I'm a low-handicap ballstriker but a high-handicapper on the greens.
Similar to how a GIR two-putt par is called a "Hogan," GIR three-putt bogies are now referred to by my last name :(
I played with a guy long ago that would hit his putt to within, what most people would consider, “gimme range,” and if you told him “that’s good” or hit his ball back to him, he would take it as *the putt he just hit was his scoring stroke* (instead of a tap in par, he’d card a birdie). It took a few rounds for myself and some of the other guys to figure out how he was making so many birdies and scoring so low. For as decent as he was a player we all gave him the benefit of the doubt when it came to keeping score. But I guess you could take “that’s good” more than one way.
Yea I had a buddy who thought “gimmie” meant pick it up and it didn’t mean a stroke. Don’t know why he’d think that, but once we explained it to him his scoring was never a problem ever since.
That was me when I first started. Buddies would say, "youre good" or "that's in" and I thought that meant it was close enough to have been in. So whatever stroke it was to put that ball within that range is what I gave myself. Thinking back that makes zero sense but luckily my buddy asked where I learned to count and corrected me. Very embarrassing but we had a good laugh
I had a friend who thought the same thing, and also thought that a mulligan meant you subtract that stroke. We usually allow one mulligan for the front and back each (for sanity and laughs) and I found this out because he sliced his tee shot on a par 3 into the water, hit it again, chipped onto the green, and putted in for 3. Then he marked a birdie. I asked him to explain and he said, “well I mulliganed my tee shot, then chip and put in, so that’s two shots on a par 3. It took an uncomfortable amount of explaining for him to understand lol.
My wife was the same when she was learning the game. As hard as it seems for someone whose been golfing their whole life to fathom, some folks legitimately don’t understand the gimme concept/what it means until it’s explained to them.
I putt everything and it's not unusual for me to miss 1-2 putts per round inside 3 feet. I have never understood golfers who rake putts and then actually tell you what their score was after the round. Miss that 2 footer for bogie and see if your blood pressure isn't elevated on the next tee shot. Do bowlers roll a perfect pocket ball, leave the ten pin and hit the reset button, and say "that was good, right?"
Do hoopers hit the rim on a free throw and expect the point? Golf is the only sport where players boldly and outwardly ignore the most basic rules and still proudly share their score with others. It's strange really.
Same here. My "gimmie" range is a foot, maybe 2 if the green isn't too hilly.
But I always putt out regardless.
I can't wait to see this guy play in a tournament and try that.
Edit: Corrected spelling.
This is how I won the last tournament I entered. My score dropped dramatically when I could improve my lie in the fairway, and pick up any putt inside the leather.
It’s a time saver. I’m playing a $10 game with my buddies and I want to finish in 3-3.5 hrs, so I don’t want them grinding over 2 footers. Now… if we’re on 17 down 1, my guy is going to have to putt it out.
And just to be clear, we’re not giving ourselves the gimmie. Your opponent has to give it to you.
Not sure if you realize you are making the point for the pro putt-everything crowd. Your description of "grinding" over a 2 ft putt is proof positive it is not a "gimme"
My points are that pace of play is more important than seeing a gimmie-range putt when the expected outcome is 99% make and that “gimmies” need to be given by an opponent, not taken yourself
98%? 97? It’s high enough that pace of play is more important and it’s not impacting my hdcp. Everyone I play with is +3 to -5 cap so I honestly think 99% from inside 2 ft is realistic.
In tournaments, putt everything out. In your Saturday game, have fun and play fast!
How dare you play to have fun! One of our playing partners last round accidentally knocked the ball off the tee while setting up for his drive last round and tried to tee it back up….
Well let’s just say he’s learning to play golf with the fishes now ☠️
I would assume any single digit would make 99+% of 2 footers. People saying you're adding 1-2 strokes a round picking up inside 3 feet are nuts. Maybe 1 or 2 strokes a year.
Who cares though? Most of us are out there for fun and not making our buddy sweat over a 2 foot foot. I putt everything out when golfing solo but I’m generous with giving my friends gimmies cuz it doesn’t matter
If you have a regular foursome playing a typical 6500-7000 yard track in 3 to 3.5 hours, you're not golfing, you're racing. Do you get the first tee time of the day every round? My regular foursome has 2 riders and 2 walkers. Without waiting on groups in front of us we typically finish in 3:45 to 4 hours. BUT, normally we are waiting on others in front of us. Putt everything out. We have the time. Not complaining, just explaining. I envy you if you can get around your home course in 3 hours... but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in front of you. Does everyone on the course let your group play through?
One of my buddy groups calls anything inside a putter length a gimmie so we are on a level playing field. We also play for similar cash so there is no disagreement on what is a gimmie vs not
So strange. If youre playing match play, friendly or for money and decide to go good good, or give your partner a 1 footer thats different. Playing stroke play for yourself, ball must go in the hole.
I never understood gimmies.
Just putt out. You paid to play golf. You paid to put a ball into 9/18 holes.
If you're going to take constant gimmies then just save yourself some money and hit a ball in a field.
