What Is a Gimme in Golf?

A gimme is a short putt that another golfer allows you to count as holed without actually putting it. Gimmes are common in casual rounds, but whether they are permitted under the Rules depends on the format you're playing.

Gimme, Explained Simply

Imagine you've putted your ball to within a few centimetres of the hole. One of the golfers you're playing with says, "That's good." You pick up your ball, add one more stroke to your score and move on.

That short putt was a gimme. The other player was effectively saying you didn't need to demonstrate that you could hole it.

In casual golf, gimmes are often used to keep the round moving and avoid spending time over very short putts. They're usually offered when a putt looks almost certain to be made, although different groups have different ideas about what counts as close enough.

Importantly, a gimme still counts as a stroke. If you've taken three strokes to reach the green and your fourth finishes close enough to be given, your score is five, not four.

The distinction is that casual gimmes are an informal agreement, while a conceded putt in match play is recognised under the Rules of Golf. In ordinary stroke play, you generally have to hole out rather than accept a gimme.

When Are Gimmes Allowed in Golf?

Whether you can accept a gimme depends on the type of round you're playing. This is where a casual habit can become an important rules question.

In a friendly round where nobody is submitting a score for handicap purposes or playing a formal competition, golfers sometimes agree to give very short putts. It's a social convention rather than a rule that automatically applies to every round.

In match play, a player can formally concede an opponent's next stroke. That means the opponent is treated as having holed out with their next stroke, even though they haven't actually made the putt. The concession can be made from any distance and cannot be declined or withdrawn once made.

In ordinary stroke play, the situation is different. Players must generally hole out on each hole. Another golfer saying "that's good" does not remove that requirement. Accepting a gimme and failing to hole out can lead to disqualification if the mistake isn't corrected in time.

For handicap rounds, the relevant scoring rules also matter. Certain authorised formats allow an adjusted score to be recorded when a hole is not completed, but that is not the same as a playing partner granting a gimme.

What Matters With Gimmes?

Gimmes seem straightforward, but a few details are worth understanding before you start picking up short putts.

A gimme still counts as a stroke

Being given a putt doesn't mean the stroke disappears from your score. If your ball is lying three and your next putt is conceded, your score for the hole is four. You're simply not required to make that final stroke.

There is no official gimme distance

You might hear golfers talk about putts being "inside the leather" or close enough to the hole to be given. These are informal conventions. The Rules do not establish a universal distance at which a putt becomes a gimme.

In match play, your opponent decides

A concession must come from your opponent, not from you or a spectator. You cannot award yourself a gimme. If no concession has been made, you still need to play the putt.

Concessions are final

In match play, once a stroke has been clearly conceded, that concession cannot be withdrawn or declined. Your opponent cannot change their mind because the putt suddenly looks more difficult.

Short putts are still part of golf

In social rounds, accepting gimmes can make play feel more relaxed. But consistently picking up short putts also means you get less practice holing them. If you're preparing for competitions, finishing those putts can help you become more comfortable under pressure.

Gimme vs Conceded Putt

Golfers often use "gimme" and "conceded putt" to mean the same thing. Both describe a situation where a player doesn't have to make their next putt because another player has accepted that stroke.

The important distinction is the setting. A gimme is usually an informal term used in friendly golf. A concession is a recognised part of match play under Rule 3.2b of the Rules of Golf.

In match play, your opponent can concede your next stroke, a hole or even the match. A concession must be clearly communicated and, once made, is final. In casual golf, groups may agree to give short putts, but that agreement does not make gimmes valid in an ordinary stroke-play competition.

The easiest way to remember the difference is this: a casual gimme is a social arrangement, while a match-play concession is part of the format's official rules. For more on how the formats differ, read our guide to match play vs stroke play.

Gimme — At a Glance