How do entry fee payments work?

When participants join your pool, they pay their entry fee securely through our payment system. The money is held safely until the tournament ends, then automatically distributed to winners based on your payout structure (default: 70% / 20% / 10% for 1st / 2nd / 3rd place).

Yes. All payments are processed through bank-level secure payment infrastructure. Entry fees are held in escrow until the tournament concludes, then distributed automatically. We never touch your funds directly.

Can I really use it for free?

Yes! The Free tier supports up to 5 participants with basic pool features. Perfect for small friend groups. No credit card required to start. You only pay if you need automated payments, live scoring, and automatic payouts for larger pools (6+ players).

What tournaments can I use this for?

RunPools works for all major golf tournaments including The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. We're also expanding to support football, basketball, and other sports leagues.

How is this different from other golf pool platforms?

Most platforms only provide scoring tools - you still have to collect entry fees and pay winners manually via Venmo. RunPools automates the entire process: entry fee collection, live scoring, and instant winner payouts. Save 8+ hours per tournament.

What happens if a golfer misses the cut?

Golfers who miss the cut receive a standard penalty score (typically 10 over par for the remaining rounds). This ensures fair scoring while keeping all participants in contention throughout the tournament.

Do you support tiered and salary cap formats?

Yes! RunPools supports all popular formats including tiered (pick one golfer from each tier), salary cap (build your lineup within a budget), and snake draft formats. Choose the format that works best for your group.

How do payouts work for ties?

If multiple participants tie for a winning position, the prize money for those positions is combined and split evenly. For example, if two participants tie for 1st place, they split the 1st and 2nd place prizes (70% + 20% = 90% divided by 2 = 45% each).

Can I run pools for all four majors?

Absolutely! Our Enterprise plan ($199) includes all four major championships: The Masters (April), PGA Championship (May), U.S. Open (June), and The Open Championship (July). Pro plan covers individual tournaments at $49 each.

How long does it take to set up a pool?

Creating your pool takes about 90 seconds. Name your pool, set the entry fee, choose your format (tiered, salary cap, or draft), and generate your invite link. Participants can join and make picks immediately.

Masters Betting Games: Nassau vs Skins for Your 2026 Viewing Party

Quick Summary:

Nassau is best for 2-4 players who want steady action across the entire tournament. Skins is perfect for larger groups (4-6 people) who want dramatic hole-by-hole excitement.

🎯 New to golf betting? We've built free calculators that do all the math for you — no spreadsheets needed.

Why Masters Weekend is Perfect for Betting Games

The Masters Tournament (April 9-12, 2026) is golf's most prestigious event — and the perfect excuse to gather friends for a viewing party with some friendly wagering. Unlike regular PGA Tour events, Masters Sunday delivers guaranteed drama:

**Historic Augusta National**: Iconic holes like Amen Corner create natural betting opportunities
**World's best golfers**: Elite field means every player can go low on any hole
**Sunday pressure**: Final-round lead changes make every bet exciting
**Perfect timing**: Spring weekend = ideal for backyard viewing parties

Two betting formats dominate Masters viewing parties: Nassau (three separate bets) and Skins (hole-by-hole competition). Let's break down both.

Nassau: The Classic Masters Bet

How Nassau Works for Masters Sunday

Nassau splits Masters final round into three separate bets:

Front 9 bet (Holes 1-9): First player to go lowest wins
Back 9 bet (Holes 10-18): Includes dramatic Amen Corner finish
Total 18 bet: Overall lowest score wins

Example: $20 Nassau on Masters Sunday

Mike shoots 35-33 = 68 total
Sarah shoots 34-35 = 69 total
Tom shoots 36-34 = 70 total

Winners:

• Front 9: Sarah wins $40 (beats Mike & Tom)
• Back 9: Mike wins $40 (beats Sarah & Tom)
• Total 18: Mike wins $40 (lowest overall score)

Nassau is perfect for Masters because it creates three chances to win. Even if you're down after the front nine, you can still sweep the back nine and total bet. Our free Nassau calculator handles all the payout math automatically — just enter scores when the final round ends.

Best Group Size for Nassau: 2-4 Players

Nassau works best with smaller groups because payouts scale cleanly. With 4 players and a $10 bet, the winner of each bet earns $30 ($10 from each of the 3 losers). Simple math, clear winners, no confusion.