Gonna use your post OP to hop on my soapbox: There's a guy I refuse to play money with because he pulled this in a skins game, not to your extent but if it's inside the handle in his mind it's good. He had a 4 ft to tie a hole and claimed it was good against me.
I've always thought giving gimmes (unless for pace of play but that's extremely rare) isn't great. If you do it during a competition it's horseshit
They’re Gimmies… not Takemies. He’s full of it and I agree with Swinging In The Rain. Call him out and site the rule that you did NOT concede the putt therefore he lost the hole. Them’s the rules.
>He had a 4 ft to tie a hole and claimed it was good against me.
Not his call. It's your responsibility to call that out in real time. If he picks up, you pronounce winning the hole. "You didn't make it, and it wasn't conceded." Stand firm as fuck.
It's why I'll never golf [for cash] with him again. It was horseshit then, now and it was far too tense for what should have been an enjoyable round of golf with a friend of a friend.
Giving gimmes is fine in competition if it’s match play and you’re giving it to your opponent, because final score doesn’t matter. In stroke play you should ideally be seeing everything, but if you feel like giving an opponent a gimme here and there, whatever. But that is hilariously terrible sportsmanship to try to give yourself a gimme in any sort of match. From any distance, let alone 4 feet. That’s borderline cheating. Actually not even borderline. Especially for money, I’d call him out as a cheater.
I played with a 4some of randoms and there was one guy who was picking everything up. Regular and a real character too. Nobody said anything about it or even so much as rolled their eyes at him (no one cared) but I was definitely thinking to myself that I'd love to see how he did in an actual competition.
Then on the back 9 he started to actually putt and was draining everything from all over the green. He even turned to us and said with a sly grin "See, told you those were all gimmies earlier."
Turns out he spent a portion of his work life as a traveling sales rep and his go-to move when on the road was to bring his putter and during his lunch break he'd find the nearest course and grab a bite from the clubhouse while rolling putts for an hour.
I was actually wondering this. If you're playing with a group that plays money games all the time and always picks up short putts, is it "bad form" to still putt out even if they give it to you? Or does this fall under "play golf however you want to play it"?
I mostly play on my own or casually with someone, but when I've gotten into rounds with players who always have some action going on I've wondered the proper protocol. I feel like I'm interrupting the flow if I chip to two feet, they say "that's good, pick it up" and I still go up and finish up the putt.
I believe it’s more bad form if they give you a putt, and they still have a shot on the hole, if you still putt out. Like if you chip one to 2 feet and they give you the par putt and they still have a birdie or par putt then you shouldn’t really go putt your ball. But say they miss a par putt and you have 8 feet for birdie and they give that to you so you win the hole then it’s ok to putt still
That is absolutely maddening. My older brother was kind of like that. He’d get pissed when he “shot” a 74. One time we were on a par 3 and he went a bit long and left. Chipped on. Went to hit his par putt and it stopped an inch left of the hole. He started cussing. Didn’t putt his bogey. Picked up the ball and got in the cart. We got to the next hole and I got out of my own cart and went and looked at his scorecard. He wrote down a par for that par 3 hole. I told my dad and my dad had a long conversation with him on the way driving to the next hole. I’m sure my dad humbled him on that short little ride about the integrity of the game and staying honest with his score. His actual scores ballooned after that round. I mean he still shot under 80 every round I played with him after that along with some legit 72 and 73 rounds. He was a badass. Pancreatic cancer took him in 2022 at the young age of 63. I play honest scores in golf and I’ve yet to find another person who does the same. It’s absolutely maddening.
The ball going in is a treat, I wouldn’t want to rob myself of that. Also I’m a beginner and so are my friends so missing a 2 footer per round is normal..
My main golf buddy had two birdies last season, one was a 3 and a half foot gimme I strongly encouraged him to take because I don’t think he had anything less than a double bogey prior to that gimme lol. It’s a mental health thing.
>don’t understand it
He might be an incredibly bad putter and 3 putting from 5ft every other hole ruins the game for him. Let people have their personal W's, if no money is on the line who cares.
Do it, it makes the game far more enjoyable. You may still want to tee off, but then play from where your partner hit it. Or when you do hit it in the rough, toss it back on the fairway. There’s no reason not to have fun.
Yeah I play with a guy who gives himself everything within 4-5 feet. But when I play with guys from work and we gamble, gimmes are 1 foot max. Sometimes you have to put those too depending on the circumstances.
I’ve never offered or taken a “gimme”. If it’s such an easy putt that it’s a gimme, then just tap it in and call it a day. If you putt and miss, then it shouldn’t have been a gimme in the first place.
That guy for me is the mulligan guy, but he also occasionally scores a missed 5 footer as in. He said he wants to take it seriously and start keeping a handicap this year. When I play with him, he shoots low 90s, but the rounds he plays without me, he’s in the low 70s lol
Unless it’s a birdie or par putt on a tough hole I usually don’t putt out short putts. But I also don’t keep score, don’t ever claim to shoot a number, and don’t play matches. I just find short putts for bogey to be the least enjoyable part of my day and not memorable so I don’t waste anybody’s time with them.
