Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
Free tool: Open the calculator →
When each fits
Choose dormie when labelling a live match-play position whose lead equals the holes remaining, not when selecting a format or betting structure. Choose Nassau when you want three agreed match-play contests—front nine, back nine and overall 18 holes—with separately tracked results and stakes.
dormie in brief
A match-play score state, not a standalone golf format.
Nassau in brief
Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result.
Table
| Comparison | dormie | Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| One line | A match-play score state, not a standalone golf format. | Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result. |
| Players | Minimum: 2 players in one head-to-head match; ideal: 2 players or 2 sides in a match. It is not an individual-field format. | Minimum 2 in a head-to-head match; 4 is ideal for two sides, with 1v1 or 2v2 agreed in advance. |
| Scoring unit | Match-play holes. Dormie describes a lead equal to the holes remaining, such as 3 up with 3 to play. | Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. |
| Handicap method | Dormie has no separate WHS allowance because it is a match state, not a format. Apply the underlying match allowance: Appendix C recommends 100% for individual match play and 90% for four-ball, then compare Playing Handicaps with the lowest off zero. | For 1v1 match play, use the recommended 100% individual match-play allowance and give the full Playing Handicap difference from the lower player. For 2v2 better-ball/four-ball sides, the recommended allowance is 90% for four-ball; apply strokes within each side under the Terms of the Competition. Allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap, not directly to Handicap Index. |
| Money settles how | Only where house stakes for the underlying match were agreed. Settle when the match result is decided; dormie creates no automatic per-hole, per-point or payout rule. | Agree one stake for each of the three contests before teeing off. Settle the front-nine, back-nine and overall bets separately at the agreed amount; presses or unequal values are optional house terms, not automatic Nassau rules. |
| Pace | Same as the underlying match play (editorial tendency). Dormie adds no holes or strokes; it only describes the lead, so pace still depends on normal match-play decisions and concessions. | Same to slightly slower than ordinary stroke play: playing the holes does not require extra shots, but recording three concurrent results and any agreed presses adds administration. |
| Best for | Explaining a late-match scoreboard or labelling a match-play position before it is officially won. | Two golfers or a foursome who want match-play pressure with three chances to win, while keeping an 18-hole result in play after a poor nine. |
| Weakness | It is often mistaken for a guaranteed win. A dormie lead equals the holes left; the match is won only when the lead exceeds the holes remaining or the opponent concedes. | Unagreed press rules and unclear handicap treatment can make the settlement confusing, especially when a 2v2 side is mixed with individual scoring. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. Alex being 2 up with 2 holes left is a dormie state, not a separate game. If Ben wins both holes and an extra-hole extension is required, Alex could still lose the extended match. For an agreed $2 singles Nassau with no presses, Alex wins the front nine, ties the back nine and wins the overall match: net +$4 for Alex and −$4 for Ben.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.2a; Nassau is a casual arrangement rather than a separately defined Rules of Golf format
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.golfdigest.com
Common questions
How do dormie and Nassau score differently?
For dormie: Match-play holes. Dormie describes a lead equal to the holes remaining, such as 3 up with 3 to play. For Nassau: Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately.
How do handicaps apply in dormie vs Nassau?
dormie: Dormie has no separate WHS allowance because it is a match state, not a format. Apply the underlying match allowance: Appendix C recommends 100% for individual match play and 90% for four-ball, then compare Playing Handicaps with the lowest off zero. Nassau: For 1v1 match play, use the recommended 100% individual match-play allowance and give the full Playing Handicap difference from the lower player. For 2v2 better-ball/four-ball sides, the recommended allowance is 90% for four-ball; apply strokes within each side under the Terms of the Competition. Allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap, not directly to Handicap Index.
When should I choose dormie instead of Nassau?
Choose dormie when labelling a live match-play position whose lead equals the holes remaining, not when selecting a format or betting structure. Choose Nassau when you want three agreed match-play contests—front nine, back nine and overall 18 holes—with separately tracked results and stakes.