Friendlies & bounce games - Gimmes or Let's just see that one in?

[JohnnyDee]

When not playing official comps what's your group's approach to this aspect of the game?

Now I know what we all should do. Hole out every putt irrespective of length. It makes perfect sense and is in the true spirit of the game. It helps hone our putting and toughens us up for when we have a card in our hand. But if your group is like ours you don't always do it. Be honest now, do you?

Why is that?

Is it we want to take the sheer grind that the game can be sometimes out of our friendly play. Are we maybe being kind to yip-sufferers in our group, or do we just want to play some stress-free golf sometimes.

Our group of 24 spans all handicaps (23 - 6) and even our low guys are quite happy to "pick it up" when it's offered but should we?

There will doubtless be those on here all too keen to be scathing about this wimpy attitude, but I'll take your comments as already read. I know where you're coming from and deep down I know you're absolutely bang on. Gimmes should not be part of the game for those wanting to improve their scoring in the heat of battle.

If you do give them then what length? A foot, 18 inches, a putter grip's length? I've seen some rather generous ones given in my time

But my experience shows that most friendly groups do play gimmes, so what about you and your group? Are you all hard as nails or do you like to chillax when playing sometimes?

 

[upsidedown]

No money on the line and it's gimmies all the way for me,

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I know one person on here who wants everything to be holed out

Bounce game.....bit of fun.....keep it exactly like that, pick it up mate :thup:

 

[garyinderry]

When we are playing for the money, I prefer to see everything holed. someone will always miss a sitter much to everyones amusement. this is lost when you give gimmies. keeps everyone honest.

 

[JohnnyDee]

I know one person on here who wants everything to be holed out

Name and shame?

 

[richart]

Name and shame?

I know who he means, but he may have mellowed since the weekend.

 

[Imurg]

We tend to hole everything.
Kind of see it as practice, in a Comp you don't get given the 2 footer. We practice them regularly in the course so we don't often miss them
It doesn't really add a great deal to the time taken.
We have no fear of that 2 footer..!

 

[Tiger man]

Don't like gimmes myself, we are there to put the ball in the hole! I hole out everything but will give the odd gimme under a foot. . Sometimes.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

We have no fear of that slick, curly, downhill 2 footer..!

 

[snell]

Generally offer gimmes up. Unless its on the 18th and the outcome of a match is depending on it, friendly or not!

It might explain how ive missed two putts measuring up to 1 ft in total the past 2 comps

 

[ColchesterFC]

Give putts of 3ft or less for the first 15 holes and then in the last 3 holes refuse to give anything longer than a foot. Really gets in the head of your oppo if you're asking them to make an 18" putt on the 17th green when you've been giving them putts twice that length all day.

 

[Slab]

If handicap not at stake then gimmies about a foot/grip length are fair game inc in money games (various side bets & mini groups make every game a money game of some sort)

 

[Joff]

Pokerjoke doesn't like gimmes!

 

[duncan mackie]

Now I know what we all should do. Hole out every putt irrespective of length. It makes perfect sense and is in the true spirit of the game. It helps hone our putting and toughens us up for when we have a card in our hand.

completely flawed

unless it really matters you aren't practicing or honing anything - in fact the complete opposite.

also what you should do is stop standing around the hole tapping things in, or endlessly marking and replacing balls, and get to the next tee.

 

[patricks148]

When i play with the roll up its gimmes inside putter shaft, if i play with a couple of mates of an evening nothing is given as its practice for a competitive round and for money we hole evrything

 

[Keeno]

completely flawed

unless it really matters you aren't practicing or honing anything - in fact the complete opposite.

also what you should do is stop standing around the hole tapping things in, or endlessly marking and replacing balls, and get to the next tee.

I will be quite generous with gimmies in bounce games. Speeds things up.

In regards to matchplay in general, I love when people think giving putts early on puts you under pressure late on in the game!

I can miss a short putt at any time, but have never missed a gimmie

 

[drew83]

In our friendly games, unless it's for birdie/par then anything under 2ft is a gimme.

Personally I say "no it's fine, I will finish it off". Mostly for the practice & I like to hear the sound of the ball hitting the bottom of the cup!

However in our society games (still friendly just with little prizes as it's all family) we will reduce the gimme to 6-12 inches. Again, pars & birdie have to be finished off regardless of length.

 

[Smiffy]

We always start with every intention of holing everything out, but normally revert to gimmes after 5 hours or so.

 

[Roops]

In our swindle we have them, but it doesn't bother me either way. Funny thing happend at a weekend a way, we have one guy who is adamant that everything should be putted out. So we had a vote and "gimmies" got it. We all go out an play and one of the older guys comes in with 40 points, we are all happy for him, he collects his money and as he's doing so wryly comments "would have only been 28 but for all the gimmies......." we are rolling around, Mr "Putt out" was not amused.....

 

[Ethan]

In a non counting game they can concede shots from the fairway for all I care as long as they don't carry it over into qualifiers.