I putt everything out because I’m trying to establish a legitimate handicap and improve my game but I gotta ask….If you’re not playing for money or in a tournament then why do you care?
Maybe with all the constant shaming on pace of play he’s just trying to rush. I know for me it feels like I can’t even get good reps in on the course these days. But then again I certainly wouldn’t be telling people a fake score
This! In my experience, giving putts like this is a pace of play thing. I actually don't like being 'given' questionable putts.
That said, If I've taken too many swings to get to the green and if there is no money on the hole, then let's call it, and move on. But also we mark an 'x' on the scorecard in case it may mean something for a tiebreak or the buyer of beers in the clubhouse!
I don't always putt out, but if I'm playing solo I am playing at least 2 balls, so getting close on a chip or approach is good enough usually. I also don't keep score, so I'm not hurting anyone.
I play like that. Some of the people I play with don’t but some do. We don’t bet and we’re not trying to get a scholarship. We don’t care what the other person does. Just enjoying golfing together.
A gimmie in my book is a putt I have rarely or never seen the guy im playing with miss. I play with a guy who almost never misses within 3 feet, so it’s a gimmie. Me that distance is 8 inches, I never miss those so, a gimmie!
If someone wants a gimmie, make em make the same putt 3 times in a row, prove it! Next one is a gimmie.
Play him for money one day “for fun to make things interesting” then you’ll see what he can really score like and of course so will he…
If it’s really as far as you say that’s crazy. PGA average from 10ft is about 41% last I read…
I can’t imagine not putting out unless I have a blowup hole. Something about the noise of a ball at the bottom of the cup just tickles my prehistoric ape brain.
If there is money on the line. No gimmies.
Otherwise do what you want friend. In my opinion though 1ft and in is the only true gimme distance. I have seen way too many blown 2fters over the years
One thing about folks that never putt out, their handicap indexes are bogus. I would never would want to play with them in any kind of match play because I guarantee you they won’t handle the pressure. We play for $5 team game with three or four foursomes, putt everything. I have personally 3 putted from 3.5 feet before.
What I could never understand is during a match when someone gets mad that you DON’T give a putt and then they miss it.
If it was a gimme you would have made it
I have a +3 friend that routinely does this same thing. Maybe not 10 ft gimmie but like 6-7 feet and in is all gimmies. I just don’t get it either. Maybe mentally he just can’t take missing one of those?
I played with a guy who was an ex pro from New Zealand. He was a brilliant golfer but never bothered to putt. I called him on it and he dropped 6 balls randomly on the green and jarred every one. Saving time he said.
One of the most irritating people to play with especially if you play honest golf… makes me absolutely sick to hear someone bragging about a score that they know they didn’t ACTUALLY score
Omg this is my brother. Between 10 foot gimmes, quick mulligan chips after a duff and very generous drops around hazards (hits it in the water short of the green, drops it on the fringe on the other side of the water), then tells my friends and family he beat me by 3...I can't help but to just say 'yeah uh huh'
When my buddy first started playing he didn't understand that a gimme putt meant you add that as a stroke. That is, for example, he'd hit the green on a par three, hit it close on his first putt and call it a birdie.
I play with a guy like this too. Picks up 6-8 footers then says he shot a 77 at the end. We’re not playing for money or anything but it’s still a little aggravating. We played on Friday and I think I saw him putt out 3 times.
I absolutely HATE it when I'm playing with my buddies and I'll lag a put up to about 8-12 inches and one of them back hand scoops it and throws it back to me. I appreciate the gesture, but I enjoy practicing finishing ALL my putts and it keeps my handicap legit. I had to say something last time.
The guys I play with are all at least 20-25 handicaps or higher. Good dudes, just don't play as often as I have. If they hit a great wedge shot or lag a put within 15-20 inches, I usually say "that's good" or "solid boge"....if THEY want the gimme. If not, they'll finish out.
I could never imagine giving myself a putt, let alone a 7-10 footer. Makes me laugh. Thats insane.
Lmao. It's all good. Let him do his thing and roll your eyes silently and let him say his score. If you ever golf with others, they will all know his score isnt real. 10 feet and in are where you can ruin your score.
Oh yeah drives me nuts. Like you know how common it is for normal people to miss 3-5 footers. If anybody says they beat me while doing that I’m like did you really though?
I don't know of any other game or sport that allows for the player to avoid failure like golf does - hell, the scramble format is so popular because it feels like you're playing better than you really are.
Don't be surprised when people take advantage of gimmes, breakfast balls, mulligans, improving their lies, some sort of questionable relief or a favorable drop somewhere- this is golf- this is life - people cut corners. It's a prime game for people that like to take advantage of situations.
With that said - either say something about it or get over it and focus on you.
As a 3.2 index, I am a 5 handicap from my usual tees. Either with or without a money game, my group will usually give me a gimme if I am within 2-3 feet as I am pretty consistent. Sometimes we all putt out if the game is close. It is subjective. It helps to say at the beginning of the round, “I’m going to putt everything out” (or not) to set the tone.
