Gimme Etiquette in Golf: The Unwritten Rules

What is a gimme?

A gimme is a short putt that your opponent or playing partners concede — meaning they agree you'd make it, so you pick up the ball and count it as holed without actually putting. You score the putt but don't play it.

The word comes from "give me" — as in, "give me that one, it's close enough."

The crucial rule: gimmes only exist in match play

This surprises many casual golfers. Under the Rules of Golf:

• In match play: you can concede your opponent's putt, ball, or even the entire hole at any time. This is fully legal and a core part of match play strategy.
• In stroke play (including Stableford and most club competitions): there are no gimmes. Every ball must be holed out. Picking up a ball that hasn't been conceded is technically playing from a wrong place — and in serious competition, it's a disqualification offence.

Most casual weekend rounds are played as strokeplay, which means technically everyone should be holing everything out. Most groups don't strictly enforce this in social rounds, and that's fine — but be aware that if you're in a competition, you must hole out regardless of how short the putt is.

Gimmes in match play: the strategy

In match play, conceding a putt is often tactical, not just generous. Reasons to give a putt:

• To maintain pace of play — a tap-in shouldn't slow the group down.
• To keep your opponent's rhythm off — never let them get comfortable over short putts if they seem nervous. Don't concede anything they might miss.
• To set up later psychology — concede a few short ones early, then don't concede when it matters most.
• Reciprocity — conceding a putt to your opponent often prompts them to concede yours. Some matches become increasingly generous; others increasingly stingy. Both are legitimate.

You can concede at any time: before they address the putt, while they're standing over it, or even mid-stroke (though mid-stroke is unusual and can be confusing).

A concession cannot be withdrawn. Once you say "that's good" or equivalent, it stands — even if you immediately regret it.

Conceding in casual strokeplay rounds — the social norm

In casual (non-competition) strokeplay rounds, most groups operate with informal gimmes:

• Anything inside a foot or two: given automatically.
• Anything inside the length of a grip: often given.
• Longer putts: generally not given unless it's clearly a tap-in.

The social expectation varies enormously by group. Some groups never give anything; some give almost everything inside three feet. There's no universal standard.

The key etiquette principle: be consistent within your group. If you give your friend a two-footer on hole 3, it becomes weird to make them putt a two-footer on hole 17 when the score matters.

What you should never do

Never pick up your own ball without it being conceded. Even in a casual round, picking up without anyone saying "that's fine" is bad form. Ask — "is that okay?" — or putt it.

Never concede a putt your opponent is already putting. Wait until they finish. Conceding mid-putt creates confusion about whether the hole is complete.

Never ask your opponent to concede your putt. You can hint ("is that good?") but explicitly asking "will you give me that?" puts them in an uncomfortable position. If they don't give it, they're not being rude — the default is that all putts are played.

In competition, don't pick up anything. No matter how short, no matter what your playing partners say. Unless it's formally conceded in match play, you putt it.

Frequently asked questions

If my partner says "pick it up" in a stroke play competition, can I? No — another player's informal instruction doesn't constitute a valid concession in stroke play. You must hole out regardless.

Can I concede the match to my opponent, not just a putt? Yes — in match play you can concede a hole or the entire match at any time. Conceding the match ends it immediately regardless of the score.

Is it rude not to give a gimme? In match play, no — it's entirely your right to make your opponent putt from anywhere. In a social round, making someone putt a tap-in repeatedly can feel pettier as the round goes on, but it's not against the rules.

What's the range for a "gimme" in amateur golf? No official range exists — it's purely social convention. The most common informal standard in UK and Irish club golf is "inside the leather" (approximately the length of a putter grip, roughly 25–30cm from the hole).