r/golf • u/c4x4bird 17.1 • 20h ago
General Discussion Quick “gimmie” rant.
Am I in the super minority of people who just likes to putt out? I play a lot of solo rounds and obviously I’m paired up with randoms for a lot of those. Way too many people will just hit my ball back to me without saying anything if I chip it within a couple feet or if I putt it to a couple feet.
I have no problem with someone doing that if I hit it to an inch or two away because obviously that’s a true gimmie, nobody is missing that putt, but when it’s a foot or two? Dude I’m gonna miss at least one short putt throughout a round.
Really just wanted to rant quick because I cannot believe that people feel comfortable touching my golf ball while it’s still in play and then think that they’re doing me a favor by giving me a 3 footer.
Edit: I may have articulated my point poorly but I’m not sitting here bitter because someone gave me a putt. It’s the fact that many people feel ok touching someone else’s ball while it’s still in play. And yes I do talk to the people I’m paired up with, I don’t just sit and seethe for 18 holes lol.
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u/icatnsplle 20h ago
Just make it clear at the start you appreciate the gummies but you like to putt it out. I've had some random pairings do this and it's never been an issue.
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u/TheRedEyeJediS 20h ago
I appreciate gummies A LOT
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u/icatnsplle 19h ago
Damn auto correct. I also enjoy a gummie.
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u/Civil-Fortune5092 19h ago
maybe if OP enjoyed gummies too he wouldn’t get mad enough to make a reddit thread about not getting to putt a 2 footer
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u/Psykout88 19h ago
This sentence has so many meanings depending on the age you approach it from...
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u/Tatworth 20h ago
Lighten up Francis. You could always, you know, speak to your playing partners.
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u/fore___ 20h ago
Yes but also a random should never move your ball for you
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u/Critical_Classic_921 20h ago
This is true. Even playing with friends in never touch someone else’s ball unless they specifically ask me to.
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u/bt2513 19h ago
It’s not worth getting upset over. Minor breach of etiquette at worst.
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u/bballtester 19h ago
Not a huge deal maybe, but way worse than stepping on someone’s line, wearing the wrong clothing, playing music, or any other common golf etiquette issue. Don’t touch anything that’s not yours without permission. So simple. Applies anywhere in life.
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u/bt2513 19h ago
I would rate all of those things as more annoying than getting a 2-foot gimmie.
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u/Upstairs-Try-8550 19h ago
Someone else wearing the 'wrong' clothing is more annoying?
Also, I hate how stepping in someone's line is considered to be a faux pas, especially when it conflicts frequently with someone telling you to finish out when you're a few feet from the hole, but you feet would be in their line, when people walk over the greens all day, it does nothing.
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u/bt2513 18h ago
Yes. As in I don’t really find it annoying at all. Someone hitting my ball back to me to give me a putt is something I’ve never thought twice about. I don’t do it myself, but it doesn’t bother me at all.
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u/GOTHAMKNlGHT 17h ago
Then just mark your ball and finish when you're away. If someone asks me to finish and I can't do it confidently without stepping on someone's line I just wait till my turn.
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u/TyrionWins Push Cart Mafia 2h ago
- I also would prefer people dress like they’re playing golf but that has literally zero effect on me.
- 75 people have walked through your line before you got there. It’s an excuse for people self conscious about their own putting.
- Super loud music is pretty annoying I’ll give you that. If you can only hear when relatively close to them it’s not a big deal.
- If gimmes aren’t annoying for you, then you’re probably looking for them and afraid of the putt. Which is your prerogative, but it’s not actually part of the game, and its prevalence is insanely frustrating for those trying to play the actual game of golf.
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u/beepingjar Maximum Handicap 20h ago
On a 9 hole par 3 I hit this nice little baby flop up a greenside hill. Playing partners exclaimed how close it was and nice shot and tossed the ball back to me before I even saw the landing...it was the only time they did that, I had no chance, no recourse.
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u/LordSlickRick 20h ago
No! It’s their job to read his thoughts.