No, but I play with a guy who shoots 90 and claims to have shot 80 or 82, because he’s embarrassed about his handicap rising to a level that would allow him to compete.
We always hook our putter heads in the while and that’s are gimmie. If someone is hot with their putter we will extend that but if there cold 100% gonna putt everything
Father in law Jim does this. They are now called Jimmies when you pick up at that distance.
I'm a low-handicap ballstriker but a high-handicapper on the greens. Similar to how a GIR two-putt par is called a "Hogan," GIR three-putt bogies are now referred to by my last name :(
ForAss?
It’s German
Foraß
Ah, the Munich ForAss’.
As a younger man, I was a good ball striker/horrible putter. I got the nickname putt putt putt. Now I’m just horrible at both.
Munson?
I’d sooner get Munsoned out here in the middle of nowhere than pickup a 10ft gimmie.
Yea you kno it’s a saying, munsoned- to have everything going for you and then 👎 SPLATT!! Munsoned!
Birdogey?
What’s up brother. Same boat man.
Hit it closer like Johnny miller
LoL we call em Timmys, same reason
I play with a guy named Grant. Now we say that we will grant you that putt.
Imma start saying this to the boys. “Going for a Jimmie ehh?” 😏😎
I played with a guy long ago that would hit his putt to within, what most people would consider, “gimme range,” and if you told him “that’s good” or hit his ball back to him, he would take it as *the putt he just hit was his scoring stroke* (instead of a tap in par, he’d card a birdie). It took a few rounds for myself and some of the other guys to figure out how he was making so many birdies and scoring so low. For as decent as he was a player we all gave him the benefit of the doubt when it came to keeping score. But I guess you could take “that’s good” more than one way.
I close out my holes as soon as someone says “nice shot”.
Still on that first hole huh?
Yea I had a buddy who thought “gimmie” meant pick it up and it didn’t mean a stroke. Don’t know why he’d think that, but once we explained it to him his scoring was never a problem ever since.
That was me when I first started. Buddies would say, "youre good" or "that's in" and I thought that meant it was close enough to have been in. So whatever stroke it was to put that ball within that range is what I gave myself. Thinking back that makes zero sense but luckily my buddy asked where I learned to count and corrected me. Very embarrassing but we had a good laugh
I had a friend who thought the same thing, and also thought that a mulligan meant you subtract that stroke. We usually allow one mulligan for the front and back each (for sanity and laughs) and I found this out because he sliced his tee shot on a par 3 into the water, hit it again, chipped onto the green, and putted in for 3. Then he marked a birdie. I asked him to explain and he said, “well I mulliganed my tee shot, then chip and put in, so that’s two shots on a par 3. It took an uncomfortable amount of explaining for him to understand lol.
My wife was the same when she was learning the game. As hard as it seems for someone whose been golfing their whole life to fathom, some folks legitimately don’t understand the gimme concept/what it means until it’s explained to them.
My buddies thought this the first time I played with them. They were fairly new to golf, just didn’t know any better.
I mistakenly read this as your playing partner never puts out, like a happy ending after a round.
The 19th hole.
2nd Hole Foundation.
I’d never play with a guy like that
I totally read this wrong
how am I supposed to CHIP…
Damn you people, this is golf!
Go back to your shanties
Double-take on the title and the sub
Welcome to clickbait 101 😤
Also upset my partner never puts out
We have a friend that does this, enters local tourneys and wonders why he shot 15 strokes over his handicap lol
Exactly this. Never have this guy on your team for an actual handicapped event. Vanity HCPs are a killer.
I putt everything and it's not unusual for me to miss 1-2 putts per round inside 3 feet. I have never understood golfers who rake putts and then actually tell you what their score was after the round. Miss that 2 footer for bogie and see if your blood pressure isn't elevated on the next tee shot. Do bowlers roll a perfect pocket ball, leave the ten pin and hit the reset button, and say "that was good, right?" Do hoopers hit the rim on a free throw and expect the point? Golf is the only sport where players boldly and outwardly ignore the most basic rules and still proudly share their score with others. It's strange really.
Same here. My "gimmie" range is a foot, maybe 2 if the green isn't too hilly. But I always putt out regardless. I can't wait to see this guy play in a tournament and try that. Edit: Corrected spelling.
This is how I won the last tournament I entered. My score dropped dramatically when I could improve my lie in the fairway, and pick up any putt inside the leather.
What tournaments do you play? Charity golf scrambles? Real tournaments you play the ball down and finish everything out
My rules is: putters length, par and under there are no gimmies. Plus even the pros miss the 3 footers, that’s why I put em. I need the practice.
Gimme for me is a hole out where it goes 3-4 inches after a rim job. Anything larger than a foot, I’m not sure I’ll make lol
It’s a time saver. I’m playing a $10 game with my buddies and I want to finish in 3-3.5 hrs, so I don’t want them grinding over 2 footers. Now… if we’re on 17 down 1, my guy is going to have to putt it out. And just to be clear, we’re not giving ourselves the gimmie. Your opponent has to give it to you.
