Circle of Friendship

Has any course in US implemented the circle of friendship on the course?

I've been seeing courses in Korea that have drawn a circle (12-16 inch) around the hole. I'm guessing that any ball inside the circle is automatic tap in..

It could speed up play and less arguments on the course..

Just a thought..

I've never seen a circle drawing around a hole for that reason. But, I do have a friend that is always looking for someone to give him a putt (even though we're playing stroke play and not betting, seems weird to me). I have a habit of telling him either "you do whatever you feel good about" or "that's just outside the circle of friendship". Truth is, I couldnt care less if he picks up the ball, but he seems to be looking for validation.

I played a course a day after a big tournament and noticed that there was a white circle painted around each hole. I had no idea what it was for or its purpose until I read the above post.

Hmm I haven't seen this. Interesting though

I dont see the need, most golfers pick up balls in that range anyway

LOL, that Kim dictator guy pretty much drew a circle around everything within 200 yards of the flags and they all want to copy him.

Anyway, no - it would be a disaster - let the folks that want to play the game by the rules not have crap in the way and junking up greens. Let the folks that don't (and I don't care) imagine circles wherever they want.

In one of the leagues I play in, we have the Circle of Love. You can pick up your ball within a putter length. Can't stand it. I am going to propose a rule that requires hole all birdies as that is my personal rule: you want the birdie on the card, put it in the hole, even from on the lip. Otherwise it is a par.

“Inside the leather” was always the standard but maybe long putters made that unpopular. I kinda agree on birdie putts although I’ll make allowances for “kick in” birdies. What’s kick in? About a foot I’d say.

Have to use a standard length for your "putter."

Didn't Els miss a couple one footers at Augusta on the first hole? I want to see you take the ball out of the cup for a birdie.

I don't care for the idea. I have seen those length putts missed and I have missed from that distance too.

Inside a standard putter grip is given during our round unless putting for a birdie, greenie, sandy or for anything worth anything.

Old guys at our course think inside the leather is measured from the bottom of the grip to the hole once you put the putter head in there, lol.

That's what the guys in my group thinks also.. So that's wrong?

That’s wrong. It’s the length of the grip itself.

LOL, anything for a longer gimme.

Greens at my course are so bad this time of year nothing is given!

We've finally adopted a firm rule that all putts are holed in our group. In our Saturday match with multiple groups it's too discretionary between each group on what a gimme is. Just make everyone putt it out, it's not slowing the round down that much....

First off, it's always the worst putters who are concerned with concessions so in principle, no, people shouldn't get anything conceded but the very fact someone is asking (to effectively cheat) is basically all the humiliation that's required to make it somewhat degrading for them (which is good). That's like a bad driver asking for a free drop out in the fairway some 250-yards off the tee. No, that's undermining the very point of playing and especially no if it's the weakest area of your game, bro.

Second, I can't imagine conceding anything where I play--a course on which I routinely see 2-ft putts that have to be started outside the hole and hit delicately so as not to blow it past 4-6 feet.

Third, these putts are almost always important. Either you're trying to scramble for par or secure a lagged 2-putt or make a birdie or avoid getting a costly double. I mean, you guys tell me, when exactly is a 3-ft putt not critical?!

It's like asking, 'boy, do I really have to close the door when I come inside? It's such a trivial detail, isn't it?' I mean, it is. And the difference between doing it and not is pretty small from your perspective, but from the point of view of your home, it's kind of important.

I suppose if a golfer played on a course where everything inside 5-ft was guaranteed to be flat and straight and where these concessions helped nervous or shaky players avoid an embarrassing hiccup and they weren't playing for anything and it encouraged faster play it'd be a win, I suppose there is at least some degree of acceptability to that. But in general, just hurry up. Read it and roll it. Accept the outcome and move on.

If you're taking conceded putts then you don't have a handicap and thus it doesn't matter. The implication here is that people who consider themselves to have a handicap or who are playing competitively are effectively asking if it's okay to cheat. That's a little worrisome. I mean, good Lord, how mentally weak and psychically pathetic is someone that they can't play golf and finish out a hole for fear of--God Forbid--missing a short putt, which of course is not something anyone has ever done or has ever successfully addressed with a little practice!

And that’s your old guys at your course. Each group ends up doing it differently probably just to speed up the game a small bit. Nothing is ever given when something is on line. Usually it’s the par or bogey putt that doesn’t win anything is what’s conceded when we play.

I missed TWO 18 inch putts (straight no less) on Saturday. On the second one playing partners (not playing for money) were like "pick it up!" because they couldn't bear to watch. I refused and promptly lipped out.

And that, boys and girls, is how you hit 7 GIR and shoot a smooth 90.

Putt them all! It doesn't take that long to miss an 18 inch putt then make the comeback so it's not like it saves time to pick up. Ask me how I know.

This is how we rock it as well. Inside the leather but if you got a 17" belly putter grip, we might adjust the rule lol

Sounds very European

It's certainly not part of the rules, but if you Google "golf term inside the leather" you will find it defined both ways, with the majority defining it in a manner you disagree with. It seems to be a club / regional thing much like taking a breakfast ball on the first tee.

The rules get more complicated when they are made up... :-)

Yep, didn't say it was anything but and not even all the "old guys". Nothing more than an example specific to that particular measurement.

“Inside the leather.” It’s nice to know there are rules for cheating.

A “kick in” from a foot? Nope. A “Kick-In” putt is literally a putt you can kick in with your foot nearly 100% of the time. Like on the lip or maybe an inch.

Try kicking in putts from a foot. If you can make 6/10 you must have a really straight edge on your shoe.

I'm sure most of you played in a friendly games, where your opponent would give you a putt by saying "Good", when the ball is within couple of feet or less..

I don't think it's any different..

And it would definitely speed up play..

Speed it up any way you want to in your group, but big difference between that and painting circles on the greens. Are you thinking it's the complete neophytes who haven't learned how to break the rules, lol, that need to speed it up with some arbitrary circle? Solution in search of a problem. Everybody else does what they do already.

Circle of friendship = circle of delusion.

The related "speed up play" arguments for "inside the leather" are likewise delusional. If it's that easy, tap it in. You can do so faster than measuring your leather. And hardly anybody uses leather grips anymore anyway . . . so I think I've found my third delusion.

Incidentally, "Circle of friendship: Inside the leather", is the name of the weekly orgy I attend