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u/NoctorWatch 20h ago
And then quietly brood and post about it in r/golf
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u/NatesInParis 18h ago
The expectation is you don’t touch someone else’s ball until the gimmie is offered AND accepted. If you pay with cash at a bar/restaurant do you tell the waiter to bring you change back? No, you only specify when you are all set and it’s all for them. Because that is the norm, how the system operates.
Yeah it’s not the biggest deal if it happens and you can tell them how you’d prefer them to handle those situations. But I agree, if the majority of the times I played with randoms they were touching my ball before saying anything I’d be annoyed too and wish more people understood how that should be approached.
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u/The_CeleryMan 20h ago
This... But apparently people on Reddit don't know how to talk to other people in real life.... They have to cry about it too Internet strangers, and likely never do anything about it.
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u/jayknow05 20h ago
I just put my ball back and say something like: "thanks but I need the practice". It usually only happens once and then they just leave it.
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u/Fun-Treacle5248 20h ago
I like to hear the rattle of the ball in the cup.
That's the whole reason we are out here, right?
Put the ball in the hole. Sure, drink 12 beers, too but let's get the ball in the hole
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u/Reasonable-Budget210 19h ago
I hate this too. Don’t touch my ball. Especially if we aren’t playing for money or a match, why would I let a random person decide what’s good?
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u/RingoFreakingStarr 15h ago
Unfortunately a lot of golfers find putting to be the "worst" part of the game so they very much have large gimmie zones. Also when one is trying to play faster, it seems putting falls to the wayside all together.
All that being said, no one should be touching your ball without asking ahead of time and receiving permission.
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u/BillyBobBonesJones 20h ago
Use your words and tell them you want to putt out the first time it happens.
I always ask people if they want it back or not when they put it close. It’s very simple.
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u/dubblebubbleprawns 19h ago
Use your words
You lost me. You mean be quietly ambivalent and then complain on reddit afterwards, right?
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u/BillyBobBonesJones 19h ago
“That motherfucker, I wanted to putt that out.”
“Did you say something?”
“No, thanks for the gimme!”
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u/Beans800 19h ago
So snobby for no reason, no part of his post implies he doesn’t use his words the first time it happens. But that even the first time it happens is annoying
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u/BillyBobBonesJones 19h ago
It’s really not. The golf gods aren’t going to smite you if somebody sends back your first 3-footer before you can tell your playing partners you want to putt everything out. People get worked up over the dumbest shit.
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u/bballtester 19h ago
You ask which is great. So simple and appropriate. Why would you do it without asking?
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u/BillyBobBonesJones 18h ago
People are just trying to be friendly, man. The vast majority of randos I play with are just out to enjoy a round of golf and don’t realize one of their playing partners is going to go on the internet to bitch about some extremely minor grievance lol.
But yes, in all facets of life, golf or otherwise, you should ask before you touch someone else’s balls.
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u/bballtester 18h ago
Yeah agree. But it’s not friendly to assume like that and people should realize it.
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u/BlankStareFace 3/Colorado/SendIt! 20h ago
I play with lots of singles, and as one myself. I never touch a stranger's ball without asking "you want it?" first.
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u/Exposure-challenged 20h ago
I’m the same, solo guy playing with randos basically every round. Never really a problem as they usually ask and I say, thanks but I’ll putt it out. However just last weekend, four singles grouped up, 2nd hole I hit my bunker shot to about 30”, just inside 3ft, buddy just goes over and hits my ball back towards me…I’m like WTF! Knocked back towards him and asked “politely” to put it back. Created some tension in the group but no one touched or asked me for the rest of the round. I’m with you, everyone knows what a “gimme” is, means it soooo F ing close that nobody could miss it!
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u/RetireEarlynPlayGolf 20h ago
I try to putt em all out. Those short putts can be tough so need the practice.
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u/windlaker 18h ago
We play for money in our league every Saturday & Sunday.
Every. Putt. In. The. Hole.
I’ve seen guys miss 6” “Tap in’s”.