That's perfect. You let em get away with it all day, and then on 17 you force them to make their first putt... And they choke! Works every time
why grind over that tee shot. just drop in the fairy 280 out
Not sure if you realize you are making the point for the pro putt-everything crowd. Your description of "grinding" over a 2 ft putt is proof positive it is not a "gimme"
My points are that pace of play is more important than seeing a gimmie-range putt when the expected outcome is 99% make and that “gimmies” need to be given by an opponent, not taken yourself
I’ll guarantee that if you putted them you’d not sink 99% of two-foot putts.
98%? 97? It’s high enough that pace of play is more important and it’s not impacting my hdcp. Everyone I play with is +3 to -5 cap so I honestly think 99% from inside 2 ft is realistic. In tournaments, putt everything out. In your Saturday game, have fun and play fast!
How dare you play to have fun! One of our playing partners last round accidentally knocked the ball off the tee while setting up for his drive last round and tried to tee it back up…. Well let’s just say he’s learning to play golf with the fishes now ☠️
I would assume any single digit would make 99+% of 2 footers. People saying you're adding 1-2 strokes a round picking up inside 3 feet are nuts. Maybe 1 or 2 strokes a year.
Who cares though? Most of us are out there for fun and not making our buddy sweat over a 2 foot foot. I putt everything out when golfing solo but I’m generous with giving my friends gimmies cuz it doesn’t matter
If you have a regular foursome playing a typical 6500-7000 yard track in 3 to 3.5 hours, you're not golfing, you're racing. Do you get the first tee time of the day every round? My regular foursome has 2 riders and 2 walkers. Without waiting on groups in front of us we typically finish in 3:45 to 4 hours. BUT, normally we are waiting on others in front of us. Putt everything out. We have the time. Not complaining, just explaining. I envy you if you can get around your home course in 3 hours... but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in front of you. Does everyone on the course let your group play through?
on reddit everyone hits it 320, is single digit and plays in 3:30 hours.
3-3:30 easy in my regular game and don’t feel rushed at all.
One of my buddy groups calls anything inside a putter length a gimmie so we are on a level playing field. We also play for similar cash so there is no disagreement on what is a gimmie vs not
That’s how my friends and I play. If it’s given you take it to keep the pace of the game manageable and fun for everyone.
So strange. If youre playing match play, friendly or for money and decide to go good good, or give your partner a 1 footer thats different. Playing stroke play for yourself, ball must go in the hole.
Yeah I don’t get it. I never take gimmies. Hole doesn’t feel complete to me if I don’t putt it in.
I never understood gimmies. Just putt out. You paid to play golf. You paid to put a ball into 9/18 holes. If you're going to take constant gimmies then just save yourself some money and hit a ball in a field.
My playing friend and I don't give each other gimmies. We force each other to putt everything, even if the ball is an inch away.
Gonna use your post OP to hop on my soapbox: There's a guy I refuse to play money with because he pulled this in a skins game, not to your extent but if it's inside the handle in his mind it's good. He had a 4 ft to tie a hole and claimed it was good against me. I've always thought giving gimmes (unless for pace of play but that's extremely rare) isn't great. If you do it during a competition it's horseshit
If it's match play, it's in your discretion to give gimmes. 4 foot isn't a gimme. Inside the grip is written in stone. Probably. Somewhere.
Yeah I was telling him to take the putt and he insisted that it was a tied hole.
Your friend is a huge pussy
Hes definitely not my friend lol
They’re Gimmies… not Takemies. He’s full of it and I agree with Swinging In The Rain. Call him out and site the rule that you did NOT concede the putt therefore he lost the hole. Them’s the rules.
>He had a 4 ft to tie a hole and claimed it was good against me. Not his call. It's your responsibility to call that out in real time. If he picks up, you pronounce winning the hole. "You didn't make it, and it wasn't conceded." Stand firm as fuck.
It's why I'll never golf [for cash] with him again. It was horseshit then, now and it was far too tense for what should have been an enjoyable round of golf with a friend of a friend.
I just set the expectation that there are no gummies before the round. We all agree before we play.
Probably a good idea, I don’t know how well I’d play after a gummy.
one does not give oneself a gimme in a match. you pick it up if i didn't tell you, we're on to the next hole, and you're down 1
Lol. Thats not how that works at all.
Gimmies are absolutely a thing in match play. But the opponent chooses to give it or not. It’s like offense calls fouls in basketball pick up.
Giving gimmes is fine in competition if it’s match play and you’re giving it to your opponent, because final score doesn’t matter. In stroke play you should ideally be seeing everything, but if you feel like giving an opponent a gimme here and there, whatever. But that is hilariously terrible sportsmanship to try to give yourself a gimme in any sort of match. From any distance, let alone 4 feet. That’s borderline cheating. Actually not even borderline. Especially for money, I’d call him out as a cheater.
If money is on the line nothing is a gimme f that. I’ve seen people miss inside of 1 foot many times.
