A gimme is supposed to be a short putt that your opponents conceded in a match to expedite play. However, things have gone further than that, and now a gimme is just a standard part of the game.
Golfers think it’s good when they get close enough to the hole, and they can move to the next hole without even worrying about the fact that they just gave themselves a free shot.
While we won’t complain about the pace of play benefits, some golfers are pushing this line between gimme and pure cheating. Let’s take a look.
What Golfers Generally Accept as a Gimme
A gimme is supposed to be short—within two feet of the hole. One common term that golfers have used to refer to a gimme is “inside the leather.”
This means it’s within the length of the putter’s grip, but the more modern definition has been within the distance from the putter head to the base of the grip.
The general rule is that anything inside two feet is a gimme; anything outside of that may be pushing it.
When a Gimme Becomes a Stretch
Gimmes are reserved for the putts we overwhelmingly expect a player to make.
However, when we start pushing these putts to three or four feet and even five-footers, it’s stretching them.
Do you make 99% of your putts from five feet? Chances are you do not.
When we start pushing gimmes this far out from the hole, are we really still going to say it’s the same game?
Pressure, Gamesmanship, and Gray Areas
There’s another problem with gimmes. They can get in the way of a friendly round of golf. Playing partners may feel pressured to concede putts they wouldn’t typically give or accept.
In golf, there’s always that guy that takes a six footer for a seven because he was never going to put an eight on his scorecard.
He picks his up and then tells you your five footer for par is good.
But is it?
Handicap Implications
The golf handicap system is a great way to enjoy a friendly match against friends. However, if you are not getting the ball in the hole (taking gimmes from three or more feet), your handicap is likely not as accurate.
Accepting too many gimmes artificially lowers scores and leads to an inaccurate handicap. You can go around and tell everyone you are a ten handicap, but the next time you have a golf tournament, chances are you’ll shoot 90.
Having to make short putts when the pressure is on is a skill.
Striking the Right Balance
So, do we just do away with gimmes completely?
Not necessarily.
When you have eight inches to the hole and a group waiting on you from the fairway in a casual round of golf, it can make sense to pick up and move on.
Talk to the golfers you play with most often and see how they feel about the issue. Many groups have certain distances that they accept as gimmes, and they set that in place before a round.
Some golfers advocate putting everything out to preserve the game’s integrity, and we can’t argue with them. Rules are rules.
Others see gimmes as a practical way to keep rounds enjoyable.
Whatever your stance, remember that golf’s essence lies in the challenge of holing every putt. Be reasonable about the length of the putts you are taking. It’s part of the game.
