Concede
A concede in golf is when a player formally gives their opponent’s next stroke, a hole, or even the entire match in match play, allowing the result to be counted without it being played out. Concessions are governed by Rule 3.2b of the Rules of Golf and exist only in match play, never in stroke play.
What is a concede in golf?
The term “concede” describes a voluntary act unique to match play, the head-to-head format where two golfers (or two sides) compete hole by hole rather than against the rest of the field. Instead of forcing an opponent to actually hole a short putt or play out a hopeless hole, a player can simply give it to them. The opponent’s score for that stroke, hole, or match is then treated as final, and play moves on.
Concessions exist for a few practical reasons. They speed up pace of play and signal sportsmanship between opponents. They also add a layer of strategy that does not exist in stroke play. A player who knocks a tap-in to within six inches probably will not miss, so making them putt it out wastes time and can come across as petty. A player who has hit two balls out of bounds on a par 4 has already lost the hole, so playing it out drains energy with no upside. Concessions cut through these moments and let the match keep moving.
According to the USGA’s Rule 3.2b, a player may concede the opponent’s next stroke, a hole, or the entire match. Hole and match concessions are far rarer than putt concessions, but all three are legal under the same rule.
How a concession works under Rule 3.2b
Rule 3.2b sets the formal mechanics. A concession must be clearly communicated, either verbally or by an unmistakable gesture. The most common verbal phrases are “that’s good” or “pick it up.” A clear gesture, such as picking up the opponent’s ball marker or knocking the ball away, also counts. Vague comments or frustrated noises do not.
Once a concession is made, it is final. It cannot be declined or withdrawn. If a player concedes a 3-foot putt and the opponent later tries to roll it in casually and misses, the ball is still treated as holed. The concession stands above whatever happened next, per Rule 3.2b(1).
There is one important timing rule. A player cannot concede the opponent’s next stroke while the opponent’s previous shot is still in motion, with one exception: a ball that has rolled past the hole with no reasonable chance of going in can be deflected or stopped specifically as a way of conceding the next stroke. This prevents a player from watching a putt slide past, then quickly saying “that’s good” only to stop the comebacker.
The three types of concessions
There are three things a player can concede, and they appear with varying frequency on the course.
| Type | What it means | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Conceding a stroke | The opponent’s next shot (almost always a short putt) is given. The opponent picks up and the score includes the conceded stroke. | Routine. Happens in nearly every match play round. |
| Conceding a hole | The opponent wins the hole without finishing it. The trailing player picks up and both move to the next tee. | Occasional. Usually after a disastrous start to a hole. |
| Conceding the match | The trailing player gives up the entire match. | Rare. Considered bad form except in cases of injury or illness. |
A hole concession often happens when one player is in deep trouble (out of bounds, lost ball, multiple strokes behind on a single hole) and the opponent is on the green in regulation. Rather than grind through to a humiliating finish, the trailing player simply gives up the hole. Match concessions are different. They are rare, because most golfers prefer to play out even a hopeless position, and Golf Compendium notes that conceding an entire match is treated as poor form unless illness or injury forces it.
Concede vs. gimme
Many golfers use “concede” and “gimme” interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
A concede is a formal part of the Rules of Golf and applies only to match play. It is covered explicitly in Rule 3.2b, and once given, it is binding under the rules.
A gimme is the informal slang version, derived from “give me.” It refers to the same idea: a short putt picked up without being holed. The difference is that it has no official standing. Gimmes show up in casual stroke play rounds where players agree to pick up tap-ins to keep things moving, but they are not allowed under the Rules of Golf in any round being played by the rulebook (handicap rounds, club competitions, tournaments).
| Concede | Gimme | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised in the Rules of Golf? | Yes (Rule 3.2b) | No |
| Format | Match play only | Informal, often used in casual stroke play |
| Binding? | Final and cannot be withdrawn | Informal agreement only |
| Who decides? | The opponent, never the player putting | Mutually agreed, often before the round |
The everyday distance for both is similar. There is no official length defined in the rules, but most casual matches treat anything inside roughly two feet, or “inside the leather” (the distance from the putter head to the bottom of the grip), as routinely conceded.