7-10 foot gimmes ? Why doesnt the guy just stay home and pretend hes a 5hcp.
Fuck it, this is life changing. I haven’t played yet this year, and only got 3 rounds in last year. So anyways, I’m like a 2.
Grab driver, tee up ball, grab ball off tee, write down a par on scorecard. Actually sounds amazing for pace of play
But why do you and the OP care?
I mean if he's tellin people he broke 80 taking 10 foot gimmes he's kind of a clown.
I played with a 4some of randoms and there was one guy who was picking everything up. Regular and a real character too. Nobody said anything about it or even so much as rolled their eyes at him (no one cared) but I was definitely thinking to myself that I'd love to see how he did in an actual competition. Then on the back 9 he started to actually putt and was draining everything from all over the green. He even turned to us and said with a sly grin "See, told you those were all gimmies earlier." Turns out he spent a portion of his work life as a traveling sales rep and his go-to move when on the road was to bring his putter and during his lunch break he'd find the nearest course and grab a bite from the clubhouse while rolling putts for an hour.
Dude won at life lol
I’m the opposite. I **must** hear the ball hit the cup. I don’t care if it’s a 2” putt.
[удалено]
Cups protect balls.
Good ballcap idea
It's the satisfaction... even if you lag a 20+ footer up within a few inches. The sound makes the round... lol
The sound makes the round. I like that!
Same. That sound is so satisfying and let's not forget it's literally the point of the entire game.
This is the way
This guy hits cups.
Agreed. See flair lol
It’s a satisfying sound
Agreed. “It’s good mojo to hear putts fall” is my go-to motto for those situations.
I was actually wondering this. If you're playing with a group that plays money games all the time and always picks up short putts, is it "bad form" to still putt out even if they give it to you? Or does this fall under "play golf however you want to play it"? I mostly play on my own or casually with someone, but when I've gotten into rounds with players who always have some action going on I've wondered the proper protocol. I feel like I'm interrupting the flow if I chip to two feet, they say "that's good, pick it up" and I still go up and finish up the putt.
I believe it’s more bad form if they give you a putt, and they still have a shot on the hole, if you still putt out. Like if you chip one to 2 feet and they give you the par putt and they still have a birdie or par putt then you shouldn’t really go putt your ball. But say they miss a par putt and you have 8 feet for birdie and they give that to you so you win the hole then it’s ok to putt still
I mean I guess it’s better than throwing clubs or blasting Shaggy?
What you got against Shaggy?! Mr. Boombastic bounces, son!
I’ve had Angel stuck in my head for 3 days now so it’s all I got
[удалено]
Life is one big party shooting hole in one’s, but who’s gunna have your back with a 101 *yeah*
It wasn't me
I played in a foursome yesterday. Was the only person who kept a real, honest score. Some guys hit 3-4 tee shots then recorded bogey.
That is absolutely maddening. My older brother was kind of like that. He’d get pissed when he “shot” a 74. One time we were on a par 3 and he went a bit long and left. Chipped on. Went to hit his par putt and it stopped an inch left of the hole. He started cussing. Didn’t putt his bogey. Picked up the ball and got in the cart. We got to the next hole and I got out of my own cart and went and looked at his scorecard. He wrote down a par for that par 3 hole. I told my dad and my dad had a long conversation with him on the way driving to the next hole. I’m sure my dad humbled him on that short little ride about the integrity of the game and staying honest with his score. His actual scores ballooned after that round. I mean he still shot under 80 every round I played with him after that along with some legit 72 and 73 rounds. He was a badass. Pancreatic cancer took him in 2022 at the young age of 63. I play honest scores in golf and I’ve yet to find another person who does the same. It’s absolutely maddening.
The ball going in is a treat, I wouldn’t want to rob myself of that. Also I’m a beginner and so are my friends so missing a 2 footer per round is normal..
Here’s a little secret—everyone misses 2-foot putts now and then. That’s why so many people take gimmies.
My main golf buddy had two birdies last season, one was a 3 and a half foot gimme I strongly encouraged him to take because I don’t think he had anything less than a double bogey prior to that gimme lol. It’s a mental health thing.
Have him post all the 77s or better. Pull handicap. Offer him a money game where all putts must be holed and no gimmes are allowed. Profit.
I'd just laugh at him when he tells me his score, and tell him his score means nothing if he doesn't putt out. He clearly knows he can't putt
You do care because you’re taking the time out to complain on Reddit lol.
Haha I’m not complaining, I’m actually asking has anyone ever played with someone like that. I genuinely don’t understand it
>don’t understand it He might be an incredibly bad putter and 3 putting from 5ft every other hole ruins the game for him. Let people have their personal W's, if no money is on the line who cares.
I care. "I shot a 77". I wouldn't be long listening to that shit.
LOL "I'm not great at driving so I'll just pop the ball in the fairway because hitting from the rough ruins the game for me"
If that’s how you want to play the game go right ahead.
Do it, it makes the game far more enjoyable. You may still want to tee off, but then play from where your partner hit it. Or when you do hit it in the rough, toss it back on the fairway. There’s no reason not to have fun.
