Gimme Putts

[Sawgrass]

It's comforting to note that you can simply replace your ball and then putt it, and according to the ROG the score is as legitimate as if the stranger never touched it in the first place. The same as if an outside agency like a hawk moved your ball on the green after it came to rest.

[mshills]

I think it was Tom Watson's book on the Rules of Golf where about rule 1.1, he wrote "...in stroke play, if you do not putt the ball into the hole, you have failed to play the game."

Now, I don't think I would go that far, but I putt everything out. I don't like being high-and-mighty about it though - if someone offers me a gimmie, I'll just tell them "nah, I need to putt them all in, since I've been known to miss those." I do hate when I hit a good greenside bunker shot or a very long lag putt to a couple of inches and someone whacks it back to me. Damn it, I just hit a good shot and I want to make the putt too.

The pace of play argument does not hold water. I can promise beyond a shadow of any doubt that my putting out eighteen times has never, ever caused my group to fall behind the pace. Even if you're carrying a 36+ handicap, the 4-inch putt isn't making you fall behind. No way. Bad golf does not equal slow golf. Never has and never will.

That said, some people on here get their panties bunched up far too tight about what someone ELSE is doing. If there is no money on the line and no competition happening and someone I'm paired with wants to give himself gimmies from 4' away, big ____ing deal. It isn't going to stop me from putting mine out, and I have way too much going on in my life to get upset about him being generous with his own putting stats.

[paulyb]

[quote name='honketyhank' date='15 June 2010 - 05:10 PM' timestamp='1276639807' post='2511609']
Well, I like the following definition:

Gimme: A gentleman's agreement between two golfers who[u]se[/u] [u]tender ego's[/u] can't [u]handle missing a[/u] putt.
[/quote]

[Blues Golfer]

A gimme is either a social convention or part of the normal course of play, depending. There is no question that it affects handicaps and scores. On my regular track, the greens are very contoured and a twelve inch putt can be a tester, and turn into a 4 footer in a missed heartbeat.

If I'm posting it, I'm putting it, unless I am actually competing with someone.

If are regular at picking up your ball, your handicap is probably too low. Or your greens are too easy.

[Smitty001]

well i take gimmes if there like 2' in if im playing with a foursome...in a friendly match. but if im playing a round by my self i putt every thing out because u need to practice those short putts as well

[golfortennis]

[quote name='roll - gybe' date='15 June 2010 - 04:46 PM' timestamp='1276634805' post='2511399']
"So your philosophy is that unless an action is observed by another it has no value? "


Never said that. You took my statement to an unnatural extreme. If that's where this is going, I'm not biting.

I do keep a handicap to answer that question. And given the context of this forum,[b] I do find it be a breach of a social etiquette to be holing out all those 1.5 footers in a round that doesn't matter when the rest of the group is ready to move on.[/b]

The question was asked, and I think it was a question of opinion, not one of fact.

Maybe you and Rush can get together and play. Sounds like you both like to play with yourself. You can set up a game and make sure you sink the short ones.


[/quote]

So it's a "breach of etiquette to hole out a 1.5 footer when the rest of the group is ready to move on", but it's ok to search for a lost ball when the rest of the group is ready to move to the next shot? I mean if my putt doesn't matter, then the lost ball sure as heck doesn't matter.

[bdcava]

I have an interesting one. i play in a very casual golf league. We play 9 holes every week with team scoring on the honor system and match play against another team about once every 6 weeks. We played a team last week (they were new to the league). Now it was match play but team scores counted as well so, technically speaking, every putt should have been holed. My opponent did not give me any putts, I gave him 1 or 2. No exaggeration, he made me put out 3 putts that were less than 8 inches. It didn't bother me at first, but the third time, I lagged to less than 6". As I walked to my ball, he didn't ay anything. I could not putt out without stepping in someone's line and I had to move my mark as well. I wanted to say something but didn't, but I was annoyed none the less.

[tigerfan23]

[quote name='kevcarter ' date='11 June 2010 - 11:14 AM' timestamp='1276269282' post='2502824']
[quote name='dblung' date='09 June 2010 - 09:54 PM' timestamp='1276138482' post='2499798']
Why do people insist on taking gimme putts. I've never seen Phil or Tiger take gimme's. Why not tap it in. People will play a hole from tee to green but then take a gimme put.I don't understand. Is it just me?
[/quote]

Have you ever watched Tiger or Phil play Match Play?

