gimme golf tours

YOUR LEGACY BEGINS HERE

WE ARE GIMME GOLF TOURS

As a golfer, you know how much this game means. You cherish so many memories from the places  and people who have joined you on the links. Let us, golfers who understand, create a unique,  hassle-free tour experience for you. A tour which could with time become your personal golfing  legacy. All you need do is dream, make sure you catch your flight, and swing away.

LEGACY TOURS

Working closely with us, we will happily guide you along on the wide golfing choices available to you in South Africa -- be it bush (yes, you can say “safari”), beach, mountains or city, there are dozens of world-class golf courses in South Africa around which you can build your golfing experience and memories with us.

South Africa offers something truly unique and unrivalled when it comes to golfing experiences. Want to see an elephant or giraffe while teeing off on a pristine, championship course?

COASTAL TOUR

You will find some sensational courses which hug the coastline of our beautiful country. Explore some of the mouth-watering coastal courses available in South Africa!

HIDDEN GEMS

This is where we come into our own – if playing the well-known course is not high on your to do list, we will reveal some truly beautiful hidden gems for you to consider.

BUCKET LIST TOUR

We would be thrilled to help you stitch together your bucket list golfing adventure in South Africa – there are some mind-blowing courses in South Africa which would make the top ten of anyone’s Bucket List destinations.

OUR SERVICES

We will take care of everything for you when organising this trip. Not only will we do all the usual stuff we can add extra value by offering to organise your tour kit, your tour photos and official video (how cool is that!) and we could even hook you up with a local Pro if you would like some Pro company around one or more of the courses of your choice.

FLIGHTS, VISAS AND ACCOMODATION

Our services include every detail of your Tour including arranging your flights, accommodation (and transfers) as well as visas if needed. We will look after all these things from the get go! 

CUSTOM TOUR KITS

No Legacy Golf Tour is complete without your own customised tour kit – leave this with us, we can hook you up with anything you need; from caps, to shirts, to jackets, to pants, to customised golf bags!  

DOCUMENT YOUR TOUR

Ever wondered what it would be like to have your own photographer follow you around and document all the highlights? We can arrange this for you and hand you an edited tour video and a coffee table book of your South African Tour.

MORE THAN GOLF

We are determined to make this about more than just the golf. We want to give you a tour that will live on in your memory forever. Nothing is off-limits, if you want it on your Tour, we will arrange it for you!  

What is a Gimme in Golf? (Explained!)

Table of Content

What Does the Term ‘Gimme’ Mean in Golf?

What is the length of a gimme in golf, should you ask for a gimme in golf, are there gimmes in pro golf, can you refuse a conceded putt, do you count gimme putts, why do golf gimmes exist.

If you’ve played golf at any level, the chances are that you’ve heard of a gimme. From recreational match play at golf courses worldwide to the pinnacle of match play events on the PGA tour, players utilize gimmes to speed the game up.

A gimme in golf is a conceded shot that players deem “unmissable”. Instead of forcing a player to putt from a short distance, the game can move along at a quicker pace. Gimmes should only ever be utilized in match play events and are not permitted in stroke play competitions.

This article introduces everything you need to know about gimmes and explains some of the complex terms and unwritten conditions of the age-old tradition of conceding putts in match play golf.

The term ‘gimme’ refers to a putt deemed so close to the hole that it’s essentially unmissable. Instead of making your playing partner roll the ball into the hole, you can give them the shot (hence the term, gimme) and assume that the putt would have been made.

Although it’s a commonly followed part of the game, there isn’t mention of this quirky term in the official rules of golf, which leaves a lot of space for controversy!

We take you through some of the most prevalent issues regarding gimmes, so you can finally understand the etiquette surrounding one of golf’s most popular unwritten rules.

A putt is considered to be a gimme if it is within 2.5ft. Some players will take the time to estimate gimmes, while others will eyeball the distance between the ball and cup and decide if it’s good. There is no official rule surrounding gimmes, the length is essentially up to players to decide.

It’s a good idea to strike up an understanding before you tee off on the first.

Whether you agree to decide on a hole-by-hole basis or grant every putt within a putter-length of the hole as a gimme, you need to be clear about your shared expectations before you start your round.

