
Key Takeaways: Gimmie
- A gimmie, or "gimme putt," is a putt so short that you feel it is unmissable, so you ask another golfer to "give me" that putt — to allow you ...
- Gimmies are illegal under the Rules of Golf. ...
- Gimmies and conceded putts, which are covered under the Rules of Golf, are not the same thing.
What is a Gimmie in golf?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. A "gimmie" (or "gimme putt") is a putt so short a golfer considers it unmissable, so just picks it up and counts it as holed.
Should there be Gimmes in golf?
Of all golf’s many traditions, this one has more scope to cause an argument than any other. Unpleasantness usually arises when players argue about whether such a putt should be given or not. You see, the Rules of Golf might span more than 300 pages but there’s no mention of gimmes.
When is a putt a Gimme?
"If it's a birdie putt or a par putt on a par 3 with a 'greenie' at stake, then putt it out. If it's "inside the leather" with a conventional length putter, then it's a gimme. If you have someone not familiar with your home course involved in a game then you should be a little more lenient and make putter length putts gimmes.
Are Gimmes ever considered a Gimme?
That's why they're rarely considered a gimme. Never: There are plenty of purists out there who don't care if gimmes are good psychology or help speed the pace of play. They want everything putted out.

What length of putt is a gimme?
2.5 feetA putt inside 2.5 feet is a fairly agreeable gimme length and you can use that system the entire round. If a ball is past the end of the putter, you have to hit it, no questions asked.
How far is a gimme golf?
2 feetWhen a putt is a gimme. If it's inside the leather of the putter: Lots of groups call a gimme when a putt stops closer to the hole than the distance from the near lip of the cup to the bottom of the putter grip. It's a little more than 2 feet.
Is gimme legal in golf?
Gimmies are illegal under the Rules of Golf. Therefore, they exist only informally, most commonly seen in recreational rounds of golf or other rounds among friends.
What is a gimme in sports?
Gimme is a term in golf, where it refers to a short putt one doesn't have to take because it's too easy to miss. Outside sports, gimme is either a colloquial contraction of give me or a metaphorical extension of the golf term.
Do you count a gimme as a stroke?
In golf, a gimme is a shot that the other players agree can count automatically without being played. When a player has only a very short putt left to play, other players may grant a gimme (i.e., one stroke is counted), but the ball is not played.
What is a mulligan in golf?
The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.
How many mulligans are allowed in golf?
It is rarer still - rarely seen, in fact - for mulligans to be used on the putting green. And some groups allow mulligans from just about anywhere on the golf course, but set a limit - say, three mulligans per round, or nine, or 18.
What does it's a gimme mean?
The definition of a gimme is something that is certain to happen since it is so easy to achieve. When your ball is less than a putter's length away from the hole in golf, the shot to get the ball into the hole is an example of a gimme. noun. (slang) Acquisitive; greedy.
What is raking a putt?
0:351:40Club Pro Guy talks Quick Raking - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd once it gets to the front of the hole I've got to be ready to spring into action to get it back.MoreAnd once it gets to the front of the hole I've got to be ready to spring into action to get it back. On. By the whole step rake step rake step rake now luckily on that rake the rake missed the hole.
What is the difference between gimmies and conceded putts?
The main difference between gimmies and conceded putts is this: Conceded putts are covered in the Rules of Golf and exist as a sanctioned part of match play; gimmies are not, and do not. Conceded putts are ones that , in a match play setting, your opponent tells you to count as made, and pick up your golf ball.
What is a conceded putt?
Conceded putts are ones that, in a match play setting, your opponent tells you to count as made, and pick up your golf ball. A golfer cannot ask his opponent to concede a putt, a concession can only be granted. And concessions are made only in match play, not stroke play . You can think of gimme putts as the unofficial, ...
Can you use a gimmie putt on a golf putt?
It's easy to abuse the gimme putt, though. Most golfers who play with gimmies don't actually measure " inside the leather," they just eyeball the putt length. And it's easy for the length of gimmies to keep creeping upward, ...
Can you putt with a gimmie?
Many recreational golfers play using gimmies for any short putt. The unofficial standard governing what length of putt is OK to treat as a gimmie is " inside the leather " — that is, if a golf ball is closer to the hole than the distance from your putter head to the bottom of the putter grip when laid flat on the green, ...
Can you use a gimmie in a golf tournament?
Gimmies cannot be used in any round of golf played under The Rules of Golf, at least not by golfers who want to claim they are abiding by the rules. A golfer who does claim a gimmie in a round of golf played under the rules — a tournament round, a handicap round, any round in which golfers are supposed to be abiding by the rulebook — is actually ...
Is it illegal to have a gimmie in golf?
Gimmies are illegal under the Rules of Golf. Therefore, they exist only informally, most commonly seen in recreational rounds of golf or other rounds among friends. Gimmies and conceded putts, which are covered under the Rules of Golf, are not the same thing. "Gimmie," which is also frequently spelled "gimme," derives from "give me," as in, ...
Is a gimme putt a stroke play?
And concessions are made only in match play, not stroke play . You can think of gimme putts as the unofficial, unsanctioned (by the Rules) stroke-play counterpart to match play's conceded putts.
What is a Gimme In Golf
A gimme is a slang word in golf used to say that a golfer can count his next putt as if it went in due to how close it is in the hole.
How long is a gimme?
A gimme is a putt that is two feet or shorter. But the length of a gimme tends to change based on the group you are playing with.
Are Gimmes Used In Golf Tournaments
No, gimmies are not used in golf tournaments. As golfers are expected to physically take all of their shots throughout the entire tournament.
Does A Gimme Count As A Stroke?
Yes, a gimme should always count as a stroke. It is important to remember that when a golfer takes a gimme they are saying they next putt is so short that the putt automatically counted.
Conclusion Understanding Gimmes
We hope you enjoyed our guide to understanding gimmes in golf. If you have any questions regarding this article. Or any of the information we’ve included on it please be sure to reach out in the comments below.
What is a "gimme" in golf?
Most every casual golf group believes in the "gimme", the putt that's close enough to the hole that everyone in the group is confident it would be made were the player forced to putt it.
Do you concede a putt that will win the hole?
If it's to win the hole: No matter the format, a lot of players won't concede a putt that will win the hole. They want to see that one go in the cup. If it's for birdie or better: With so many groups often playing side bets in addition to the main game, putts for birdie or better usually come with a few dollars attached.
Is a gimme good for golf?
Gimmes are good for the game and they speed up play. Facebook fan quotes: "These answers are why some rounds on a public course take 5 hours. It's not the U.S. Open so keep the pace of play moving along.". -- Mark Reagan. "To quote some famous golfer...
Can you record a score on a gimme range?
Never. If you take/give putts from gimme range, don't record a score because you will have had holes you never finished out. Again, in stroke play, the rule is you must put everything. We're refreshed to see that so many of you are so diligent about that too.
Is putter length a gimme?
If it's "inside the leather" with a conventional length putter, then it's a gimme. If you have someone not familiar with your home course involved in a game then you should be a little more lenient and make putter length putts gimmes. Anything to speed the game up some.