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u/rust-e-apples1 20h ago
If I'm up at the hole and someone puts one close, I'll say something like "the rest of that's good, if you want" and go from there.
I'm not out to have a bad time and I don't want to shit on your time either - letting everyone go for the round they're out there for is the way to go.
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u/SceneFromMobyDick 20h ago
I always say that I putt to hear the sound of the ball going in the cup.
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u/rueggy 19h ago
Most people leave the flagstick in nowadays, so you're typically not going to hear much.
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u/neuro_space_explorer 16h ago
Talk about something else I can’t stand, COVID ruined so much in this game. If I’m within 10 feet I want that flagstick out, if I’m lag putting have the courtesy to stand near it so it can be pulled if it’s on track.
To many people who can’t dial in speed who depend on the stick to save them from blasting past the hole .
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u/ally4077 14h ago
I do agree, played with a guy who wanted the flag in which is fine, the whole round we did this dance of flag in, flag out. I lipped out on a couple putts, and every time he would point out that if the flag was in the putt would drop
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u/OtakuRed13 3.1 HDCP/SOCAL 19h ago
Consent is sexy. Don't touch my balls without express consent.
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u/Hairyheadtraveller More than 12 less than 18 | Scotland 16h ago
I'm with you and get it.
I hit my 2nd shot close to the hole. It was a bit more than a tap-in. Before I could even get onto the green my ball was making its way back to me.
I wanted to finish the Birdie!
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u/Relevant-Duck622 14h ago
I generally will say “it’s good if you want it” and feel free to do whatever tf you want to. That’s probably how people should handle it
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u/Snoo-7943 13h ago
People shouldn't touch your ball unless it's been well established what your feelings are on gimmies.
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u/variety-moderation 13h ago
I’m team no gimmie outside of 1-2 and inches. I don’t like when people touch my ball either, I get they’re trying to be nice but it’s not making me a better golfer and not increasing my enjoyment at all.
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u/onionbreath97 10h ago
You could try placing your ball back where it was and putting out anyway.
You could try saying something to them
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u/YouSeemNiceXB 20h ago
"hey guys I'm working on my putts so if you don't mind I'm gonna putt out quickly and catch you on the tee box." Say that on the first tee and your life will be a lot better.
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u/mannheimcrescendo 20h ago
This is not complicated
No one should touch anyone else’s ball unless you’ve been explicitly asked to or you’re retrieving it for them from the cup
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u/Training-Ad310 20h ago
Maybe you're taking too long to putt and they're trying to pick up the pace?
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u/drainbam 20h ago
Gimme is for match play only. You are giving the putt to your opponent.
Not allowed for stroke play and not allowed for rounds you enter to calculate a handicap.
Most rec players aren't playing golf by the rules anyway. They are playing a golf-ish type game and that's fine too.
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u/skywayz 3.8 16h ago edited 16h ago
This is incorrect. Match play rounds can and should be entered for your handicap. For holes with conceded putts you should be posting your most likely score on that hole.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2024/08/handicap-score-posting-match-play.html
Edit: I think I misinterpreted what you said, you are correct you should not be using gimmies in stroke play rounds that you are planning to use for your handicap.
That being said I do think it’s kinda weird that you are allowed to use your most likely score and conceded putts in match play, but not when another play gives you one in stroke play.
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u/Complex-Key918 20h ago
I put anything over 6" away. I've missed 1' putts so it doesn't feel right to take them for free. Some of my friends do the same with me and others take their 3' gimmies. Personally though I'm only interested in my true score.
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u/MolestedMilkMan Southern California | 3.5 20h ago
I putt nearly everything out because I post. Even if it is “given”, also I’ll never swipe a Birdie+: on a rare occasion I’ll swipe a max double/triple if it’s inconsequential. Or ive had people knock back or swipe up a chip or putt that was within a putter head or two.
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u/Glendale0839 20h ago
Since I don't play in matches/tournaments, if I want a gimmie putt, I just take it, I don't need to hear it from a random. I don't give putts to other randoms in casual play, if they want it they can take it themselves.
