Putt Them Out

[pivo]

This frustrates me a lot. I can understand when people don't putt out 1 foot putts, maybe 2 foot. But when people like a few of my friends start giving themselves 3 foot putts it start to bother me. And the best is when they try to make the 3 and a half foot putt and miss but give it to them selves anyway. Those 3 foot putts can sometimes be the hardest to make, especially when it is to get your lowest round to date or save par or whatever.

I always putt out. If I miss a 2 foot putt then I add a stroke. I like to know at the end of the day the score I shot is my true score.

[$2 Nassau]

I give people putts, but never expect the same. I like to putt out, especially if it's for par. I will admit, that if I have a 2 footer for a triple and my parther/opponent says "that's good" (usually because he won the hole anyway) I just swipe my ball away and move on to the next hole and try to forget about that 7 I just posted.

I play in a league and some guys are just ridiculous about the putts they give and expect to get. If they give me a 3 footer early in the round I say "are you sure, because if you have this same putt later in the round I won't be giving it to you."

[Guest]

2 factors, depends on the lie (ie slope), and if its for a birdie or par.

[Fourputt]

I play in a league and some guys are just ridiculous about the putts they give and expect to get.

In match play, once a stroke is conceded, you can't refuse it, and he can't rescind the concession. You can still putt it out, but that doesn't change your score for the hole as far as the match is concerned. At that point, it's just practice.

[iacas]

In match play, once a stroke is conceded, you can't refuse it, and he can't rescind the concession. You can still putt it out, but that doesn't change your score for the hole as far as the match is concerned. At that point, it's just practice.

He's probably not actually playing a match against them, though. He's probably just out golfing (maybe for his handicap).

[Fourputt]

He's probably not actually playing a match against them, though. He's probably just out golfing (maybe for his handicap).

He did say it was in league play.

I realize that not all golfers are truly aware of the differences in the two types of play. I've heard the comment often from guys who say that they won the "match" when they were actually playing stroke within their foursome. The leagues I'm familiar with play different games each week during league play, so he could have been doing most anything.

[The Rambler]

Nothing is good in a match. What good would it do not to putt them?

[vin13]

Guiltier than most with gimmies, really trying to play strict this summer as it's been about a year since I started. The biggest problem is that now all those 2 footers won't fall automatically :

[Thrdroc]

When my friends and I play for money or drinks, everything must be putt out. We have the rule that if everyone else in the group that is betting OK's the putt then its good but if i'm in the group that never happens. I know i've missed plenty of <2foot putts and i've seen my friends miss them too.

[iacas]

I typically don't do gimmes. Sometimes on putts I know I'll make, lately, I've been hitting them with just my right hand like Tiger's warmup/practice routine.

When I play with a certain friend of mine, inside of about 18 inches, we try to make the putt lip out as violently as possible. It forces you to focus more than just tapping it in. I alternate sides so I don't condition myself to pulling or pushing.

In a match, I'll take a conceded putt so I get out of the way, but then I usually pull the ball away and putt over a small spot on the green the same length away.

[vin13]

Just curious what you guys say when putting on poor greens. I usually play munis or average courses, and when it gets hot down here in Texas the greens can be pretty bad at times. Occasionally we'll give a stroke when the "plinko-greens" have just been plugged. What do you all say to this? I know the rules say no, but my friends and I tend to believe that the conditions don't favor honest play from time to time.

[hurley9192]

If it's a competition, then putt everything out. If it's a standard game with your buddies, we have rules on inside the leather, but it's mostly to speed up play. I don't care if people putt out or not, but if they are marking 18 inch putts and playing in over 4 hours for a random Saturday game, then that sucks to be behind them. There is nothing worse than sitting in the fairway waiting on a group and the guy misses his 15 footer, marks the 2 footer and then waits and putts out eventually. or they miss the 3 footer and then remark again and start over their routine while everyone waits for them. It's one of the reasons most muni's have 5 hour rounds, while our normal 4some can play in under 3 hours. We don't waste a bunch of time on the greens and have a fun round.

In match play, it's up to the competitors to give putts.

Bad etiquette though to still putt out a given putt. If you don't want it given to you, then tell them and putt it out. However, it's annoying to no end to give someone the putt, they go up and make a serious effort at it anyway, miss and then don't count it.

Maybe I'm a little more lax on gimmes, but if someone has a problem with it, then play me and I'll putt them all out. If I'm just playing some casual round and give myself putts, then it only would hurt me with a lower handicap. However, I don't take putts that I wouldn't make 99% of the time. I'm sure I'll miss an occasional 2 footer, but it would be pretty rare.

[hoopshot]

Just curious what you guys say when putting on poor greens. I usually play munis or average courses, and when it gets hot down here in Texas the greens can be pretty bad at times. Occasionally we'll give a stroke when the "plinko-greens" have just been plugged. What do you all say to this? I know the rules say no, but my friends and I tend to believe that the conditions don't favor honest play from time to time.

Which munis are you playing in Austin? I agree that it can be really frustrating when the green quality is costing you putts, although this summer has been pretty good so far (with all the rain).

--Will

[ChiChiIsMe]

Every putt, every time.

[FIJIGolf23]

I putt everything out. The guys I generally play with make fun of me (sorta) for never taking mulligans and always putting out even if they say, "it's good." That's just how I am. The rules are there for a reason and the game of golf is based upon honor and integrity as a person.

[bflat450]

Whenever I'm playing with other people or myself I like to putt everything out, but if someone gives me a putt ill just kind of side tap it in, or if it was after a long putt ill accept them hitting it over to me. This is the thing though... I like to putt everything out because if you get into the habit of just giving short putts to yourself when you are playing competitively you will might miss a few of those short ones and wished you had practiced putting them all out.