Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
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When each fits
Choose Hammer when you want one head-to-head match-play contest with optional, capped stake-doubling decisions and are willing to settle house rules before teeing off. Choose Nassau when you prefer separate front-nine, back-nine and overall 18-hole match-play bets, giving the round three linked results rather than an escalating hole stake.
Hammer in brief
A match-play side game where players can call a hammer to double the current hole’s agreed stake.
Nassau in brief
Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result.
Table
| Comparison | Hammer | Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| One line | A match-play side game where players can call a hammer to double the current hole’s agreed stake. | Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result. |
| Players | Minimum 2; ideal 2 head-to-head or 4 as two sides. A three-player version is a house arrangement, not covered here. | Minimum 2 in a head-to-head match; 4 is ideal for two sides, with 1v1 or 2v2 agreed in advance. |
| Scoring unit | The hole, with a dollar stake attached; the hole winner receives the agreed current stake. A halved hole and carryover treatment must be agreed before play. | Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. |
| Handicap method | Hammer has no separate WHS allowance. If the underlying game is individual match play, WHS Appendix C recommends 100% of each player’s unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap; the lowest Playing Handicap normally plays off zero and others receive the difference. For four-ball match play, Appendix C recommends 90%. Confirm the Committee or group’s Terms because Hammer is an informal overlay. | 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 | Set a base stake before teeing off, such as $1 per hole. A valid hammer doubles the current stake; agree whether it is automatic or may be declined, whether halved-hole stakes carry forward, and whether the stake resets after a won hole. Settle net amounts at the end, not by treating a casual side game as an official Rules competition. | 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 | Usually the same as match play or slower than ordinary stroke play, as each hole still uses match-play scoring but calling, accepting and recording doubles adds decisions. This is an editorial tendency, not a measured timing claim. | 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 | Two golfers who want head-to-head match play with a negotiated money side game, or four golfers already comfortable with two-sided match play and clear pre-round limits. It suits players who enjoy risk decisions and can keep the stake modest. | 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 | The stake can escalate quickly, and unclear choices about acceptance, carryovers, timing, concessions or four-ball sides can create arguments. The group must agree a cap or stop rule if players do not want an unexpected liability. | 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. For an accepted single hammer on an agreed $2 hole stake, the stake becomes $4. If Alex wins the hole, Ben pays Alex $4 under that expressly chosen house rule. 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 3.2 for the underlying match-play contests; WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C for recommended match-play allowances. Neither Hammer nor Nassau is a separately defined Rules of Golf competition format.
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.golfdigest.com , www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How do Hammer and Nassau score differently?
For Hammer: The hole, with a dollar stake attached; the hole winner receives the agreed current stake. A halved hole and carryover treatment must be agreed before 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 Hammer vs Nassau?
Hammer: Hammer has no separate WHS allowance. If the underlying game is individual match play, WHS Appendix C recommends 100% of each player’s unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap; the lowest Playing Handicap normally plays off zero and others receive the difference. For four-ball match play, Appendix C recommends 90%. Confirm the Committee or group’s Terms because Hammer is an informal overlay. 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 Hammer instead of Nassau?
Choose Hammer when you want one head-to-head match-play contest with optional, capped stake-doubling decisions and are willing to settle house rules before teeing off. Choose Nassau when you prefer separate front-nine, back-nine and overall 18-hole match-play bets, giving the round three linked results rather than an escalating hole stake.