Concession
A concession in golf is when a player tells their match-play opponent that they don’t have to finish a stroke, hole, or the entire match. The conceded portion is treated as completed, and play moves on.
What is a concession in golf?
A concession is part of match play, the head-to-head format where two players (or sides) compete hole by hole rather than against the whole field. Under Rule 3.2b of the Rules of Golf, a player may concede their opponent’s next stroke, an entire hole, or the whole match at any point during the round.
When a stroke is conceded, the opponent’s ball is treated as holed with that next stroke. When a hole is conceded, the opponent wins it without finishing. When a match is conceded, the competition ends right there.
Concessions exist for two simple reasons. The first is pace of play: forcing an opponent to tap in a six-inch putt slows everyone down for no real benefit. The second is sportsmanship, which has shaped match play since the format’s earliest days. Concessions are not allowed in stroke play. Every player must hole out on every green, no matter how short the putt.
The three types of concessions
There are three forms a concession can take, all governed by the same rule but used in different situations.
The conceded stroke is by far the most common. It usually happens on the green, when one player tells the other that a short putt is good and can be picked up. A casual “that’s good” or “pick it up” is enough.
A conceded hole ends play of that hole immediately. A player who has lost two balls in a water hazard while their opponent sits two feet from the cup may simply concede rather than finish. Hole concessions are uncommon but not rare, especially when one player has clearly already lost the hole.
A conceded match ends the whole competition. This is the rarest form and is generally seen as poor form unless circumstances justify it, such as injury, dormie situations with the outcome already decided, or an emergency. Most golfers play out a losing match to the end.
| Type of concession | When it’s typically used | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke (putt) concession | Short putts on the green | Routine |
| Hole concession | Hopeless situations on a single hole | Uncommon |
| Match concession | Injury, dormie, or rare cases of clear surrender | Rare |
Concession vs. gimme: what’s the difference?
These two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing, and in everyday speech they more or less do. The difference is technical.
A concession is the official rules term. It is only legal in match play, and it is governed by Rule 3.2b. A gimme is the informal name for the same thing in casual stroke play, where players agree among themselves to pick up short putts to keep things moving. Under the actual Rules of Golf, gimmes are not permitted in stroke play, and any round used for a handicap submission must be holed out on every green.
So the practical difference comes down to format. In match play, a concession is the official, binding result of the hole. In a Saturday stroke-play round with friends, a gimme is a friendly agreement that keeps the round moving but technically sits outside the rules.
Rules around concessions
Concessions are simple in spirit but precise in the rulebook. A few points are worth knowing.
A concession must be clearly communicated. It can be verbal (“that’s good,” “take it”) or it can be a clear gesture, such as picking up the opponent’s marker. Vague comments or frustrated body language don’t count. If there is any doubt, the putt has not been conceded.
A concession is final. Once given, it cannot be declined by the opponent or withdrawn by the player who offered it. Even if the opponent then putts anyway and misses, the conceded score still stands in singles match play.
Caddies cannot concede on their player’s behalf. A clarification to Rule 3.2b makes clear that any concession a caddie attempts to give is invalid.
Players cannot agree in advance that all putts inside a certain length, such as inside the leather of a putter, will automatically be conceded. Each concession must be made on its own. According to Golf Rules Guru’s coverage of Rule 3.2b, agreeing to shorten a match or concede holes deliberately can result in disqualification of both players under Rule 1.3b.
The 1969 Ryder Cup origin
No discussion of the term is complete without the moment that made it famous. At the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in England, the singles match between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin was tied going to the 18th green. With the overall Cup score level at 15.5 points each, Jacklin had a short putt of around two feet to halve the match.
Nicklaus, playing in his first Ryder Cup, picked up Jacklin’s marker and conceded the putt. According to Wikipedia’s account of the 1969 Ryder Cup, the gesture produced the first tie in Ryder Cup history at 16-16, with the United States retaining the trophy as the defending side.
The moment is now known simply as “the Concession.” It inspired the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, given at every Ryder Cup for sportsmanship, and gave its name to The Concession Golf Club in Florida, which the two players co-designed and which opened in 2006. According to the DP World Tour, Jacklin recalls Nicklaus telling him afterwards that he had no doubt Jacklin would make the putt, but wasn’t willing to give him the chance.
Related Golf Terms
- Compression — A measurement of how much a golf ball deforms at impact.
- Coil — The rotation of the upper body during the backswing that creates power.
- Clubhouse — The main building at a golf course with facilities and a pro shop.
- Concede — In match play, giving an opponent a putt, hole, or the match.
- Collar — The grass immediately surrounding the putting green, also called the fringe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are concessions allowed in stroke play?
No. Under the Rules of Golf, every player must hole out on every green in stroke play. Concessions only apply in match play. Casual gimmes are common in friendly stroke-play rounds but sit outside the rules and aren’t allowed in handicap rounds.
Can a concession be refused or taken back?
No. Once given, the concession is final under Rule 3.2b. Neither side can change it, even if the opponent later putts the ball anyway and misses.
Can a player ask for a concession?
Yes, technically. Nothing in the rules prevents it, but concessions are entirely at the opponent’s discretion, and repeated asks rarely earn the favour. Most players keep quiet and let the opponent decide.
What happens if a player putts after their putt has been conceded?
In singles match play, the score still stands at the conceded value, and the extra stroke is treated as practice. In four-ball, putting after a concession can incur a penalty if it helps a partner read the line, under Rule 23.6.
Which rule covers concessions?
Rule 3.2b in the official Rules of Golf, published by the USGA and The R&A. The rule explains how concessions are made and confirms that they are final once given.
Sources
- USGA. “Rule 3 – The Competition.” Rules of Golf. Accessed May 2026.
- USGA. “Match Play – Rules Hub.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Digest. “Rules of Golf Review: I conceded a putt. My opponent putted anyway and missed.” Accessed May 2026.
- National Club Golfer. “Want to concede a putt? Here’s what the Rules of Golf say.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Rules Guru. “Matchplay – Concessions and what if you disagree with your opponent?” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Compendium. “Explaining the Concession in Golf Matches.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “Rules Of Match Play Golf Explained.” Accessed May 2026.
- DP World Tour. “A story of sportsmanship: Where the Concession Golf Club gets its name.” Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “1969 Ryder Cup.” Accessed May 2026.