Giving putts is part of the rules and charm of Match Play and is very common at most clubs.

Kevin
[/quote]

I give most close ones during match play. Gatta drain the long ones for birdie to win the hole.

WHen playing a quick game at night with friends giving a 1 footer is common place. Money games We usually put out unless it's impossible to miss.

Myself I can miss Any putt any time due to my terrible putting stroke!

[Bobbers]

I find this thread interesting, particularly in contrast with other rules oriented questions/debates that arise. In those threads the word "cheating" is often brought into play, and there seems no limit to the excoriation that the 'offenders' are nominated for.

If we go with the purist "camp" in this thread, the 'every shot counts and you never know when it might be missed', then it stands to reason a golfer is entitled to mark the six incher, lift and clean the ball, replace it with the arrow properly oriented, etc. Preparation is preparation and preshot routine is preshot routine, right?

That's fine, but those who head in this direction, please, please, no comments on pace of play, ok?

If you're betting on a medalist, as opposed to match play, that'd seem the way to go...

Our group, which does have money on the game, does allow one player to concede a put to another player; foot or less, flat green, pick it up and let's keep moving.

Not the strictest application of the rules, admittedly, but does seem to work for us.

[sh29]

I keep hitting until it falls in the hole - I don't like, and have never liked the concept of a "gimme". The sort that ticks me off the most is the guy that will putt it, miss it....then claim it was a "gimme" anyway and records the inaccurate score on his scorecard.

[funkyfedora]

A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers, neither of whom can putt very well. ~Author Unknown




[color="#330000"][size=2]I take gimmes when given. I play in a skins game now and then and gimmes are given out pretty generously... Especially if some one had a bad hole and are going to have a big number, they give putts to speed up the round...[/size][/color]

[masterli]

it still boggles my mind that people think putting out is the bottle neck for pace of play. any single one of these take more time than a gimmie putt would save. they also can happen multiple times a hole and i see it way more often than the ultimate time saver of gimmie putts.

mulligans - so first you have to wait for a shot instead of immediately going to your first ball. not to mention half the time that mulligan is duffed into the junk again so now they're looking for two balls!

2 people in a cart and not dropping off the first guy - why do both people have to watch one guy hit? i see this all the time. so now you have to wait for both shots when a majority of the time could have been spent doing it simultaneously.

not being ready to hit - this goes along w/ that last one. i see people standing at their ball twiddling their fingers watching another guy hit. after watching that, they then decide oh i should prepare for my shot - finally they look at their lie, pick their club, etc... again, most of the preparation could have been done while the other guys was hitting.

if you're ready to hit, putting out will take maybe an extra 20 seconds. doing any of the things i listed will generally take more time not to mention probably happen multiple times a hole.

[sekrah]

Trying to find lost golf balls is probably responsible for about 90% of slow play.

Putting out a gimme is somewhere between 0.3% and 0.4%.

[playmuch]

I dont take gimmes myself but alot of times slow play occurs because of to many people lining up 1 footers. Its like its a test match. I am talking about friendly/socialm play.

[basshuntermd]

Does that also count on match play then?

[Sause]

My Sunday morning group will give a gimme from 3ft as long as it's not for bogey or better.

It's just to speed up play and it's always a question, you have the choice of playing the putt.

Like already mentioned, were not turning in score cards, its not like were playing on a nice course. We consider it a practice round.

When we play together elsewhere we do not practice this.

[kurob]

Not all gimmes are created equal. Some are so short as to be unmissable for practical purposes. Some are for double bogey and, even though they're a length that could be missed, the result has zero effect on the player's handicap. The idea that there is never a situation where you shouldn't putt it out or you're not playing golf seems awfully stringent.

On the other hand, there are too many 3 footers scraped back, especially in skins game type deals where only birdies really matter.

