Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
Free tool: Open the calculator →
When each fits
Choose Nassau when two sides want three separate match-play contests and a meaningful front-nine, back-nine, and overall result. Choose scramble when a group prefers collaborative shot selection, a forgiving team score, and an end-of-round ranking rather than individual hole-by-hole ownership.
Nassau in brief
Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result.
scramble in brief
A team selects the best shot, then everyone plays from that spot until the ball is holed.
Table
| Comparison | Nassau | scramble |
|---|---|---|
| One line | Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result. | A team selects the best shot, then everyone plays from that spot until the ball is holed. |
| Players | Minimum 2 in a head-to-head match; 4 is ideal for two sides, with 1v1 or 2v2 agreed in advance. | Minimum 2 players in a team; ideal 4 for the standard team version. This is a team-against-field format, not inherently head-to-head, although teams can be paired for a match or side bet. |
| Scoring unit | Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. | Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole, adds the holes for a gross round total, then subtracts the agreed team handicap for a net result. |
| Handicap method | 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. | For a four-player scramble, the WHS recommended allowance is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20% of the second, 15% of the third and 10% of the highest, applied to unrounded Course Handicaps before the team Playing Handicap is rounded. For three players the recommendation is 30%/20%/10%; for two players, 35% low/15% high. The Committee or event Terms of Competition should specify the allowance, and a club may set a different approved arrangement. |
| Money settles how | 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. | Only by prior agreement: commonly one team-versus-team or pooled end-of-round settlement based on net totals. A scramble has no inherent betting or payout rule; record the stake, tie treatment and payment method before play. |
| Pace | 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. | Usually faster than ordinary individual stroke play for a team, because one selected ball is continued after each shot; it can be slower than a casual individual round when teams debate every selection or apply minimum-drive and placement conditions. This is an editorial tendency, not a measured claim. |
| Best for | 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. | Four-player social or charity days where collaboration, a forgiving team score and a clear end-of-round ranking matter more than individual score ownership. |
| Weakness | Unagreed press rules and unclear handicap treatment can make the settlement confusing, especially when a 2v2 side is mixed with individual scoring. | The strongest shot-maker can dominate selections, while local variations such as minimum drives or a restriction on who plays the next shot can make the format harder to explain and compare. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. 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. In this explicitly selected scramble event, Alex's side selects a shot at each stage and records 4; Ben's side records 5. The team sizes, selected-shot procedures and gross or net contest are event terms.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.2; WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C where handicap terms apply
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How do Nassau and scramble score differently?
For Nassau: Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. For scramble: Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole, adds the holes for a gross round total, then subtracts the agreed team handicap for a net result.
How do handicaps apply in Nassau vs scramble?
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. scramble: For a four-player scramble, the WHS recommended allowance is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20% of the second, 15% of the third and 10% of the highest, applied to unrounded Course Handicaps before the team Playing Handicap is rounded. For three players the recommendation is 30%/20%/10%; for two players, 35% low/15% high. The Committee or event Terms of Competition should specify the allowance, and a club may set a different approved arrangement.
When should I choose Nassau instead of scramble?
Choose Nassau when two sides want three separate match-play contests and a meaningful front-nine, back-nine, and overall result. Choose scramble when a group prefers collaborative shot selection, a forgiving team score, and an end-of-round ranking rather than individual hole-by-hole ownership.