Golf Glossary
Gimme
In short
A gimme in golf is a very short putt that your playing partners let you count as holed without trying it. The player picks up the ball and records one stroke. Officially this is only allowed in match play, when the opponent clearly concedes the putt. In stroke play there are no gimmes: every ball has to be holed.
Gimme in golf: the meaning explained
‘Gimme’ is a colloquial word. It is a short form of ‘give me’. It describes a putt so short that practically everyone holes it. Instead of playing the putt, your partners say ‘that’s good’, and the player picks up the ball.
For the score, the conceded putt counts as one stroke. If someone has a ball half a metre from the hole, the putt is given and one stroke is added to the strokes already played. The ball counts as holed.
Gimmes are most popular in rounds among friends. They save time, because short putts that would almost certainly drop do not have to be played. That also helps with pace of play. Worth knowing: the word gimme does not appear in the Rules of Golf. The Rules only know the concession, that is, giving a stroke in match play.
Gimme in match play: what the Rules allow
In match play two players or two teams compete hole by hole. A gimme is expressly covered there. Rule 3.2b of the Rules of Golf allows a player to concede the opponent’s next stroke, a hole or the whole match.
A few principles apply to a gimme:
- The opponent has to concede the stroke. The player may not take it for himself.
- The concession must be clearly communicated, by a word or a clear gesture such as a movement of the hand towards the ball.
- A stroke that has been conceded cannot be taken back. The player cannot decline it either.
- The conceded stroke counts as if it had been played. The ball counts as holed.
Conceding is a tactical decision. An opponent does not have to concede and can insist that the putt is played. A player who lifts the ball without a clear concession risks a penalty under the Rules on lifting a ball. If in doubt, ask and wait for a clear answer.
Why there are no gimmes in stroke play
In stroke play every stroke counts for the overall result against the whole field. That is why Rule 3.3 knows no gimmes. Every player must hole out on every hole. Partners may not concede a putt, and the player may not simply skip it.
A player who does not hole out in stroke play and walks to the next tee breaches Rule 3.3c. The mistake has to be corrected before the player starts the next hole or, on the last hole, before the scorecard is returned. If that does not happen, the penalty is disqualification.
In Stableford the consequences are milder. Failing to hole out does not lead to disqualification there, but the hole scores no points. Anyone who could still score points with a short putt therefore gives them away with a gimme. It is different if you can no longer score points anyway. Then you may pick up your ball without any disadvantage.
Practical example: a gimme among friends
Two friends play a round on a short course and keep score in match play. On the fourth hole, a par 3, player A hits the green from the tee and the ball finishes two metres from the hole. He holes the second putt and has taken three strokes.
Player B is also on the green from the tee and plays his first putt from five metres. The ball rolls to within 40 centimetres of the hole. Player A says ‘that’s good’. Player B picks up the ball and writes down the number: tee shot, first putt and the conceded second putt make three strokes. The hole is halved.
In stroke play it would be different. Player B would have to play the short putt. If he misses, the mistake costs him another stroke. In a casual round a gimme in such cases is a matter of trust.
How short must a gimme be?
There is no fixed length for a gimme. It is an agreement among the players. As a rule of thumb, many groups give putts of up to about 30 to 50 centimetres. More generous groups give anything within a putter length. In English you also hear ‘inside the leather’. It means: lay the putter down with its head at the hole, and the ball must be closer than the start of the grip, which used to be made of leather.
Ability also plays a part. Experienced players almost always hole a half-metre putt. Beginners miss it more often. So you should agree before the start:
- What length counts as a gimme?
- Does it apply to all players equally?
- Are there exceptions, for example a downhill putt or the last hole?
A clear agreement avoids arguments. Many groups also agree that there are no gimmes in competitions and in rounds that count for handicap.
Gimme and handicap
For handicap purposes, a round that is meant to count is played under the Rules of Golf. In stroke play that includes holing every ball. Gimmes agreed only among friends therefore do not belong in a round you submit for your handicap. In a relaxed round among friends with no scoring, a gimme is no problem.
Another point is practice. Anyone who gets used to short putts always being given loses the feeling for the pressure a competition creates. It is exactly the short putts that often decide the result there. It therefore makes sense to hole short putts deliberately in practice, even if they would otherwise be given in a round. Anyone who practises this regularly plays the putt with more calm in a competition.
A gimme is thus a friendly gesture between golfers. In a stroke play competition, however, the rule is always: hole out.
Try it at Golf Lounge
If you want to try gimmes, or play without them, the Golf Lounge’s 6-hole short course ‘Red’ is a good setting. No Platzreife is required, up to four players can book together, and a round usually takes less than an hour. In winter, from January to March, the course is converted into a 9-hole winter course. That suits a relaxed round with friends in which you agree beforehand which putts are given.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gimme in golf?
A gimme is a very short putt that your partners let you count as holed. The player picks up the ball and records one stroke for the conceded putt. The word is colloquial and does not appear in the Rules of Golf. There it is called a concession and applies only in match play.
Is a gimme allowed in golf?
In match play yes, if the opponent clearly concedes the stroke (Rule 3.2b). In stroke play no: every ball must be holed or disqualification can follow. In Stableford leaving it out does not lead to disqualification, but the hole then scores no points. In rounds among friends with no scoring the players decide for themselves.
How long can a gimme be?
There is no fixed length. As a rule of thumb, putts of up to about 30 to 50 centimetres are often given. More generous groups give anything within a putter length. Agree a length with your partners before the start so that there are no arguments later.
Does a gimme count as a stroke?
Yes. The conceded putt counts as one stroke and the ball counts as holed. If you needed two strokes to reach the green and the putt is conceded, you write down three strokes. The stroke may not simply be left out.
May I give or take a gimme in a competition?
It depends on the format. In a match play competition your opponent may concede a putt (Rule 3.2b). In stroke play there are no gimmes and you must hole every ball. A player who does not and fails to correct the mistake in time is disqualified. Practise short putts regularly in training.
As of: October 2026