An aquantance of mine and myself have a disagreement.

If you are playing a Stableford round in either a club or Social competition with prizes at the end and several groups (up to 20 odd blokes)playing, when is it OK to pick your ball up and allow yourself a ‘gimme’.

I say never, my ‘friend’ says otherwise and that so long as you think you can make the putt no drama, you can pick up and count the putt as made.

I think this is cheating, others don’t.
What’s your take on it?

I think it is up to the rest of the group to agree not the person, but even then why not just putt out and get the satisfaction?

Frankyb, how can you ‘agree’ to change the rules. Isn’t there a rule saying that you cant change the rules?

I agree though, why not just putt out and save the stress.

Sounds like your friend is more scared of missing the putt then what you really think… if he was so sure that he wouldn’t make such a fuss when you questioned him on it.

Cashy, it’s not something I have seen much of but if it is a dead cert and everyone agrees I have no problem with it and yes there is the agreement not to change the rules. I personally prefer to see my ball in the cup. I think your mate is definitely in the wrong and he is cheating.

Might have to go to the judge to resolve this.

A wise man once said, “A gimmie is an understanding reached between two players, niether of whom can putt very well..” Make them putt out and expect no favors in return I says!! The aim of golf is to get it into the hole, not near it!

Myself- Always in the hole, never pickup. I played with somebody recently who started off taking 1 foot gimmies, and at the end of the round starting taking 3 footers. Well, that just made me angry. For starters- he didnt ask for my concent, and 3 foot- Well I always thought 1 foot was sort of a maximum.

Did you like… report him or something?

I heard it slightly different Mr C. A Gimmie is A putt given to one player that can not putt by another player that can not putt. According to the rules the only time a gimmie can be given is when playing matchplay. If you are playing Strokeplay ( s/ford ) you must putt out to record a score. ” Rules is Rules”

I’d seek a consensus vote with your playing group. Personally, I wouldn’t concede anything inside three feet.

so you would concede a 4+ foot putt then. XD

Correct
But two points
1 gimmes must be given, they can never be taken
2. they only exist in matchplay – A gimme can be given by an opponent in match play, because you are playing against only one person, that person is the only one affected and so he can do what he wants. In a comp however, despite the fact you are playing with a group you are in effect playing against the entire field and therefore your opponent has no right making decisions that impact on the rest of the.

So in simple terms, it is never ok to take a gimme under any circumstances unless it is offered to you, and then only in matchplay

I’d seek a consensus vote with your playing group. Personally, I wouldn’t concede anything inside three feet.

Sorry – I meant I wouldn’t concede OUTSIDE three feet.

Correct
But two points
1 gimmes must be given, they can never be taken
2. they only exist in matchplay – A gimme can be given by an opponent in match play, because you are playing against only one person, that person is the only one affected and so he can do what he wants. In a comp however, despite the fact you are playing with a group you are in effect playing against the entire field and therefore your opponent has no right making decisions that impact on the rest of the.

So in simple terms, it is never ok to take a gimme under any circumstances unless it is offered to you, and then only in matchplay

exactly right…. as far as i am concerned playing in a club competition you should only pick up if and when you wipe the hole
if you pick up at any other time you should be disqualified…...end of story

My opinion is if your playing for prizes then you should always putt out unless your wiping the hole.
I’ve seen players putt to a inch of the hole and casually try to tap it in and but the putter hits the ground just before the ball and fail’s to putt the ball in the hole.
I recall Baddley doing this one year at either the Aust Masters or Open and he looked a total tool.

I recall Baddley doing this one year at either the Aust Masters or Open and he looked a total tool.

He always looks a total tool …...................... !! (then he opens his mouth).

In matchplay you can concede anything to your partner- it is your choice. If however you pick your ball up without it being conceded by your oponent, you are in effect deciding not to complete the hole and thus conceding it to your oponent – you go 1 down.

In anything other than matchplay – the concept of concession simply does not exist. You can say you concede a putt, but it is meaningless as you have no right to say this. Only one fact remains, if you pick you ball up, you incur a penalty, and if you then tee off from the hole without having replaced your ball and holed out, you are disqualified.

A friend of mine was playing in a society and as it was a friendly game, when his partner left it an inch short from 20 feet for a par he said to him ‘That’s given’. Later on, he noticed the guy had himself down for a par on the hole in question – when he asked him why, the guy replied ‘you gave it to me!’. The bloke had thought because it was almost good enough, he got a par!

in social games you never call youre own gimmie, its rude for a start and darn right wrong

and in any other form of golf its cheating!!

if you pick up in stableford its a wash….as simple as that…you gotta hole out to record a score

thats right….

I always putt out …why because its golf to putt out..unless in match play where your opponent conceeds the holes…putting out then is a bit arrogant

In matchplay you can concede anything to your partner- it is your choice. If however you pick your ball up without it being conceded by your oponent, you are in effect deciding not to complete the hole and thus conceding it to your oponent – you go 1 down.

I think you meant to say you can conceed anything to your OPPONENT?

If you pick up your ball without a concession being granted, you actually would incur a penalty stroke if for some reason you had to continue the hole.

A concession should be made verbally – so don’t just pick up your ball and walk away – you should say something to the effect to your opponent that you conceed the hole.

In anything other than matchplay – the concept of concession simply does not exist. You can say you concede a putt, but it is meaningless as you have no right to say this. Only one fact remains, if you pick you ball up, you incur a penalty, and if you then tee off from the hole without having replaced your ball and holed out, you are disqualified.

You are correct in your assertion that outside of match play, concessions do not exist.

In stroke play, if you do not hole out, and tee off on the next hole, you will have to be DQ for not having a valid score. However, in par & stableford, by picking up you are not returning a score for the hole. You can pick up 18 times if you want, and return a score of 0 points….

Trysil

there was a local guy who got banned from playing for 6 months as everytime he played with his dad he would pick up anything under 6 foot .

That is absolute BS taking gimmies anything outside 1 foot. Gimmies should only be taken if they are offered and they should not be suggested, but they are only ever offered if the ball is less than 1 foot.