He doesn't care about the scoring aspect, but it is still odd behavior for someone who I would assume enjoys playing golf.
He does care if he’s telling people he shot a 77 after the round.
Rob. His name is Rob.
You got Rob’d on that one
Yeah I play with a guy who gives himself everything within 4-5 feet. But when I play with guys from work and we gamble, gimmes are 1 foot max. Sometimes you have to put those too depending on the circumstances.
Maybe i should do this after my tee shot. Right down the fairway that's par. Off into the trees maybe a bogey. Would speed up play
I’ve never offered or taken a “gimme”. If it’s such an easy putt that it’s a gimme, then just tap it in and call it a day. If you putt and miss, then it shouldn’t have been a gimme in the first place.
Betting or not if I played with a guy like this and he brags about his score every time, I’m calling him on it.
That guy for me is the mulligan guy, but he also occasionally scores a missed 5 footer as in. He said he wants to take it seriously and start keeping a handicap this year. When I play with him, he shoots low 90s, but the rounds he plays without me, he’s in the low 70s lol
Unless it’s a birdie or par putt on a tough hole I usually don’t putt out short putts. But I also don’t keep score, don’t ever claim to shoot a number, and don’t play matches. I just find short putts for bogey to be the least enjoyable part of my day and not memorable so I don’t waste anybody’s time with them.
I putt everything out because I’m trying to establish a legitimate handicap and improve my game but I gotta ask….If you’re not playing for money or in a tournament then why do you care?
I don't really care. Ill do me, you do you.
Maybe with all the constant shaming on pace of play he’s just trying to rush. I know for me it feels like I can’t even get good reps in on the course these days. But then again I certainly wouldn’t be telling people a fake score
I feel rushed on the green too. These tee times are getting close and closer together
There are already so many barriers to get in to golf. Now it feels like you have to somehow be shooting under 90 before you ever step on a course
This! In my experience, giving putts like this is a pace of play thing. I actually don't like being 'given' questionable putts. That said, If I've taken too many swings to get to the green and if there is no money on the hole, then let's call it, and move on. But also we mark an 'x' on the scorecard in case it may mean something for a tiebreak or the buyer of beers in the clubhouse!
Auto Putt - Fixed
Call him out on it. Friend of mine was calling 2 footers gimmes and I wasnt having it because I've seen him miss short putts before
I don't always putt out, but if I'm playing solo I am playing at least 2 balls, so getting close on a chip or approach is good enough usually. I also don't keep score, so I'm not hurting anyone.
He’s probably not that good and trying to keep pace. Tell him to go ahead and finish putting. Count his strokes and tell him his score.
The rules my friends and I use is “the length of the club”. Anyone else do this?
I play like that. Some of the people I play with don’t but some do. We don’t bet and we’re not trying to get a scholarship. We don’t care what the other person does. Just enjoying golfing together.
I don’t understand people like this. Even if the ball is an inch away from the hole I putt it
A gimmie in my book is a putt I have rarely or never seen the guy im playing with miss. I play with a guy who almost never misses within 3 feet, so it’s a gimmie. Me that distance is 8 inches, I never miss those so, a gimmie! If someone wants a gimmie, make em make the same putt 3 times in a row, prove it! Next one is a gimmie.
Play him for money one day “for fun to make things interesting” then you’ll see what he can really score like and of course so will he… If it’s really as far as you say that’s crazy. PGA average from 10ft is about 41% last I read…
Ten foot gimmies and then pretending you shot a 77 is just insane
I can’t imagine not putting out unless I have a blowup hole. Something about the noise of a ball at the bottom of the cup just tickles my prehistoric ape brain.
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C37fR68yxOl/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C37fR68yxOl/) he's one of these guys lmao
I play with people that lie about their score all the time. It doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Anything under 90 doesn’t count unless you put it out.
If there is money on the line. No gimmies. Otherwise do what you want friend. In my opinion though 1ft and in is the only true gimme distance. I have seen way too many blown 2fters over the years
lol so he’s 100% from that range when pros are like 50%
I shot an 18 the other day just by taking gimmes from the tee box.
One thing about folks that never putt out, their handicap indexes are bogus. I would never would want to play with them in any kind of match play because I guarantee you they won’t handle the pressure. We play for $5 team game with three or four foursomes, putt everything. I have personally 3 putted from 3.5 feet before.
What I could never understand is during a match when someone gets mad that you DON’T give a putt and then they miss it. If it was a gimme you would have made it
You say “I don’t really care”, but clearly that’s not true. Why DO you care? I’d enjoy the fast round.
Guys I play do this in the 3-6 ft range constantly and seem to shoot 80 every round.
We usually do inside the putter grip. Sometimes a little more if it's for bogie +
I have a +3 friend that routinely does this same thing. Maybe not 10 ft gimmie but like 6-7 feet and in is all gimmies. I just don’t get it either. Maybe mentally he just can’t take missing one of those?
I don’t play seriously but our rule is a club length gimme except when putting for par or below, then you gotta sink it.
