Monday, April 02, 2007
President Thomas explains the Gimme:
GIMME PUTTS: April 5 is the day we can start conceding putts! If the putt is
clearly less than 12" there is no need to measure. Just pick up. If it's
close to 12" measure by resting the head of your putter inside the edge of
the cup. If the ball is all or mostly within the 12" mark, pick up. If
it's borderline, use your good judgment. This is meant to save time, and the
difference between 12" and 12 1/2" should not matter. Be sure to
count a "gimme" as a putt on your scorecard.
If your putt is within the 12" you can say "that's a gimme" or another member of your group can say "that's good," or whatever, and you may still attempt the putt. Once a putt is conceded, even if you miss, it is still good. But remember, the whole point of gimme putts is to speed the pace of play, so try to limit these extra putts.
So that everybody will score gimme putts in the same way, I have explained that once a putt is conceded it's good, even if a player decides to make the putt for practice and then misses it. (This is a standard procedure, modeled after the Rules of Golf rule applicable to match play. Rule 2-4. Concession of Next Stroke, Hole, or Match).
But I don't think this is something that should come up very often, since making practice putts defeats the point of gimmes, which is speeding pace of play and saving wear and tear on the greens.