Gimme
A gimme is a short putt that another player concedes, counted as holed without being struck. The stroke still counts on the scorecard; only the act of putting is skipped.
What is a gimme?
A gimme is a putt the player does not have to hit because another player in the group has agreed it would be made. The ball is picked up, one stroke is added to the score, and play moves on. The word itself is a slurred version of “give me,” as in “will you give me that one?”
Gimmes exist for two reasons. The first is pace of play, since holing out from six inches dozens of times across a round adds up. The second is sportsmanship: granting a tap-in that no one realistically expects to be missed has long been seen as a courtesy between playing partners.
A gimme is always offered, never claimed. The player who is about to putt cannot decide their own ball is a gimme, and asking for one is generally treated as poor etiquette. The decision belongs to the other player or players in the group.
When are gimmes allowed?
The official Rules of Golf draw a sharp line here. In match play, where each hole is a separate contest between players, an opponent can formally concede a stroke, a hole, or even the entire match at any time, and once given, the concession cannot be withdrawn. This is covered under Rule 3.2b of the Rules of Golf, published jointly by the USGA and The R&A.
In stroke play, where every shot counts toward a total score, gimmes have no standing. Every ball must be holed out. That includes club championships, medal play, Stableford rounds, and any round being submitted for a handicap under the World Handicap System. England Golf is explicit on this point: a round in which a gimme is taken should not be submitted for handicap purposes.
This is why the term “gimme” sits in a slightly awkward place in the rulebook. What players call a gimme in a casual stroke-play round is technically not allowed. What they call a gimme in match play is, properly speaking, a conceded putt, which is a defined act under the rules.
The practical rule of thumb: in a friendly weekend round with no scorecard going anywhere, gimmes are part of the social fabric of the game. In any round being recorded for competition or handicap, the ball goes in the cup.
How far is a gimme?
The Rules of Golf set no distance for a conceded putt. An opponent can concede a 30-foot putt if they want to, or refuse to concede a six-inch one. In casual play, golfers usually settle on a working convention before the first tee.
The most common informal benchmark is “inside the leather,” meaning the ball lies closer to the hole than the length of the putter grip. Two interpretations of that phrase have evolved. The original, documented in The Historical Dictionary of Golf by Bill Mallon and Rand Jerris, refers to the grip itself, roughly 12 inches. A more generous modern reading measures from the putter head to the bottom of the grip, which works out to closer to two feet.
Beyond inside the leather, casual groups commonly treat anything within one to two feet as a gimme. Some friendly groups stretch it to three feet, particularly when the score has no consequence outside the round.
A useful reality check sits inside tour data. According to strokes-gained research by Mark Broadie, PGA Tour professionals make roughly 96% of putts from three feet and only 88% from four feet, meaning even the world’s best players miss putts inside the typical gimme range several times per season. Recreational golfers shooting in the 90s convert three-footers at closer to 84%, based on the same dataset, with the make rate dropping sharply beyond that. A “can’t-miss” putt at the casual level looks nothing like one in a competition.
Gimme vs. conceded putt
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things. A conceded putt is recognised under the Rules of Golf in match play. A gimme is the informal cousin, used in casual or social rounds where the rulebook is not strictly being applied.
| Feature | Gimme | Conceded putt |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Casual / social stroke play | Match play (and team match-play formats) |
| Rules of Golf? | Not recognised | Recognised under Rule 3.2b |
| Who can give it? | Any player by mutual agreement | The opponent (or opposing side) |
| Can it be refused? | Yes, players can decline informally | No, once made it cannot be withdrawn |
| Counts as a stroke | Yes, one stroke added | Yes, one stroke added |
| Handicap rounds? | Not allowed | Allowed only in match-play formats |
The clearest way to keep them straight: a conceded putt is a rule, a gimme is a custom. They look identical on the green, but only one of them holds up on a scorecard submitted for competition or handicap.
Related Golf Terms
- Front nine — Holes 1 through 9 on an 18-hole golf course.
- Fried egg — A ball buried in a bunker with sand splashed around it like a fried egg.
- Gap wedge — A wedge between pitching and sand wedge loft (50-52 degrees).
- Frog hair — The short grass just off the edge of the green (the fringe).
- Fringe — The strip of grass between the green and the fairway or rough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ask for a gimme?
Asking for a gimme is technically allowed but widely considered poor etiquette. The convention is to wait for it to be offered. If no one says anything, the player should putt the ball out.
Can you give yourself a gimme?
No. A gimme has to come from another player. A player picking up their own ball without it being conceded has not completed the hole.
Are gimmes allowed in Stableford?
No. Stableford is a form of stroke play, so every putt must be holed for the score to count.
Are gimmes allowed in handicap rounds?
No. Under the World Handicap System, every hole must be properly completed for the score to be valid. A round in which a gimme was taken should not be submitted.
Are there gimmes on the PGA Tour?
Not in stroke-play tournaments, where every ball is holed out. In team match-play events such as the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup, conceded putts are common.
Sources
- Wikipedia. “Gimme (golf).” Accessed May 2026.
- The R&A and USGA. “Rule 3.2 (Match Play).” Rules of Golf.
- England Golf iGolf. “What is a Gimme in Golf?” Published March 2026.
- Easdale, Roderick. “What Is A Gimme In Golf… And Why Do They Sometimes Cause Controversy?” Golf Monthly. Updated September 2025.
- Mallon, Bill and Jerris, Rand. The Historical Dictionary of Golf. 2011.
- Golf.com. “Why ‘inside-the-leather’ gimme-putt range is more complicated than you might think.” Accessed May 2026.
- Broadie, Mark. Every Shot Counts. Penguin, 2014. PGA Tour and amateur putting make-rate baselines.
