Gimmes aren't real — in stroke play, you must hole out
Gimme putts are only legal in match play when your opponent concedes them. In stroke play, Rule 3.2 requires the ball to be holed out on every hole.
What is a gimme in golf?
A gimme is a short putt your playing partners let you skip — someone says "that's good," and you pick the ball up and count it as holed without actually putting it. The name says exactly what's happening: the putt is given to you. Gimmes are a fixture of casual rounds for putts inside a few feet — traditionally "inside the leather," the distance from the edge of the cup to the head of a putter laid on the green.
But here's the catch most weekend groups miss: gimmes only exist as concessions in match play (Rule 3.2). In stroke play, there is no such thing — every putt must be holed, no matter how short. That's why the gimme is one of the most common (and most quietly broken) rules in casual golf.
Are gimme putts legal in golf?
Gimmes are only legal in match play, when your opponent concedes the putt. In stroke play, gimmes don't exist — you must hole out on every hole under Rule 3.2.
This is one of the most common (and most quietly broken) rules in casual golf. The weekend "that's good" inside the leather? Strictly speaking, in stroke play that putt was never holed.
Stroke play vs. match play
| Format | Gimmes legal? | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke play | No | Rule 3.2 — the ball must be holed out on every hole |
| Match play | Yes, if conceded | Rule 3.3 — your opponent may concede a stroke or the hole |
In match play, the concession is real: once your opponent concedes your putt, you pick it up and the stroke is considered holed. You can't decide to "play it out" and then count — the concession stands.
Why the scorecard matters
The disqualification gotcha
In stroke play, if you pick up a "gimme" and write down a lower score than you actually made, you've signed for a score lower than your real one — which under Rule 3.3 is disqualification (or, in some club rules, a two-stroke penalty). Even though everyone "gave" you the putt, the number on the card has to reflect what happened.
What to do next round
If your group plays it fast and loose with putts, the cleanest fix is to switch your weekend game to a format where gimmes are legal — or agree beforehand and just don't write it as a stroke that didn't happen.
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Related rules
Gimmes connect to scoring and etiquette. For more situations that come up mid-round, see wrong-ball penalties and cart path relief.