The Gimmie

[ezmoney5150]

With me it depends. If I'm playing skins with someone in my group, and he gives me the putt I'll take it because its defacto match play. If its inside a foot I'll just tap it in.

I've had times with friends where its two feet out with a L to R break (my least favorite) and someone gives me the putt, I'll tell them no I'll putt it. Really for handicap purposes. I have yipped that one more times than I care to talk about.

[EightBlue]

you'll be surprised how many players (including single digit handicaps) can't make a 3 footers in a stroke play competition. regadless of what you think of gimmes, you will not be a tournament ready player if you are in the habit of accepting them

[wedge player]

we use gimmies if its a putt that ray charles could make

[Yukari]

  EightBlue said:

you'll be surprised how many players (including single digit handicaps) can't make a 3 footers in a stroke play competition. regadless of what you think of gimmes, you will not be a tournament ready player if you are in the habit of accepting them

That is so true. Even if you putt everything out during a casual round, in a tournament even a one-footer on the final hole for the win looks very intimidating. While we do give gimmies during a casual round of skins game, we do not give gimmies if we play a stroke play during a casual round. Since skins game is a match play, we see no reason not to give gimmies. But when we play nassau or other stroke play betting game, we putt everything out, even a tap in. Hell, I've seen even a pro miss a tap in.

[James_Black]

Yeah I use them with friends.
it speeds up play.

[Paulbee]

I'll generally give em. Anything inside a foot or so, I reckon is dead, but it does depend on the putt to an extent. If it's a sharp downhill, left to right - maybe not.

Fun round though - definitely.

I did actually concede a gimme on Sunday which was all of 40 yards. We play a society stableford with handicap cuts for anything over 36 points - 1 stroke per point over 36, 3 strokes per point over 40.

Played Sunday with one of the notorious sandbaggers. Claims a 24 but is more a 15 - 16 tops.

On the 18th which is a par 5 and where he gets 2 strokes, he was just on the fringe in 2. He lined up for the putt and I gave it to him for a six pointer, total 42 and a 10 shot cut for next week.

As we only get 0.3 back for anything under 30 points, it's gonna take him a while to get back to bandit territory

[Rolf Harris]

  Paulbee said:

I'

Class - that'll teach him

[JaY_B]

If its freezing cold, chucking it down with rain, water in the hole and a practise round theres no way im putting that ball in the hole from a foot out :-p

[bsettle]

  iacas said:

Getting worked up over gimmies strikes me as silly. If they're so short, tap 'em in - why line them up if they're "gimmes?"

I have always felt the same way. Why argue that I am not giving you a "gimmie"? If it is a "gimmie" AKA a tap-in.....go tap it in. Now, you mention lining up your putt and taking extra time.....if you (the one with the tap-in) feel like you would have to line up that putt to make it, it probably is not a "gimmie" and me making you putt it is justified.

I should say I see your point about a leisurely round of match play between friends, but the rule still applies. If you are worried about missing it, 1. it is probably not a gimmie and 2. he is completely justified in asking you to hole out.

[sonicblue]

A gimme shouldn't require even the least bit of effort, by definition. I play in a competitive league; good-natured, social, but still competitive. I never, ever expect to be given a putt. I play my ball tee to hole. That being said, I had a really good year putting, and was finding that many people were giving me putts quite generously at times. Fine. But, if they don't give it to me, it's on me to make it, plain and simple. If it's so obvious they should, then it shouldn't take me hardly any time at all to knock it in.

[j_moo]

Understand the game is meant to be played tee to hole. However, if everyone putts out for "casual" weekend rounds, they would last 6 hours. Can't tell you the number of times I've wished the group in front would just pick up as we watch him 3 putt from 2 feet.

Would you take or give putts for the sake pace? Would you putt-out even if everyone in your group takes or gets putts?

Would you count a round towards your handicap if you get or take putts because of pace?

[Leftygolfer]

People give too many putts. I don't know about you but I have missed my share of short putts. Anything out of 2 feet I'll mark and use my trusty line. there are many many people who never putt anything inside of 3 or 4 feet.

[Mrd19abhs]

Gimmies are bogus. Finish your hole one of my friend prob shaves 3-5 strokes of by playing gimmies of 3 ft. play tee to cup and you wont have the prob. I hate gimmies.

[Chief Broom]

Gimmies are fine in my book, but they have to be a gimmie. A putt that is a relief to get isn't a gimmie.

[Fat Slice]

Match play, it's in the rules (conceded putt) so no need to make extra rules. Also, it's a gimmie, not a takey, so if someone gives it, it's their choice - end of story!

[BallStriker]

If it is a casual round (i..e, non-tourney, no betting involved), I will take as many putts at whatever distance I please. It's my game and, in my opinion, if anyone wants to tell me how I have to play my own game, they can go F*** themselves.

My 2 cents

[j_moo]

In non-tournament or betting situations, I take or give putts because I think pace of play is more important. Sure, I can miss a 2 footer, but if I go through my routine, I can make it 98%. I know because I take and make that many in my practices. I can casually tap it in 9/10.

My question is, should I hold up everyone, not just those in my group but also all those behind me, just to see if this 2 footer is in that 2%? Part of me feels bad that I didn't hole it out, but when I do hole out, I feel worse seeing how everyone else is obviousely annoyed that I did.

[zeg]

  j_moo said:

My question is, should I hold up everyone, not just those in my group but also all those behind me, just to see if this 2 footer is in that 2%? Part of me feels bad that I didn't hole it out, but when I do hole out, I feel worse seeing how everyone else is obviousely annoyed that I did.

Playing the game you paid your greens fees to play isn't holding everyone up, IMO. I don't believe for a moment that holing out the short putts is a significant addition of time to a round. If you're playing slowly enough that everyone else is annoyed, it's not the 30 seconds on that putt that you should worry about, it's the 5 minutes you burned somewhere else on the hole.