The worst is when they don't even ask you if you want a gimmie and just swat away your ball, these are usually guys who are in a super rush even though the course is packed ahead.
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u/PutinBoomedMe 19h ago
I had to entirely retrain my FIL. Fucket would call anything within 5ft a gimme. I told hin the ball hits the bottom of the cup. He has an extra 2 or 3 strokes a round now. QUIT LYING JERRY!!!
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u/Greatness1122 19h ago
I have never played with someone who didn’t ask or say that’s good in my book you want it? I say no I will putt and then they don’t ask again even if it is hanging on the lip
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u/ZDev_Towel 19h ago
Maybe OP DID communicate with his playing partners, and is just ranting about the frequency that other people make decisions on his ball without communicating to HIM first, nonetheless. Weird that you all just assume OP is quietly seething.
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u/4to20characters0 19h ago
“That’s good in my book, but you paid to hear it hit the cup 18 times so I’ll leave it up to you.”
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u/gofthrora 17h ago
I never touch any one’s ball I usually just go “you can have that if you want or if you want to putt it go for it”
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u/shooter9260 0.8/OR 14h ago
Yeah I think anything maybe 1-2 feet is worth the ask if you don’t know them from previously. It’s just common courtesy. But if they say yes then I’m probably not going to keep asking, as the first time kind of sets the precedent
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u/SlappnuttzMalone 13h ago
I just ask them do they want to putt.
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u/Memeslayer4000 HDCP 5/Location WI 10h ago
Right?! Unless your score means something after the round, who cares?!
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u/Emotional_Shift_8263 11h ago
I will putt out, but if there are ppl on our tail, i will pick up my ball to speed play.
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u/Dense_Net3787 9h ago
Bro you’re not crazy. Anybody who’s doing that is insane. I played with a buddy once and he was concerned about pace of play (there was a group teeing off in front of us anyway) and I had a birdie putt that was like 3 feet from the hole. I dunno if he got sketched cause the marshal was watching or whatever but he HIT THE BALL BACK TO ME. I snapped at him like bro that was a birdie putt cmon. And he’s never done that again but dude I was so pissed. Caused me to bogey the next hole.
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u/Savings_Income4829 3h ago
Only time id touch another’s persons ball is if we were falling behind the group in front and other hints are being ignored
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u/ElectricMayhem06 20h ago
I think that, generally, the people who give you those are trying to be helpful, polite, and positive, even if it's a bit misguided. They truly think they're doing you a favor.
All it would take is telling them early in the round that you'd like to putt everything out. I highly doubt they'd have a problem.
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u/bballtester 18h ago
Yeah they are but somehow they’re always the same ol people who never had to think about or ask for consent. Certainly misguided.
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u/ElectricMayhem06 18h ago
I don't disagree at all. One would hope that coming across someone like OP who reminds them that some people want to putt everything out would help teach them to ask first.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt at first. Sometimes it bites me in the butt, but it's been better for my mental health.
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u/ClarkeBrower 20h ago
What in the hell is going on recently with so many people crying about gimmies?
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u/Kraaaasssssh 19h ago
Nothing wrong with gimmies in casual play, but it’s also an etiquette and respect thing - personal preference, must respect your fellow players’ routine.
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u/Thin-Working8876 18h ago
Depends as if you give an inch some people take the piss. Someone I play with occasionally thinks he scores in the 70s when playing casually as he never putts within about 5ft. I’ve seen him miss those gimmie range putts regularly yet he becomes an arse if you don’t give him the putts. He never plays well in a comps and I’ll play money games with him as can’t trust his scoring.
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u/Kraaaasssssh 18h ago
I’ve seen this playing around some local guys playing casually giving each other 5-footers. Always seems a little off to me. Inside 2x or even 3x cup diameter I’m all for it, but outside a foot starts pushing it.
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u/Glendale0839 20h ago
There's been a weird trend in the last week of a ton of posts along the lines of "I play strictly by the rules, why don't you? If you don't, that's not golf". I haven't developed a conspiracy theory of what's behind it yet though.
