Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
A gimme is an informal name for a short putt that an opponent concedes in Match Play, so the player does not need to make the stroke. The Rules of Golf call this a concession rather than a gimme; they do not set a standard distance for one.
How it matters in match play
In Match Play, an opponent may concede the next stroke before it is made. The player is then treated as having completed the hole with that stroke and may lift the ball; the concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn. A gimme is therefore not an automatic distance rule: the opponent chooses whether to concede.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Gimme |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rule 3.2b(1); Rule 3.3c |
| Related concepts | Concession, Conceded Stroke, Match Play, Putt Out, Holing Out |
Worked example
Illustrative example: Ben's ball is 30 centimetres from the hole and Alex says it is good. Ben's putt is a gimme, so Ben records the score that includes that next stroke and may pick up rather than putt out.
Rule reference: Rule 3.2b(1); Rule 3.3c
Sources: www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
Is a gimme an official golf rule?
Gimme is informal golf language. The Rules of Golf use the term concession: in Match Play, a player may concede the opponent's next stroke, a hole or the match under Rule 3.2b(1).
How far away is a gimme putt?
There is no fixed distance in Rule 3.2b(1). A gimme depends on the opponent's decision, so a club or group may use a house convention, but that convention is not an automatic Rules of Golf entitlement.
Can you use gimmes in Stroke Play?
Not under the regular Rules of Golf: Rule 3.3c requires a player to hole out at each hole. A casual group may agree a house practice, but it should not be presented as an official concession under Match Play rules.
Can a player refuse a gimme?
Under Rule 3.2b(1), a concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn. The player may putt out after a conceded stroke only where doing so does not help a partner, but the conceded stroke remains effective.
Does a gimme count as a stroke?
Yes. In Match Play, the opponent is treated as having completed the hole with a score that includes the conceded next stroke. A gimme does not mean the player scores zero for the putt.
Can a player concede a gimme after the putt is made?
No concession is needed after the ball is holed. To concede the next stroke, the concession must be made before that stroke is made; Rule 3.2b(1) also covers a concession made while the previous ball is still in motion.