Stableford Gimmes

Hi all,

My social weekly golf game is a four ball playing a Stableford Better Ball game.

If my partner is last to putt and the hole has result has been decided (ie. my partner is putting for less points than I have already made), is it permissible for me to concede the putt to him? (Any such putt would be around 3-4 foot mark, not of unreasonable length)

Or does the putt have to be conceded by one of our opponents?

Or is any sort of 'gimme' in this game not permissible under the rules of golf? 

I cannot seem to find any official guide in this regard. I have emailed the USGA and R&A rules departments and am awaiting their responses but was hoping someone here could get back to me quicker.

In a fourball competition, whether match or stroke play, once the results of the hole have been decided, any ball can be picked up, whether conceded by anyone or not. Check Rule 23.2 Scoring in Fourball. You only are required to enter one partner's score, not both. Specifically "When only one partner holes out or otherwise completes the hole under the Rules, that partner’s score is your side’s score for the hole. The other partner does not need to hole out" The requirements regarding posting of scores for handicap will vary regionally.

.

Your partner can pickup at anytime. What you put down for handicap purposes is another matter.

If you can’t beat your partner then pick up and move on. If you are going to put in a card for handicap purposes then he will have to finish the hole unless he can’t score on the hole for stableford. If it’s a four ball better ball game and not using one card for both players then you could putt everything out and work the scores out when you finish but if he does not hole out then it’s a wiped hole by my way of thinking.