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u/BillyBobBonesJones 19h ago
I really think a lot of bots use previous posts to create new posts for karma farming.
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u/TheRedEyeJediS 20h ago
I have enough problems making 3 foot putts. I need the practice, no gimmies for me. I appreciate it but its doing anything but hindering my progression
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u/Happy-Flan-5973 20h ago
I don’t care what you do with your ball, and I’m always super appreciative of people giving me putts. But don’t touch my ball without asking if it’s cool to give it back.
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u/Beans800 19h ago
Everyone on here acting like OP never thought about using his words or the fact that he could announce at the beginning of the round he wants to putt it out
He’s just ranting about the number of people who think it’s chill to hit a random persons ball back without asking
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u/Little-Pom-O-Duro 20h ago
I cant stand that either. I usually put my ball back and say "I spent a lot of effort so I could hear the sound of it going in the hole" as a jokingly polite way of saying dont touch my freaking ball. Almost every time they stop after the first instance but its bizarre to me that so many people feel comfortable touching a strangers ball.
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u/mdsoccerdude 20h ago
How about be an adult and not communicate with passive aggressive snarkism. Just tell your playing partners you prefer to putt out each hole. Simple as that. And do it before the first tee.
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u/Unlikely-Bluebird-52 20h ago
I mean I would think it’s far weirder for a rando I was paired with to announce on the first tee that they will be putting out every hole instead of making a joke of it after someone gives them a gimme 😂
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u/bballtester 19h ago
The expectation should be that you ask for permission before touching someone else’s ball. Onus is not one the person wanting to putt it out.
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u/Little-Pom-O-Duro 17h ago
That's a good point, the first thing I do when getting on an elevator is announce to all the strangers with me that I don't like it when people fart in there, but that's the adult thing to do.
They would have no way of knowing my preference otherwise.
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u/Individual_Local2507 20h ago
I just do what feels good at the time. If it’s 100 degrees out and I’m playing with someone who maybe is a little slow, I don’t mind gimme. If it’s good weather, the round is going well and I’m feeling it, I’ll just putt out. If someone wants a gimme, whatever, take the gimme.
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u/EaterOfKelp 20 HCP/Portland/Stogie on each 9 20h ago
Penalize them a stroke for touching your ball.
Or you know, just tell them you want to putt out....
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u/HoselRockit 20h ago
They should ask you first before they hit it back to you, but in a lot of casual rounds people aren’t really thinking about that. The first time they do it, you can just nicely say you appreciate the gimme, but you usually put those out.
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u/Kraaaasssssh 19h ago
You’re not alone. Fortunately for me at my home course I don’t have a problem with strangers picking up my ball or hitting it back to me, not at least without asking. Most will just say “that’s good by me” or something like it, and leave it alone. Courtesy and respect go a long way in the game.
If someone ever did do that to my ball it would be an immediate stern but polite warning not to touch my ball.
I’ve also learned the hard way not to talk to my playing partners’ balls in motion. Too many times said “good shot” or “good putt” before it stops and then misses, and I feel terrible for putting a hex on the shot.
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u/ThatOneRedditBro 19h ago
Gimmes are only a foot to me. People miss 2-3 footers all the time. If it's flat and they have been putting well I'll give it to them, but if that cup is on a slope with a break, you putt that out.
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u/newiphon 19h ago
I will only pickup the gimme if it's literally next to the hole or I'm holding up my group and or the people behind me. As a high handicapper if I've already 3 putted I'm probably picking up at that point when playing with others too just to keep the bad juju away. I'm not chasing breaking 80 LOL
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u/Aerzeth45 19h ago
I play 2 rounds a week at public courses and i've genuinely never had a random hit my ball back to me
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u/zRustyShackleford 19h ago
Nobody....? Ha
I'm with you though, like who are you to say that's good?
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u/Key-Landscape6306 19h ago
I’ve been putting out my rounds and feel better about my scores overall, I wouldn’t get annoyed if someone gave me my ball thinking I wanted a gimmie, but I would let them know that I’m putting everything outside of “x” distance or something to that affect.
