Why do you want a "Gimme"?

[billm408]

Are you playing against him, or just with him? If you never need his handicap to be honest for any reason, and don't have anything on the line, just let him have them - and don't get in the way of his fun. I view this the same way I view people who play preferred lies all the time: if their inattention to golf's rules doesn't affect me, I don't care.

+1. If there's nothing on the line, I don't care if someone wants to give themselves a 6 footer. Thery're cheating themselves, not me. For me, it's Pavlovian... I need to hear the sound of the ball rattling in the cup. Best sound in golf!

[Zeph]

Why don't you just ask him?

[jdjanda]

Last weekend, I made 16 putts on 9 holes, not a single gimme, it felt great. I like to finish out, but will take a gimmie under 6" if it is a busy weekend.

[alf174]

Last weekend, I made 16 putts on 9 holes, not a single gimme, it felt great. I like to finish out, but will take a gimmie under 6" if it is a busy weekend.

Now, I'm not criticizing you or anything but what is the time savings? 5 seconds? 10 seconds including reaching down to get the ball? No one waiting would ever criticize you for finishing the hole with a 6" putt left.

[Zeph]

Those seconds would make what, two, three minutes on 18 holes. When walking for 4 hours, those seconds doesn't matter. There are other places on the course you want to save time.

[Fat Slice]

I have a friend like that...exactly like that. I don't care what he records, and, as a matter of fact, he is just screwing himself because tournament time he'll be shooting 10 over his handicap because of all the 'gimmies' he'll have to putt and miss!

When he asks me "Can I take that?" I always say "Take whatever you want...it's your game!"

And yes, he tries to give me 'gimmies' but I refuse.

I need the practice for match play, I tell him, but the truth is I think he's a wuss for not putting out.

The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules.

INTO THE HOLE.

nuff said.

[denver_nuggs_15]

I like to finish everything out (unless I'm in a match and a putt is conceded). During practice rounds, I knock in 2 inchers, 3 footers, everything. I don't really care if someone else just picks up their ball, since it's their golf game and score. But, it disturbs me when a bad golfer just picks up three footers. If they're so easy that you think you won't miss, just knock it in! You're not saving much time and you might get better.

[deronsizemore]

Being a tournament (and hopefully college player) I only take putts inside of a foot, tap-in's if you will.

Gotta love those guys. Same reason I don't listen to most people when they tell me their handicap.

[whetstone]

I cured my playing partner of giving me gimmies the first time we played together. I had a 2 footer for bogie, and he putted it to me, saying "that's good." I told him if he's going to give me strokes, allow me to place my drives instead.

[Leftygolfer]

People cant make them, that is why. Very few work on short putts and like them. It is the most important shot in golf.

[pxc]

I cured my playing partner of giving me gimmies the first time we played together. I had a 2 footer for bogie, and he putted it to me, saying "that's good." I told him if he's going to give me strokes, allow me to place my drives instead.

That's really annoying. It's one thing if they want gimmies and offer them to you, but to knock your ball back without asking is a stupid thing to do. I don't want to play that way, I need the practice.

[MSchumacher]

Tee to green is no problem. Its always the 2/3/5 foot putt that adds strokes to your score. I think guys who take gimmes are the ones who shoot career rounds when your never around them.

[alf174]

I cured my playing partner of giving me gimmies the first time we played together. I had a 2 footer for bogie, and he putted it to me, saying "that's good." I told him if he's going to give me strokes, allow me to place my drives instead.

+1

That's a good one, can I borrow that?

[Fourputt]

I have a friend that is constantly wanting a gimme when he has a three foot putt. He will shoot in the mid 80s when I give him the putts but when we play with other partners that won't give them to him he's in the low 90s. I always putt the ball in the cup and not accept any gimmes when we play together, hoping he will take the hint. How would you handle it?

Next time you play with him, offer to keep score. Every time he fails to hole out, mark an "X" for his score. He might get the message or he might not, but at least he won't be bragging about that score.

[imtomtomim]

I don't know why you guys are so proud not to take a gimmie. If I'm playing a match and the other guy wants to give me a putt, I TAKE IT!!!!

I assume you guys are talking about casual rounds. Those, I usually give "inside the leather" which is less than 18". No need to be a jerk and frustrate people over little ones that you know should be made. However, 3 footers, that's where you lay on the pressure. You can't give those away. Plenty of misses happen from there. Plus, why does it matter that your buddy is giving himself relief of a bad score. I know, I know, you want to play the game honest, but it's not like you're betting money. Yes, if money is going on, make him putt it out, but if not, let him do what he wants.

I did play with some kids yesterday that thought "giving the putt" was counting the previously missed putt as holed. I didn't have the heart to tell them (they were terrible golfers and struggling a lot) what an actual gimmie was so I just let them think their 9 was an 8 haha.

[alomar123]

People only take gimmies for their ego. If they would actually putt all of them I know at leat 1 or 2 would ring out. Lets just give people free free-throws as well, cause nobody misses those. The people who like gimmies are usually the people that think the driver is the most important part of golf.

[sirshanksalot]

Personally, if there are no bets on the round I like to give people gimmes if they ask for it. That way when money is on the line, I'll have the upper hand. Plus, casual rounds can go a few minutes faster :)

[JKilgore44]

ask him how many "Gimmies" Tiger has ever taken