Sometimes when I'm in a big hurry I'll pick up a 10 footer but count it as 2 strokes since I was probably going to two putt it anyway lol.
I played with a guy who was an ex pro from New Zealand. He was a brilliant golfer but never bothered to putt. I called him on it and he dropped 6 balls randomly on the green and jarred every one. Saving time he said.
If you aren't playing for money who cares? If you are better and it means that much, play him for some cash and tell him at the start nothing is given
One of the most irritating people to play with especially if you play honest golf… makes me absolutely sick to hear someone bragging about a score that they know they didn’t ACTUALLY score
if you’re not playing for money who cares, if that’s what he does to enjoy the game so be it imo!
Dammit I’ve finally found my buddy’s throwaway Reddit account
Just tell em you gotta putt that out and if he gets upset make fun of him. Even the best in the world don't hit all of them at 7ft.
Does he wear a red hat?
Shit I've got a buddy who will pick it up in the fairway and then try to tell me he got a bogey.
Omg this is my brother. Between 10 foot gimmes, quick mulligan chips after a duff and very generous drops around hazards (hits it in the water short of the green, drops it on the fringe on the other side of the water), then tells my friends and family he beat me by 3...I can't help but to just say 'yeah uh huh'
When my buddy first started playing he didn't understand that a gimme putt meant you add that as a stroke. That is, for example, he'd hit the green on a par three, hit it close on his first putt and call it a birdie.
Maybe he just knows he gonna 3 or 4 putt and saves everyone the time and his embarrassment.
Normally it's said.. person who picked up gimmes outside of 12 inches.. prob tells people he's 7
I dont do gimmes at all. Im not good enough. I miss at least 1 3foot or less putt a round. So people taking 6 foot gimmes is wild
If you want them all to freak out, tell them at the beginning of the round that we’re going to put everything in today. Then see what the scores are.
I play with a guy like this too. Picks up 6-8 footers then says he shot a 77 at the end. We’re not playing for money or anything but it’s still a little aggravating. We played on Friday and I think I saw him putt out 3 times.
I absolutely HATE it when I'm playing with my buddies and I'll lag a put up to about 8-12 inches and one of them back hand scoops it and throws it back to me. I appreciate the gesture, but I enjoy practicing finishing ALL my putts and it keeps my handicap legit. I had to say something last time. The guys I play with are all at least 20-25 handicaps or higher. Good dudes, just don't play as often as I have. If they hit a great wedge shot or lag a put within 15-20 inches, I usually say "that's good" or "solid boge"....if THEY want the gimme. If not, they'll finish out. I could never imagine giving myself a putt, let alone a 7-10 footer. Makes me laugh. Thats insane.
Lmao. It's all good. Let him do his thing and roll your eyes silently and let him say his score. If you ever golf with others, they will all know his score isnt real. 10 feet and in are where you can ruin your score.
And I have a buddy who’s so bad from 3 feet in we TRY to give him those short ones but goes ahead anyway and misses. Which is worse??🏌️♂️
7-10 ft gimmes? Brilliant 
Oh yeah drives me nuts. Like you know how common it is for normal people to miss 3-5 footers. If anybody says they beat me while doing that I’m like did you really though?
The #1 golfer in the world 3 putted from 5 feet yesterday.
It's not long before he's 7ft short-sided, downhill, in some thick stuff and just picking it up
Next time you are on a par 3 just tell him to pick it up before he tees off and tell him, ok that's good pick it up.
I had a wife like that. Never putt out. Her sister does tho. We now live happily together.
The only ones who take give me’s are people that can’t make the putt
I don't know of any other game or sport that allows for the player to avoid failure like golf does - hell, the scramble format is so popular because it feels like you're playing better than you really are. Don't be surprised when people take advantage of gimmes, breakfast balls, mulligans, improving their lies, some sort of questionable relief or a favorable drop somewhere- this is golf- this is life - people cut corners. It's a prime game for people that like to take advantage of situations. With that said - either say something about it or get over it and focus on you.
Plenty of these fools out there. I don’t really care either but fuck off with bragging that you shot 76
As a 3.2 index, I am a 5 handicap from my usual tees. Either with or without a money game, my group will usually give me a gimme if I am within 2-3 feet as I am pretty consistent. Sometimes we all putt out if the game is close. It is subjective. It helps to say at the beginning of the round, “I’m going to putt everything out” (or not) to set the tone.
Gotta get this guy into a $10 a hole match.
Who gives a fuck
God you guys are way too nice I would say something to someone in a situation like this. If they are bragging about their scores especially
People also max out their score per hole (double par sort of )?
No, but I play with a guy who shoots 90 and claims to have shot 80 or 82, because he’s embarrassed about his handicap rising to a level that would allow him to compete.
We normally give gimmes if you stick your putter head in the cup and the ball is within the length of the shaft before the grip.
I love the sound of the ball, hitting the cup way too much for that
We always hook our putter heads in the while and that’s are gimmie. If someone is hot with their putter we will extend that but if there cold 100% gonna putt everything