I will say that I play enough tournament golf to satisfy my need to hole everything out. Since I can't remember the last time I missed a putt inside of a 15" or so, I'm not going to spend much time "practicing" them in casual rounds. If I'm playing by myself, I'd rather pull those "gimme length" putts back to 3 or 4 feet and hit one that I might learn something from. But I certainly don't mind people that want to putt everything out...95% of the time it has negligible impact on pace.

[mkotthoff]

As long as you are not posting, playing for money and it's inside of 6 in. Other than that, putt it out.

[dpark]

[quote name='deadsolid...shank' timestamp='1278006158' post='2549113']
I'll take the gimmie when its given by my opponents, that's their decision. There are also numerous times when I'm having one of those(many) bad putting days when they get "laryingitis"(sp) . And I don't blame them, I'd make myself putt it too.

A gimmie to myself? Depends on if I'm playing one ball, taking my time on every shot and trying to shoot a good score, I'll putt it. If I'm out trying to squeeze in a few holes in a short time frame, sure I'll pick it up and keep moving.
[/quote]

Whenever playing with people I don't know well, I always ask if "they want that" meaning kick the ball back to them. If they say "sure" I will continue it for similar distances the rest of the round. If they say "no, i'll putt it out" that's fine too.

In the summers when I am playing competitive golf, I hole out everything. It keeps me in the right frame of mind. In the winters when we are playing lift,clean and cheat anyways and we aren't posting, I'll take a gimme putt. I'm not proud

[jjj912]

[quote name='TheQue' timestamp='1277960225' post='2548364']
I don't take gimmies for one reason and one reason alone. I did not pay $60-$100 on a Saturday/Sunday to NOT hear that ball hit the bottom of the cup 18 times...
[/quote]

[1mc112]

Gimme putts are when the ball lands on the green and I'm 50 ft away, that's automatic to me. On the fringe? Gimme Putt. Putting for Eagle? Gimme Putt. That's why my handicap is a 55.

[golfortennis]

[quote name='dpark' timestamp='1281368766' post='2627757']
[quote name='deadsolid...shank' timestamp='1278006158' post='2549113']
I'll take the gimmie when its given by my opponents, that's their decision. There are also numerous times when I'm having one of those(many) bad putting days when they get "laryingitis"(sp) . And I don't blame them, I'd make myself putt it too.

A gimmie to myself? Depends on if I'm playing one ball, taking my time on every shot and trying to shoot a good score, I'll putt it. If I'm out trying to squeeze in a few holes in a short time frame, sure I'll pick it up and keep moving.
[/quote]

Whenever playing with people I don't know well, [b]I always ask if "they want that"[/b] meaning kick the ball back to them. If they say "sure" I will continue it for similar distances the rest of the round. If they say "no, i'll putt it out" that's fine too.

In the summers when I am playing competitive golf, I hole out everything. It keeps me in the right frame of mind. In the winters when we are playing lift,clean and cheat anyways and we aren't posting, I'll take a gimme putt. I'm not proud
[/quote]

There's the key, though. You ask. I can't tell you how many times I've had to almost scream to stop someone from knocking it back. AAarrgghh!! Do not touch another man's balls. how hard is that rule to follow? In all walks of life?

[FATC1TY]

I play with a good friend who is in love with a gimmie. He thinks anything inside of a friggin putter distance is good.. Seriously? Your gonna make me get a damn belly putter!!

I rarely do the gimmie putt crap. Not that I'm too good for it, but my putting is horrible, and I want to work on it. If it's well within a grip length, and I'm alone or with that joker, I'll pull it aside for the sake of moving on.

I've started making him putt it out too. Gets ridiculous, because he's worse than me as far as putting goes. He'll putt at the hole, won't line it up or look, but just go at it sometimes when we are out playing. Miss it, blow it by 4 and 1/2 feet, and scoop it up for a "2 putt"..

Seriously dude? I'm going to just start making your "gimmie scoop" a 2-putt plus your original putt.

When I'm playing with others, you do what you want. I've seen guys hit the green, putt at the hole and be 5-7 feet out and scoop it up.. I've also played with a poor bastxxx who would hole it all out and was terrible. He'd go back and forth lipping it out and blowing it by from 14 inches on every side!

I will however, not push your ball back to you. You can walk over and get it, if your too lazy to finish your putt atleast.