That short putt your buddy just scooped up and declared good is one of the most common traditions in golf, yet it's not actually part of the official rules. This informal act, known as a gimme, is a massive part of the game's social culture. This guide will walk you through exactly what a gimme is, the unwritten rules of giving and receiving them, and how they fit into different types of golf, from a casual afternoon round to a competitive tournament.
A gimme is simply a putt that another player concedes to you, meaning you don't actually have to hit the ball into the hole. They are "giving" you the stroke, so it's considered made. If your ball is six inches from the cup and your friend says, "That's good, pick it up," you've just received a gimme. You add one stroke to your score for that putt and move on to the next tee.
The primary purpose of the gimme is to maintain a good pace of play. Lining up, settling in, and stroking a one-foot putt takes time. Multiplying that by four players over 18 holes can add 20-30 minutes to a round. In a friendly game, making everyone tap in these tiny putts can feel tedious. It's a simple, informal agreement between players to keep the game moving and avoid unnecessary pressure on what should be an easy shot.
However, it's essential to understand that this is purely a social convention for casual rounds. For individual stroke play, the Official Rules of Golf are clear: you must hole out on every hole. The only time concessions are officially recognized is in match play, where you are playing directly against an opponent hole by hole, not trying to post the lowest total score.
Since gimmies aren't official, they operate on a fluid, honor-based system of etiquette. Misunderstanding these unwritten rules can lead to awkward moments or even tension within a group. To navigate this part of the game smoothly, just keep these guidelines in mind.
This is the most important rule of all. You can never, ever assume a putt is a gimme. Reaching down and picking up your ball without it being explicitly conceded by another player in your group is a major breach of etiquette. Someone must say the words: "That's good," "Pick it up," or something similar. If you're unsure, just prepare to putt. If a playing partner thinks it's a gimme, they'll stop you. Taking a putt for yourself is like helping yourself to someone else's fries - you need to be offered first.
The most common rule of thumb for gimme distance is "inside the leather." This refers to the length of a standard putter grip, from the bottom of the grip (the "leather") to the clubhead. If your ball is closer to the hole than that distance, it's generally considered a gimme. It's a quick, easy-to-use measurement that most golfers recognize.
But treat this as a guideline, not a hard rule. A two-foot putt that's dead straight is very different from a two-foot putt with a sharp right-to-left break on a lightning-fast green. The situation matters just as much as the distance.
Not all short putts are created equal. The context of the putt has a huge influence on whether a gimme is appropriate.
If you give your friend a two-foot gimme on the 3rd hole, you should be prepared to offer the same courtesy to every other player in the group for a similar putt later in the round. Being selective with who gets gimmies or changing your standard mid-round can make you look biased and create a bad atmosphere. The goal of a gimme is to be friendly and efficient, so apply the "gimme standard" for the day evenly to everyone.
Deciding when to offer a gimme is part social grace and part situational awareness. As the on-course coach for your group, here’s a simple framework to follow.
The distinction between a casual round with friends and a round played by the book is critical. Understanding this difference will make you a more knowledgeable and respected golfer.
As mentioned, taking gimmies disqualifies a score from being posted for an official handicap. The USGA Rules of Handicapping are built on the principle of accurate score reporting, and that requires every putt to be holed.
So what happens if you're playing a casual round, pick up a few gimmies, but still want an idea of what you shot? If you pick up on a hole before finishing, you should record your "most likely score." To do this, you add the strokes you've already taken on the hole, plus the number of strokes you would most likely take to finish from that spot. For a short gimme, that's almost always one more stroke. If you’re two feet away lying 4, your most likely score is a 5.
The concept of a gimme has an official cousin in the format of match play. It’s important not to mix these two up.
Gimmies are a social cornerstone of casual golf, designed to foster a friendly atmosphere and keep the game moving. Knowing the unwritten etiquette - giving, not taking, being fair, and understanding the situation - allows you to use them correctly without causing any friction in your group. Remember that they are strictly for informal play and have no place in rounds being posted for a handicap or in stroke play competitions.
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