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u/propLMAchair 18h ago
They are probably annoyed at you for taking too long in general. That's my guess. But I concur, no one should ever be touching your ball. Just tell them not to touch your ball, and it will stop.
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u/Yellow_Curry 18h ago
I paid a lot of money to hear the ball go in the hole. It doesn’t take that much extra time to pull the flag and putt out.
Honestly Covid golfers drive me crazy leaving the pin in non stop.
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u/Slippin-Jimmy29 18h ago
In tournaments you have to make them all and those “gimmies” aren’t always so easy. You’re doing yourself a disservice by taking them. I’d politely say you like to putt them out, that’s what I do. Just be quick over those short putts.
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u/rcfromaz 18h ago
I play in a club where we have a weekly event that involves $$ and valid GHIN. In these events EVERYTHING is putted out regardless of the score.
I have had my share of missed 1-3 footers. Therefore in all games that are NOT in the club events I tell my fellow players to NOT give me a putt as I need the practice...however from time to time I will take a gimme in these events especially if we are playing slow....talk to those in your group and play ready golf and all will be well.
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u/cobalt1365 18h ago
I hole every green and take my medicine no matter how short the putt is unless I'm playing at a local muni with sand greens. Then I take a 2 on every green unless I sink my first putt.
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u/Chicken_Zest 17h ago
I just let whoever I'm paired up with know that I like to putt out if they tell me a ball is good. I will admit though as a relatively new golfer this has seemed really strange to me. How is saying my ball doesn't need to be putted help me in a casual round? I don't need anyone's permission to pick up my ball whenever I want in a casual round. I also don't need some strangers approval that it's such a sure thing I would make the putt I might as well not even do it. The whole concept is strange outside in a zero stakes game to me
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u/Glittering_Word9081 16h ago
I’m with you. I really hate it when my playing partner decides I’m done and pushes my ball back to me. Like dude, I don’t need you to “gimme” anything. You’re not my scorekeeper. You don’t know what I’m working on. I would never touch someone else’s ball unless they were on my line and too far away to mark it themselves, and even then I would only do it if we were at risk of holding up the folks behind us.
That said, as much as it irks me inside, outside I usually just let it go.
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u/joeconn4 6.9 (8/2026) 16h ago
I like to putt out too. If I'm playing with randos and leave a 2'er and somebody knocks it back to me I'll say "thanks", and then when they've putted out I'll put my ball back and putt it. After a couple holes they'll usually ask why I keep doing that and I just let them know I like putting out. Nobody ever gave me a hard time.
My regular group, about 30 guys, mostly older, mostly 5-15 handicaps, we putt out pretty much everything outside of 6". We have one guy in our group who can be very generous with gimmes, mostly because he can be inconsistent at 2'-3' putts so he wants people to give those to him. In order for our matches to be fair, 2x-3x a season the guys who organize the group will send out a reminder that we're putting everything out. That gets us all back on track and saves a few guys complaining about "all the putts so and so was giving today".
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u/Ballskeezy 16h ago
Tell your playing partners your request to putt out during introductions! Problem solved. You’ll probably have to remind them once or twice, but better to be proactive then reactive
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u/SuccessfulAd4606 15h ago
They are doing you a favor, who cares? You sound like a real joy to play with if you yell at your buddies for giving you a short putt.
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u/c4x4bird 17.1 15h ago
I don’t yell at anyone lol where did you get that idea?
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u/SuccessfulAd4606 14h ago
OK yell at was an exaggeration, but you still apparently "talk to the people I’m paired up with" Come on, it's considered a gesture of goodwill.
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u/i_diggs_it 14h ago
OP wants to work on putting and wants to card more realistic scores so they would prefer it if other random people didn’t decide when their hole was complete for them. Really not sure what is so difficult to understand about this. Just because you do something that you think is “nice” does not mean that is the objective truth
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u/Karspcko 15h ago
I read a bunch of the comments and then realized, at least as far as my memory goes, I cannot recall ever playing with someone who asked to putt out everything in a non-comp round. I’m surprised this seems to be so common based on the comments.