The Concession: golf’s most famous moment
The most celebrated concession in golf history happened on 20 September 1969, at the Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale. The match between American Jack Nicklaus and Britain’s Tony Jacklin came to the 18th green all square, with the overall Ryder Cup score tied 15.5 to 15.5. Both players reached the green in regulation, and Jacklin left himself a putt of around two feet for par. Nicklaus, after holing his own four-and-a-half-foot par putt, picked up Jacklin’s ball marker and conceded the putt, halving the match and producing the first tie in Ryder Cup history at 16-16.
Nicklaus reportedly told Jacklin, “I don’t think you would have missed it,” adding that he was not going to give Jacklin the chance to try. Although the United States retained the Cup as defending champions, golf historians, including Wikipedia and the USGA, describe the gesture as one of the most-cited acts of sportsmanship in golf. Sam Snead, the U.S. captain, was unhappy at the time, but the concession went on to inspire the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award for sportsmanship at every Ryder Cup, and the two later co-designed The Concession Golf Club in Florida, named after the moment.
The history of conceding putts goes back further than many golfers realise. The phrase “concede putts” first appeared in the Rules of Golf in 1909, although the USGA was initially against the practice and recommended that players not concede putts to opponents. That recommendation remained in the rulebook until 1933.
Related Golf Terms
- Collar — The grass immediately surrounding the putting green, also called the fringe.
- Clubhouse — The main building at a golf course with facilities and a pro shop.
- Compression — A measurement of how much a golf ball deforms at impact.
- Clubhead-speed — The velocity of the clubhead at the point of impact with the ball.
- Coil — The rotation of the upper body during the backswing that creates power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you concede in stroke play?
No. Concessions are only allowed in match play under Rule 3.2b. In stroke play every ball must be holed, and a player who picks up before completing a hole cannot post that score for handicap or competition purposes.
Can you take back a concession?
No. Once a concession is clearly communicated, it is final under Rule 3.2b(1). It cannot be declined or withdrawn, even if the player who conceded immediately changes their mind.
Can you ask your opponent to concede a putt?
The rules do not prohibit it, but golf etiquette strongly discourages asking. Concessions are at the sole discretion of the opponent. The expected practice is to wait silently and either putt out or accept a concession if one is offered.
Can a hole be conceded before it starts?
Yes. Rule 3.2b allows a hole to be conceded any time before it is completed, including before the players start the hole. The same applies to conceding the entire match.
What happens if a conceded putt is putted anyway and missed?
In a singles match, nothing changes. The hole is already over. Any stroke after the concession counts as practice, which is permitted in match play. In foursome or four-ball matches, however, putting a conceded ball can lead to loss of hole if it gives a partner an advantage.
Sources
- United States Golf Association. “Rule 3 – The Competition.” Accessed May 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “Match Play.” Rules Hub. Accessed May 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “‘That’s Good’: A History of Conceding Putts.” Accessed May 2026.
- R&A and USGA. “Rules of Golf for 2019.” Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “1969 Ryder Cup.” Accessed May 2026.
- Kelly, Brent. “1969 Ryder Cup Winner, Match Scores and ‘The Concession’.” Golf Compendium. Accessed May 2026.
- Athlon Sports. “Ryder Cup Rewind: The Significance of ‘The Concession’ in 1969.” Accessed May 2026.
- DP World Tour. “A story of sportsmanship: Where the Concession Golf Club gets its name.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Digest. “Rules of Golf Review: I conceded a putt. My opponent putted anyway and missed.” Accessed May 2026.
- ESPN. “Jacklin fondly recalls the ’69 Cup.” Accessed May 2026.