The last thing you want is to fall out with those you’re playing with over a potential gimme!

No, you should not ask for a gimme in golf, even if you’re playing a recreational round. A gimme has long been regarded as a gentleman’s agreement within the game of golf. Therefore, the onus is on the person who is not about to putt to offer the other player the chance to pick their ball up.

Looking at your playing partner and asking, ‘is it good?’ is poor etiquette.

A good rule of thumb is that if your ball is lying within gimme range, but your fellow players don’t say anything, you should go ahead and putt it out.

You should never assume that a putt is a gimme, even if it’s literally hanging over the lip of the cup!

There have been numerous examples on a tour of players jumping the gun and picking the ball up for a gimme (as we explain below) before their playing partner actually gave them the putt.

If you feel the need to ask for a gimme, assume that it’s not and approach your putt as usual.

Gimmes are a feature of the pro game in certain formats. You will never, for instance, see a gimme awarded in a major stroke play competition such as the US Masters or British Open. However, in match play tournaments such as the Ryder Cup, gimmes feature regularly.

The rules for official match play are perfectly clear in this respect.

“You may concede your opponent’s next stroke, a hole or the match, but a concession is only made when it is clearly communicated”.

What does this mean? Well, should you consider your opponent’s next putt unmissable, you can concede the stroke and allow them to pick up their ball without playing.

Not only does this speed up the pace of play, but it engenders a good spirit within the game and encourages reciprocity throughout the round.

But sometimes, gimmes cause controversy in the pro game.

For example, in the quarter-final of the 2019 WGC Matchplay, Sergio Garcia missed a putt that he assumed was a gimme.

He used the back of his putter to ram the putt wide of the hole, only for a rules official to intervene and say that Matt Kuchar couldn’t possibly have given him the putt, as he was so far away.

In short, Sergio lost the hole because he mistakenly assumed that he had a gimme.

Check out the video below, explained by Ed Mate from the CGA on the main points of this gimme controversy:

This example highlights the golden rule of gimmes, either in the professional game or during a recreational round: only pick your ball up when your competitor tells you it’s okay to do so.

You can refuse a conceded putt in an informal recreational game amongst friends.

But why would you want to? Well, if you’re constantly being awarded 2.5ft putts, you never actually practice sinking them. This means that if you’re faced with a short, seemingly unmissable putt in a stroke play format of the game, you might struggle to make it.

However, during competitions, the rules on conceded putts are crystal clear:

“Conceding an opponent’s next stroke is allowed any time before the opponent’s next stroke is made. The opponent has then completed the hole with a score that includes that conceded stroke […] a concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn.”

So, if you’re playing in a competition and your opponent concedes a putt, you cannot decline it as stipulated in the rules.

Once conceded, the hole is considered over, and your score is marked accordingly.

Yes – when you’re awarded a gimme putt, you still need to mark it down as a stroke on your scorecard and count it as a shot.

For example, if you’re on the green for three and knock your putt to within 2ft, your competitor may offer you a gimme.

If this is the case, then your score would be five, as you count the putt you rolled close, as well as the gimme.

Don’t confuse a gimme with a mulligan. A mulligan is sometimes included in informal, recreational formats of the game and enables players to retake a shot that hasn’t gone well.

If you knock your tee shot out of bounds and you take a mulligan, you essentially replay your first shot and don’t need to take any penalty strokes.

While gimmes are a feature of the game at every level, mulligans are only ever part of informal practice games amongst friends.

Don’t expect to play the monthly medal at your club and be offered a mulligan when things go awry off the first tee!

Gimmes exist in golf in order to speed up play. Instead of having to wait and line up a seemingly unmissable putt, gimmes allow you to pick your ball up and move onto the next tee, speeding the game up for everyone out on the course.

They also introduce an element of sportsmanship to the game of golf, as awarding a gimme to your competitor is an act of goodwill.

While you’re under no obligation to offer a gimme, doing so is considerate and shows that you’re motivated to play the game in good spirits.

Ultimately, it’s difficult to imagine a match play golf without gimmes, as forcing your competitor to hole every single putt would be both time-consuming and unnecessary.