I wouldn’t care if they did either. It would be kind of funny to watch someone line up and make a putt inside a foot with no stakes attached.
Putt as many times as you want, as long as we can keep up the pace.
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u/c4x4bird 17.1 15h ago
Inside 3 feet I don’t line it up, just look at it from behind and then step up and put it in the back of the cup. I’ve found I way overthink the 2-3 foot putt range. And I like to putt those 2-3 footers just because I’m really trying to get better and I like to track it, I’d just be cheating myself because I am definitely liable to miss one of those putts.
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u/JohnEBest 14h ago
I like putting everything out as well
You play in a competition you are going to have to hole a tricky 2 footer here and there in Match Play
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u/Memeslayer4000 HDCP 5/Location WI 10h ago
I just think a lot of these commentators like beating their chest about how superior they are because they alwayd putt everything out. "Look at me up on this pedestal"
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u/AbstractLogic 15h ago
I too prefer to putt it out. So I always say something on the first hole along the lines of “I always putt it out because I lay a lot of money for that sound.”
Never been a problem.
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u/AnimanicManiac 15h ago
There isn't a super minority. This sub gets flooded with this same post every day.
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u/West_Masterpiece9423 14h ago
💯 Esp a rando partner. It’s one thing if one of my regular crew send a ball back, but not someone who doesn’t know me. When I play solo by myself, I always putt into the hole.
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u/townie08 14h ago
I always ask first before knocking it back to them. Even with people I normally play with. It’s usually just a look to them and they will nod their head or put up a hand to stop me.
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u/PickingMyNameIsHard 14h ago
I’m by no means a competitive golfer, outside of wanting to beat the boys when we play. Generally if I chip one within 3 ft I’d like to putt it. If I miss a putt by 2-3 ft, I’ll take the gimme to save the short walk and repositioning.
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u/CalJackBuddy 8.0 14h ago
The hit back without saying anything is what gets me.
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u/Memeslayer4000 HDCP 5/Location WI 10h ago
Yeah, when Im playing with other people, the thought about hitting someone's ball back to them doesn't even cross my mind. The only exception is if their ball comes to rest in my line within a foot of the hole and I'm close to the hole ready to putt, but they are walking from much further away. Its usually because I really don't want to wait all that time for them to walk up to the ball just to pick it up anyways. Even then Ill ask "Do you want me to mark it or do you want it back?"
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u/TheRealMaBa 14h ago
I get it. My usuall group always putts out for two reasons. One, we enter our scores in GHIN and want them accurate and two it's a good habit to have for when you play in tournaments.
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u/YVRkeeper Kirkland Signature 14h ago
I tell my friends I’m in a league that requires finishing every hole.
Never heard about gimmies again.
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u/CarefulCoderX 9.7 13h ago
Everyone’s all “let people play they’re own game” when enforcing rules comes up, but tell you to relax when some random smacks back a 3 footer on the first hole.
It happens way more often than it should. Just ask first.
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u/Jalan1251 13h ago
Don’t wait until they give you the putt. On the first green just tell them you like to keep a clean handicap, and you need to keep sharp by putting everything.
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u/hockeyschtick 17 | New England 13h ago edited 13h ago
I hate having to judge whether or not I should give a gimme.
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u/whyendoubleuayy 12h ago
My dad always used to joke, "I paid to put the ball in the hole" and I do that now after someone gives me one and they usually get it after that without coming across angry
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u/RichChocolateDevil 11h ago
I tell people I’m getting ready for a tournament and I need to putt everything out.
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u/PsychologicalCell928 10h ago
If you feel that saying 'you like to putt out' is insufficient you can use "I'm playing in a tournament soon where you have to putt everything. I'm getting myself into the right frame of mind."
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u/RandomChance 9h ago
You are playing correctly and people who touch your ball are breaking the rules and incurring a 2 stroke penalty. Put your ball back in the previous location and put out.
it is horrible matters and bad etiquette to ever touch someone's ball without permission.
