The Gimmie

“A gimmie is when a traffic cop pulls you over and only gives you a warning, or when a grocery clerk honors your expired coupon without price checking your adult Depends over the grocery store microphone.”   The Art of the Gimmie by Mick Kemper

More specifically to the game of golf, and far less humorous, a gimmie putt (“give me”) is a time saving measure where short putts are conceded and counted when considered unmissable; typically, “within the leather” (the distance between the bottom of the putter grip and the head of the putter).  The “Rules of Golf” do not allow gimmies in Stroke Play however gimmies are permissible and often tactical in Match Play.

• Stroke Play: Also known as Medal Play, is a scoring system in which the total number of strokes are counted at the end of play.
• Match Play:  A scoring system in which a player, or team, can earn up to one-point per hole.  The winner is the player, or team, with the most points at the end of play.

Gimmie putts manifest themselves during recreational Stroke Play rounds (as a time saving measure) as well as all Match Play rounds.  The guiding principles governing gimmie putts are murky at best.

There seem to be two ends of the spectrum relative to the guiding principles of a gimmie putt:

• The Purist’, who play by the “Rules of Golf”, require the ball to be played through the hole…period!

“As a three-Index, I am not giving a fifteen-Index a three-foot putt!”

Bunky Burgess

• The far-less-than-Purist’, who are as magnanimous with their gimmie putt credo as Warren Buffet is with his philanthropic endeavors.

Being far closer to a fifteen-Index than a three-Index, I offer a few suggestions in an attempt to maintain consistency/sanity relative to the gimmie putt:

• Plan on playing the ball through the hole.
• A gimme putt is a gift. It is never to be expected and should only be appreciated.
• By definition, a gimme putt is considered unmissable. In the event you are not given what you believe to be a gimme putt, don’t take it personally, no need for an emotional meltdown, as it is incumbent upon you to make an unmissable putt.  If you miss the putt, it is not your opponent’s fault, it simply means you are a shitty putter.
• When you grant a gimme putt of a questionable length, do not expect restitution; it just doesn’t work that way.
• When a competitor grants a gimmie putt, do not attempt to substantiate your prowess by stroking a post-gimme putt. This simple act, in most instances, will result in an embarrassing situation and require your competitor to reluctantly re-confirm the previous gift, which is more than awkward; not to mention, you just proved you are not capable of making an unmissable putt and may not be worthy of future blessings.  Put your head down, say thank you, scrape your ball off the green and move along.
• When invited to a Member-Guest, allow the Member to govern all gimme putt decisions. It is his/her Club, his/her friends, his/her legacy.  As a Guest, I granted a lengthy gimme putt while simultaneously misinterpreting the stroke situation on the same hole, resulting in a loss of hole and a missed opportunity at the all-important Shootout…sorry Dave! It’s good business to just keep your trap shut!
• As a recreational golfer, do your best to remain reasonably consistent with your gimme putt credo. In most cases, golf is played with friends and post round festivities should not be encumbered with hard feelings from a putt(s) not given and/or an unmissable putt(s) being missed.
• At all costs, avoid pandering for a gimmie putt or worse yet, bequeathing yourself a gimmie putt; unless it is for a quadruple bogey. It is a really bad optic.
• There are however, a few exceptions. In the event your opponent elects to plumb-bob a two-footer and/or fumbles incessantly with his/her ball marker in his/her pocket and/or/or somehow references the “circle of friends”, the sound of “crickets” should waft across the green!

“I firmly believe the only reason you gave me that putt is because you didn’t want to see me miss!”

Doug Perry

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