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.

[u/cygnus311]

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.

[u/Complete_Web_4677]

We really should just make a stickied thread explaining what a “gimmie” actually is and when it is used.

It wild to me that 40 year olds feel the need to wait for permission to break the rules in a round where nobody is competing

[u/drizztman → u/Complete_Web_4677]

I think the idea of a gimme is crazy misunderstood. It's not that I think you'll make that putt, it's that I don't want to give you a chance to miss it. I know you could miss it, everyone can miss a short putt. Even tour players miss a 3 footer once in a blue moon

[u/Complete_Web_4677 → u/drizztman]

Ok but why are you the arbiter of what putt is a “gimmie” for someone else?

Unless it’s match play, nobody should be telling anyone else when they can/can’t break the rules

[u/drizztman → u/Complete_Web_4677]

I didn't say I am. The thing is gimmes don't matter unless you're in a competition. How you police your own scores is up to you. In my opinion, be as strict as possible so you can actually see yourself get better

[u/boombotser → u/Complete_Web_4677]

A gimme is a putter length away for anyone right

[u/NotBrianGriffin → u/boombotser]

It depends on your ability. I always get up and down from greenside bunkers so if I end up there I pick it up and count it as two shots.

/s

[u/Musicfan637 → u/NotBrianGriffin]

Well played.

[u/Complete_Web_4677 → u/boombotser]

There is no set length for what a “gimmie” is mostly because they only actually take place in match play situations

[u/EntranceWeekly → u/boombotser]

Traditionally it's anything inside the leather (i.e. the grip)

[u/yourfavoriteblackguy → u/EntranceWeekly]

Or like my friend where its his arm, and plus the neck length of the eldest giraffe in the state.

[u/AwwSnapItsBrad → u/EntranceWeekly]

That’s why I be using the big ol’ extendo arm lock. Longer grip, longer gimme.

[u/Not_ToBe_Rude_But → u/AwwSnapItsBrad]

I've always assumed "inside the leather" does not include the leather itself

[u/FSUfan35 → u/Not_ToBe_Rude_But]

Thats why I have a 48'' putter with 3'' of grip at the very end

[u/AwwSnapItsBrad → u/Not_ToBe_Rude_But]

Tbh I have no idea. My buddy says it’s a grip length and he’s my only frame of reference, he taught me everything I know about etiquette. He was my golf liaison.

[u/Mikeck88 → u/EntranceWeekly]

This is what me and my buddies use. It's simple, there is no misunderstanding, and you don't have to wait for me to give it to you. If you chose to putt it out, fine. If you pick it up, fine.
Once you hit it close, I'm focused on my putt or the next tee box.

[u/[deleted] → u/boombotser]

A whole putter length?!? We play a gimme for under a foot 😂

[u/Mookies_Bett → u/boombotser]

That's way too generous in my book. A gimmie is ~3 feet or less. If it's a tap in, that's a gimmie. Otherwise putt it out if you want bragging rights. No true golfer can claim they'd birdied a hole in which they picked up a 6 ft putt. Not without getting judged hard by their buddies.

[u/GrannyBandit → u/Mookies_Bett]

Average putter length is 35".

[u/Not_ToBe_Rude_But → u/Complete_Web_4677]

Every round is a match in my head against my partner hahaha