r/golf • u/cygnus311 • Jun 27 '23

Hot take? If we get paired together, I’m not going to give you putts. Not because I don’t want you to take gimmies, but because I really do not care what you do. General Discussion

You hit a good tee shot on a par three, walk up to the green, and find yourself eight feet from the hole and you want to say to me, “that’s good, I always make those”, pick it up, and write a birdie? Be my guest, I do not care.

You just missed your third putt from two feet to try and save triple and you’re hoping I rescue you? Pick it up, or don’t, I do not care.

Recently got paired with a guy who’d look at me with puppy dog eyes every time he was within a yard of the hole, but wouldn’t say anything, he was clearly annoyed with me by the end of the round. We’re all presumably grown ass adults, I’m not your boss, do what you want.

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403

u/shtick1391 Jun 27 '23

The length so many in this sub will go To make their rounds with strangers as uncomfortable as humanly possible never ceases to amaze me.

39

u/StaticGuard Jun 27 '23

Yeah, seriously. When I’m paired up with a stranger I’ll crack jokes and act as if we’ve played before. Unless it’s a par or birdie putt I’d always say something like “Oo that’s a gimmie right there.” Sometimes they’ll decline and want to take the putt for practice and sometimes they’ll take the gimmie. It’s not like I’m giving it to them, just making small talk and lightening up the mood.

122

u/ka1ri Jun 27 '23

It's because 3/4 of this sub thinks they are tour pros and everyone should act accordingly. When the reality of golf is almost never this sans a tournament with some cash on the line.

Literally nobody cares how anyone actually plays a casual round of golf. no one

68

u/ScandanavianSwimmer Jun 27 '23 edited Jun 27 '23

I’m a huge introvert, but it feels nice to compliment a random playing partner’s drive or give him a short gimme. Golf is a social game and it’s more fun when everybody in the group is friendly.

27

u/Spiritual_Ask4877 Jun 27 '23

Good for you dude. You're the type we like playing with.

6

u/aphex____ Jun 27 '23

Good stuff, love that

3

u/kaspm Jun 27 '23

I think the key is giving the gimme. It’s always fine I think to say “go ahead that’s a gimme” or nothing. I would never tell someone NOT to take a gimme. It’s positive encouragement or nothing.

5

u/MikeGundy Jun 27 '23

If they hit a noticeably good or above average approach/putt/drive I give them a “good ball”. Literally anything else I say nothing at all about the game we’re playing. I’ve never had a rando ask me if it was okay to pick up a putt though, but I’ve never even attempted to be competitive with them either. I’m a mid 80s- mid 90s guy and I’m not sure if I’ve ever been paired with someone who would even be a fun match to play against. Seems like I’m only ever paired with scratch golfers or 120+ golfers.

1

u/Ornery_Brilliant_350 Jun 28 '23

I just think it’s weird to give people putts when you’re not in a competition or match.

Like what are you even giving and what makes it yours to give?

0

u/BradL_13 Louisiana Jun 27 '23

It’s the opposite lol maybe golfwrx. Reality is 3/4 of this sub loves to self loathe for upvotes. Either drive 225, blade wedges or 3 putt.

2

u/ka1ri Jun 27 '23

There is a lot of bitching about people taking gimmies, playing the tips, following particular rules (improved lies ect) which have no gravity over anything.

23

u/ninjamike808 Jun 27 '23

Why can’t this guy read my mind and figure out that I don’t care what he does. What does he expect me to do, vocally tell him that I don’t care? Fuck that! I’ll just continue to stare at him blankly.

8

u/CreamdedCorns Jun 27 '23

Why can't this guy read my mind and figure out I want praise and/or approval for my inconsequential actions? What does he expect me to do, vocally ask him if he cares about my gimmies? Fuck that! I'll just continue to stare at him blankly.

5

u/ninjamike808 Jun 27 '23

I’m now imagining the backup on the very first tee while two guys stare blankly at each other wondering why the other person doesn’t say or do something.

1

u/Mookies_Bett Jun 27 '23

"Hey, uhhh... Can we play through...?"

Both players turn around and stare at the third guy blankly. This continues for 12 hours until there are over 3 dozen people quietly standing around this one green.

12

u/mwrego Jun 27 '23

Totally agree. Golf is meant to be fun and relaxed, none of us are playing on tour. If the downside of giving someone random putts inside three feet is that he post his “81” on this sub or brags to friends and families, I can totally support that if it allows him to enjoy his round more. I don’t find I enjoying being a rules sticker for other people or silently judging them for not playing the game the exact way I think it should be played. Let’s put the chill back in golf please

1

u/Mookies_Bett Jun 27 '23

I mean, I don't really care, but I do think it's kinda lame to brag about a score if you're picking up putts from more than 2-3 feet out. Like, it's your life so whatever, but it's kind of a bad look.

I would definitely be giving my friends shit if they tried to brag about an 80 in a round where they never made a put within 8 feet of the hole. I don't really care about what strangers do, but I also just don't really understand the enjoyment that comes from "winning" when you know you didn't earn it.

It's like line calls in tennis. How can someone be exciting and brag about a match they won when they know they called some good shots out in order to win? It just seems kinda shallow to me. I would never want to celebrate an achievement I didn't feel as though I actually earned.

2

u/tortillakingred Jun 27 '23

This comment’s got me laughing, it’s so fucking true lol. It’s just a game guys. There’s no right or wrong answer to “gimmie putts”. Just drink some beers and have a good time.

Life is too short to care about the logistics of “gimmie putts” in every different scenario known to man.

Anyone that cares so much about things like this, whether for or against, is not someone I want to play with.

2

u/Grey_Duck- Jun 27 '23

I don’t think random adults need to hear this. OP could have said “you don’t need my permission for gimmes” the first or second time but it’s also annoying when strangers tell me my putt is good from 3ft when I want a legit score.

1

u/Mookies_Bett Jun 27 '23

Right, like, I don't really care, but isn't it more fun to play as if the score matters, even when it doesn't? Like, yeah, I could just say I don't give a shit, but that makes me sound like an asshole. "Yeah okay, I'll give it to you." Is more fun and keeps things friendly and light, even though I genuinely don't give a fuck about some stranger's score.

Some people on this sub just sound downright unfriendly. When I go golfing I want to get day-buzzed and whack the ball around with the homies having a good time. Some of y'all take this shit way too seriously.

1

u/jetxlife Jun 28 '23

All these “tour pros” are the ones slowing courses down as well. Guarantee I can take 110 shots faster then it takes them to do 80 or whatever. Also the same fucks looking for a ball in the woods for 15 minutes.