| As .1 says betting in golf has many faces and shapes, but here are the two
most common which you kind of mentioned: nassau and skins.
But first, the difference in handicap between two opponents is used to give
that many strokes to the player with a higher handicap. In match play these
number of strokes are used in the holes with higher degree of difficulty, as
defined in the score card (The hole listed with handicap 1 is the most
difficult hole and the 18 is the easiest). So in your example a 6 will give a
20 handicapper 14 strokes to be used in holes 1 to 14. So as an example, if in
any of those holes the 20 made a boggie and the 6 made a par, the hole is
tied.
In medal play it handicap is simply used to calculate net score (actual score
minus handicap).
Now the betting:
Since most amateurs play match play (win by hole) vs. medal or stroke play
(total strokes in 18 holes), most bets are based on that format.
Nassau
Even in Nassau there are many variations, but the common one is that you (or
your team) agree on a bet per each 9 holes and for the full match, many time
it is the same amount, so a $2 Nassau means you're betting $2 dollars for the
front nine, $2 for the back nine and $2 for the total match. Without any
"press" (later for what a press is) this format usually is not too
painful, because unless your having a bad day, you usually win at least one of
the nine holes, which means that at most you only pay for loosing the whole
match.
A "press" is made when a player is loosing, usually by more than a couple of
holes, in order to try to recoup some money. By "pressing" the opponent, it
starts a new bet for whatever holes are left. This kind of bet can only be
made by team or by two individual players.
Skins
When we can't get four players, we play skins. You bet some aount per
hole. Say $1 per player. Here is an individual game, and you take the skin
(and a dollar per opponent) when you have better score than the other players.
With a tie by any two players makes a carryover which makes the next whole
worth twice as much. If ties continue you could be looking at a very sizable
pot.
"2 down - one up"
The way you refer to scoring in match play is by counting the number of holes
you are ahead, or behind your opponent, i.e. if after 9 holes you have won 4,
tied 2 and lost 3, you are 1 up or your opponent is 1 down.
Also The terms 2 down - one up or anything similar could refer to the final
score, i.e. player 1 lost two down one up, means he/she was 2 holes behind
with only one hole left to play, at which point the match is over. But most of
the times you'll see only "2 and 1". So the worst score in match play (for 18
holes) would be 10 and 8.
Hope this is somewhat clear
Tavo
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