what is officially counted as a putt?

[Eeryck]

I believe that you are considered to be putting from the first stroke that you take when on the putting green.

Additionally, if you hit the ball off the green after taking your first stroke from the putting green, your shot to get back on the green would be considered a putt.

-E

[Harold]

Eeryck has it right in that's how the pros statistics are kept. Try to go with it since many amatuers who keeps stats track the same way. It provides consistency when comparing and contrasting with others plus it provides a simple, easy dividing line of what statistical category it falls in. I think this is important because if you have "gray areas" for some of your stats you are then concentrating on the stats and not the upcoming shot. Even if it's 1" off the green I don't call it a GIR. Yesterday I had two of those. It's not unfair since Up and Down is still a measure. Same with fairways. If you are in the short grass it's a fairway. If not, even if you have a clear shot it's not a fairway hit. However it is ultimately up to you how you keep track of your stats. As long as you are consistent and use the stats in a meaningful way to help improve your game is what's important.

[yalleh]

Harold is correct.  I also have this conversation with my friend that has competed on a very high level, he tracks his putts every time he uses his putter, and then says he is a bad putter (lets say 33 puts that day but 3 were from the fringe) although he still isnt good enough of a putter when he compares himself to other players his level he is better than average putter.  The reason you want to stay consistent is that you want to use these stats to see where you should practice.  He needs to practice hitting the ball closer to the hole (against players his level he needs to get the ball within 5 -10 ft on his wedges and within 20 through his short irons.  Now if you want to call a GIR whenever you use your putter , then you could call a putt 20 yds from the green (Texas wedge) a putt and would therefore by your friends rules call that a GIR.  now if your friend hits 5 actual greens and 10 within 20 yds of the green he could say he hit 15 GIR and call himself a world class striker.  Try not to make this harder than it should be = in other words on the green in 2 shots on a par is a GIR and the # of putts it takes to get in the hole is your putt count.  If you want to use the putter off the green that is a great tool to add to your chipping/green side abilities but it is not a putt.

[joekelly]

Occasionally we watch a pro use a wedge on the green when the cup and ball are separated by many yards and a tongue of rough and/or deep swale.  And some 'tap-ins' are done with the back of the wedge or other club.  Are those putts?  And except for the statistician, who cares the name of the stroke?

[Paradox]

yes they are putts.  If they are made ON the green, they are a putt.  You can "putt" with any club in your bag.

[GaijinGolfer]

If youre on the green, its a putt.  If not, not a putt.