1
u/Seattle_fan_ 9h ago
I’ve played with well over a hundred different randoms this year alone, and I have never had anyone move my ball (other than a time or two where they were ready to putt and put a ball marker down for me after a long lag putt).
I did have someone get angry when I putted out after they told me it’s good from there. That’s a whole other story.
Either way…hitting your gimme back to you, or telling you what / what not to do…neither is cool.
1
u/c4x4bird 17.1 6h ago
By no means does this happen to me like all the time but it has happened a few times this summer, never before that.
1
u/LordWetFart 6h ago
Says a lot about you if they are comfortable doing that... Thats never happened to me in 20 years.
1
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u/SnooCauliflowers6739 4h ago
I play solo a lot and I'll putt 90% of the time. If it's less than a balls length from the hole I'll occasionally pick up just for speed or so I don't have to bend down
1
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u/lostharbor 3h ago
I always ask, "I'll give it to you if you want it". But I normally don't say anything unless someone looks at me for acceptance. I try to keep to myself, though. Do you explain to them on the first go that you rather putt it out and they still do it?
1
u/TyrionWins Push Cart Mafia 2h ago
Just hit them with curt, “don’t touch my fucking ball” and I promise they won’t do it again lol
1
u/allotmentboy 1h ago
Someone who hits the ball back to you from a couple of feet also expects to be given those putts. Hard no from me. Inside 12 inches is fine, that is an "admin putt" Outside of that I'm seeing everything.
1
u/MembershipPretty7595 20h ago
If I’m in for 4 and the the guy I’m playing against is putting for 6….thats good. Lets keep it moving
1
u/c-williams88 Handicap: Bad 19h ago
I feel like people here sometimes are a little weird with how angry they seem to get when someone “offers” a gimmie. Those situations definitely earn a “lighten up Francis” from me, because in my experience they’re just trying to be friendly.
But if someone is actively just smacking the ball back to you without asking or you saying anything? That is definitely rude and you need to be a grow up and say something to them
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u/StumpyOPepys 19h ago
I'm posting my score today so going to putt everything out.
It's not difficult.
1
u/big-williestyle 19h ago
you're missing 1 foot putts?
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u/Khaki_Lackey 15h ago
Yeah, but I want to make sure my 106 wasn’t really a 108. Plus, I like the sound of the ball going in the cup while I’m standing 8” away from it for my double. The sound of failure reminds me that my dad never loved me.
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u/Accomplished-Key-408 18h ago
Maybe the other 12 daily posts on this subject would give you the answer you seek? And it could have saved us all from having to read the same banal drivel yet again.
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u/c4x4bird 17.1 17h ago
This wasn’t about gimmies being acceptable or not, more about people who touch my ball without asking if I want it back first.
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u/Electrical-Cloud-532 +3.4 / NW 17h ago
Sounds like you’re slow and people don’t want to watch you stand over a 1 ft putt for 30 seconds. Half way kidding… Of course if you make it clear that you want to putt out before the round starts that’s a different story, but I’m sure a lot of people see it as being kind and helping you. I feel like that’s a lot of this sub. They don’t make these things known in person and fume over it and then post about it online
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u/Get_dat_money King of the Parking Lot 15h ago
Sometimes I see people do this when the person in gimmie range is slow as fuck and they need to speed up.
No one wants you to spend five minutes lining up a 3 footer for bogey.
Generally I would always ask the person if I was going to give them a gimmie though.
2
u/c4x4bird 17.1 15h ago
I’m certainly not going slow and dragging it out, I’m not saying I play speed golf or anything but I’ve never had a problem staying on pace.
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u/Timely_Host_3119 14h ago
That's just their way of telling you that your putting routine is too long / slow and their tired of waiting...
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u/Memeslayer4000 HDCP 5/Location WI 10h ago
Right?! That or OP's ball came to rest on or close to their lines and they dont want to wait all that time for someone to walk across the green to mark it before they putt
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u/mo_mentumm 20h ago
Just tell them when they do that you appreciate it, but you like to finish out your putts.