Skins: Hole-by-Hole Masters Excitement

How Skins Works for Masters Sunday

Skins turns every single hole into a mini-competition. Lowest score on each hole wins that "skin." If two or more players tie for low score, the skin carries over to the next hole — building tension as the pot grows.

Example: $5 Skins on Masters Sunday

Hole 1: All 4 players tie → Skin carries over ($5)
Hole 2: Sarah wins with birdie → Wins $10 ($5 + $5 carryover)
Hole 3: Mike and Tom tie for low → Skin carries over ($5)
Hole 4: Mike wins → Wins $10 ($5 + $5 carryover)

This continues for all 18 holes. Carryovers create huge pots — imagine getting to Hole 16 with $25 on the line because the previous 4 holes all tied!

Skins games create natural drama during Augusta's most exciting holes. When players reach Amen Corner (Holes 11-13) with a big carryover pot, everyone's glued to the screen. Use our free Skins calculator to track carryovers and determine final payouts — it handles all the logic automatically.

Best Group Size for Skins: 4-6 Players

Skins works brilliantly with larger groups because more players = more ties = bigger carryovers. A 6-person Skins game at $3 per hole creates electric moments when $15+ accumulates on a single hole.

Nassau vs Skins: Which is Better for Your Masters Party?

Format	Best For	Typical Bet	Excitement Level
Nassau	2-4 players	$10-$20	Steady action
Skins	4-6 players	$3-$5/hole	Explosive drama

Choose Nassau if: You have 2-4 people, want simple math, and prefer steady betting action across the entire final round.

Choose Skins if: You have 4+ people, love dramatic moments, and want every Augusta hole to matter (especially Amen Corner).

Masters Betting Etiquette & Tips

1. Agree on Rules Before the First Tee

Decide before Masters Sunday starts:

Handicaps? Most Masters bets use gross scores (no handicaps)
Validation? Some Skins games require winners to make par on the next hole
Carryover on 18? Does the final hole skin split or carry to drinks?

2. Use Free Calculators to Avoid Arguments

Nothing ruins a Masters viewing party faster than arguing over who owes what. Skip the mental math and use BetBuddy's free calculators:

Nassau Calculator: Enter final scores, see payouts instantly
Skins Calculator: Automatic carryover tracking for all 18 holes

3. Keep Stakes Friendly

Masters weekend is about fun, not stress. Stick to amounts everyone's comfortable with:

Casual groups: $5 Nassau or $2/hole Skins (max loss: $15-30)
Regular groups: $10-20 Nassau or $5/hole Skins (max loss: $30-90)
Serious groups: $50+ Nassau or $10/hole Skins (max loss: $150+)

Masters Weekend Timeline & Betting Tips

2026 Masters Tournament Schedule

Thursday-Friday (April 9-10): First two rounds (practice Nassau/Skins with friends)
Saturday (April 11): Moving Day (optional Saturday Nassau for experienced groups)
Sunday (April 12): MAIN EVENT — Final round betting begins at 2 PM ET

Most groups focus betting on Masters Sunday (final round only). This keeps things simple — everyone watches the same round, and payouts settle immediately after play ends around 7 PM ET.

Other Popular Masters Betting Variations

Masters Squares

Like Super Bowl squares but for golf. Create a 10×10 grid, assign last digits of scores to each square, and pay out for leader scores after each round. Simple and works for any group size.

Prop Bets

Will Tiger Woods make the cut?
Will there be a hole-in-one on 16?
Who leads after Round 1?
Will the winning score be under 270?

Prop bets add flavor to Nassau or Skins games without complicating the main action.

Ready for Masters Weekend Betting?

Your Masters Betting Checklist:

✅ Choose format: Nassau (2-4 players) or Skins (4-6 players)
✅ Set bet amount everyone's comfortable with
✅ Clarify rules (handicaps, validation, etc.)
✅ Bookmark BetBuddy calculators for instant payouts
✅ Prepare snacks, drinks, and a great TV setup

Free Golf Betting Calculators

Skip the spreadsheets. Calculate Nassau and Skins payouts in 30 seconds.