotiation, no ego, no awkward requests.
Manual press gives the trailing player the choice. They can press whenever they're at least 1 hole down. The strategic wrinkle: do you press early (more holes to come back) or late (when you have a read on the match)? Some groups play a hybrid — auto-press at 2 down, with the option to manually press at 1 down.
Stick supports both. You set the press mode and threshold before the round and the app handles everything from there.
Press-the-Press Chains
This is where Nassau gets interesting — and where most scorecards fall apart.
If you pressed on hole 4 and you're now 2 down in that press by hole 7, you can press again. That's a "press the press" — a third parallel bet running from hole 7 through 9. Each press is independent. Each one settles separately.
In a $5 Nassau front nine, an aggressive match might look like this:
- Original bet (holes 1-9): $5
- Press 1 (holes 4-9): $5 — fired when the original went 2 down
- Press 2 (holes 7-9): $5 — fired when Press 1 went 2 down
That's three active bets on the front nine alone. Multiply by three segments (front, back, overall) and a heated match can have 8-10 active bets running simultaneously.
This is why settlement in Nassau requires a line-item breakdown. "You owe me $15" doesn't cut it when there are six bets in play and some went one way while others went the other.
Stick tracks every press automatically — auto-press, manual press, press-the-press chains, with a line-item settlement showing exactly how each bet resolved. Download on the App Store →
The Rules Your Group Needs to Set
Before the first tee, settle these five things:
1. Press mode: auto or manual? Auto-press at 2 down is the most common setup. It removes arguments and keeps the pace of play. Manual press adds strategy but slows things down.
2. Maximum presses per segment. Unlimited presses can create runaway exposure. A cap of 2-3 presses per nine is common for groups that want action without risking a $5 Nassau turning into a $35 one.
3. No-press cutoff hole. No new presses on hole 9 (front) or 18 (back) is almost universal. One-hole presses don't give the other side a fair chance to respond. Some groups push the cutoff to hole 7/16.
4. Press amount. Same as the original bet is standard. Half-press and double-press are variations. Agree on this once and don't change it mid-round.
5. Who can press? The trailing player (or team) presses. The leading player generally cannot press — they're already winning the existing bet.
A Press Chain Walkthrough
Justin and Jason play a $5 Nassau, auto-press at 2 down. Here's what happens on the front nine:
Holes 1-3: Jason wins holes 1 and 3. Jason leads 2 up. Auto-press fires — Press 1 starts on hole 4.
Holes 4-6: Justin wins hole 5 in the original (Jason now 1 up). Jason wins hole 4 in Press 1 (Jason 1 up in the press). Hole 6 halved in both bets.
Hole 7: Jason wins. He's 2 up in Press 1. Auto-press fires again — Press 2 starts on hole 8.
Holes 8-9: Justin wins both holes in all active bets.
Settlement:
- Original (holes 1-9): Jason wins 1 up → Justin pays $5
- Press 1 (holes 4-9): Halved → no money
- Press 2 (holes 8-9): Justin wins 2 up → Jason pays $5
Net: even. Justin lost the original but won the last press. The front nine cost nobody a dollar — and it was interesting on every hole.
That's the whole point of the press system.
Presses in Other Games
Presses are primarily a Nassau mechanic, but they show up in two other contexts:
Match Play with Nassau structure. When you play match play as three separate bets (front, back, overall) with press rules, the press system works identically to Nassau. Each segment has its own match state and its own press chain.
Nine Point press (rare). Some groups play a variation where the player in last place can double points for the next hole. The leader can double again (a "repress"). This is uncommon and most groups don't use it.
Games like Wolf, Skins, Vegas, and Scotch don't use presses. They have other escalation mechanics: Wolf has hammer bets (mid-hole doubles), Skins has carryovers (unclaimed skins rolling to the next hole), Vegas has flip-the-bird scoring, and Scotch has roll multipliers and umbrella bonuses.
Every press tracked. Every chain resolved. Stick handles auto-press, manual press, press-the-press, and maximum press caps — then settles every bet with a line-item breakdown. Download on the App Store →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a press in golf betting?
A press is a new side bet that starts from the current hole when a player or team is losing. It runs alongside the original bet for the remaining holes in that segment. The original bet stays active — the press is additional. In a $5 Nassau, pressing on hole 4 of the front nine creates a second $5 bet covering holes 4 through 9, while the original front-nine bet still runs from 1 through 9.
What is the difference between auto-press and manual press?
Auto-press triggers automatically at a set threshold — most commonly when a player falls 2 holes down. Manual press lets a player choose when to press, usually requiring them to be at least 1 hole down. Auto-press removes negotiation and keeps the game moving. Manual press adds a strategic layer because the trailing player picks the timing.
What does 'press the press' mean in golf?
Press the press means pressing an already-active press bet. If you pressed on hole 4 and you're now 2 down in that press on hole 7, you can press again — creating a third parallel bet from hole 7 forward. Each press is independent. They can stack indefinitely, and the math gets complex fast, which is why tracking apps exist.
How many presses can you have in a Nassau?
There is no universal limit. Some groups allow unlimited presses (cascading press chains can create 5 or more active bets per nine). Others cap it at 1-2 presses per segment to control exposure. A common house rule is no new presses after hole 7 on the front nine or hole 16 on the back nine — preventing meaningless one-hole presses.
Can you press on the last hole?
Most groups say no. A press on the last hole of a segment (hole 9 or 18) creates a one-hole bet that doesn't give the other player a chance to come back. The standard house rule is no new presses on the final hole. Some groups set the cutoff earlier — no presses after hole 7 or hole 16.
Do you have to accept a press in golf?
In most groups, presses are automatic — you don't get to refuse. If your group plays manual press, the person who is down initiates it and the opponent generally must accept. Some groups play "optional press" where the leading player can decline, but this is less common and slows the game down.
How much does a press cost?
By default, a press is for the same amount as the original bet. In a $5 Nassau, each press is another $5. Some groups play half-press (press for $2.50 in a $5 game) or double-press (press for $10) as a variation. The amount should be agreed before the round starts.
Which golf betting games use presses?
Presses are primarily a Nassau mechanic. Match Play with Nassau uses the same press system. Some groups add press rules to Nine Point or Scotch, but this is uncommon. Games like Skins, Wolf, Junk, Snake, Vegas, and Quota do not use presses — they have other built-in mechanisms for escalation.