nassau
n. countablen. a type of bet in golf that is actually three separate bets in one. You bet on who wins the first nine holes, the second nine holes, and the full eighteen holes.
n. a three-part wager in golf covering the front nine, back nine, and the overall eighteen-hole round. Often involves 'pressing' or doubling the bet when a player falls behind.
We played a five-dollar Nassau during our round today.
Since he won both the back nine and the overall match, he took two-thirds of the Nassau pot.
The Nassau remains the most popular betting format in amateur golf because it keeps players engaged in the match even if they perform poorly during the opening holes.
Borrowed from German Nassau, from German nass (“wet”). The Bahamian city is named after the German one.
Commonly used with the indefinite article ('a Nassau') or as a modifier ('Nassau bet').