While the lack of structure around the rules of gimmes allows for controversy, they’re still a fundamental part of the match play experience and make the game a better spectacle.

Golfers at every level of the game are likely to have encountered gimmes out on the course.

Whether you’re having a knock with your best friends at a municipal track or competing in the Ryder Cup at a Championship course, gimmes are a time-saving and much-appreciated aspect of the game.

The key thing with gimmes is to agree on the terms with your playing partners and competitors before your round starts to save any controversy during your match.

And equally, never pick your ball up or assume you’ve been awarded a gimme until you hear your playing partner concede. Doing so in competition will cost you penalty points and is likely to cost you the hole.

GIMME Golf Travel  1-800-858-4272

WE PLAN. YOU PLAY .

Custom golf trip planner, how it works, gimme golf travel is your partner every step of the way, complete discovery form.

Share info about your group and the experience you want to create.

Review Your Custom Proposal

GIMME Golf Travel  will curate custom golf trips just for you. 

Book Your Golf Trip Experience!

Finalize the finer details of your trip and enjoy the experience!

Highlighted Golf Trip Experiences

TESTIMONIALS

What players say about gimme golf travel, working with gimme golf travel was seamless, and they ensured that everything ran smoothly throughout our trip. i was impressed by their attention to detail and their ability to tailor the itinerary to my preferences. thanks to their expertise, i had a memorable and stress-free golf vacation. i highly recommend..

Marty Hefner

Golf Travel Tips and News

Illinois Golf Travel Destinations

Golf Travel Packing Checklist Resource

Four Nevada Golf Travel Destinations

GIMME ‍Golf club everyones club

Gimme
 golf club, everyones club.

What is the Gimme Golf Club?

It’s a place for people who love the game of golf and love the camaraderie that comes along with it. It's a club for everyone, and every skill level. It is a club of inclusion...everyone only. Members have access to two indoor clubhouses, each with simulators, putting green, and lounge (located in St. Charles, MO and Fenton, MO). They also have access to multiple golf courses and the ability to play unlimited golf all for one low monthly price. See below for different plans and join the club today.

Where can members play?

GGC members are able to play at 10 courses in the Greater St. Louis Region starting with limited restrictions*. We also have two clubhouses with indoor simulators and putting greens for our members to use. - 5,300 sq ft OG St. Charles location (425 Clark St, St. Charles, MO 63301) - 5,400 sq ft South House location (1735 Chase Dr, Fenton, MO 63026) *Restrictions based on course access level

Golf Course

Restrictions:

Level 1: Free Mon - Fri anytime | Sat - Sun After 12pm

Eagle Springs

Florissant Golf Club

Level 1: Free Mon - Fri | Sat - Sun After 12pm

Sugar Creek

Level 1: Free Mon-Fri anytime / Sat-Sun after 12pm

Sun Valley Golf Course

Level 2: $10 Mon - Fri anytime | Sat - Sun After 12pm

Rolling Hills

Level 2: $10 Mon - Fri anytime / Sat - Sun after 12pm

Rock Spring

Quail Creek

The Orchards

Level 3: $20 Mon - Fri anytime | Sat - Sun after 12pm

Spencer T. Olin

The Quarry at Crystal Springs

Level 3: $25 Mon - Thur anytime | Fri - Sun After 12:30pm

What is the clubhouse?

The Clubhouse is a one of a kind facility. A physical location for our digital community. For a GGC member...it's home. It's a place to build friendships, create culture, and meet new people. 3 Trackman sims, 250 sqft of putting green, lounge, bar, and plenty of TVs to watch the big game. The Clubhouse is a member only club, but everyone is welcome. We only allow same day sim rentals for the public. Our members however, have access to our tee sheet and can make their own discounted tee times whenever they want. We want to see everyone, but membership has its privileges.

425 Clark St St Charles, MO 63301

1735 Chase Drive Fenton, MO 63026

FREE MONTH CODE

Click on the coupon code below to copy it to your clipboard. Then, you may use the code when signing up to receive your first month free.

Gimme Golf Victoria Australia

• Where to go
• Where to stay
• Things to do

Home Things To Do Victoria Gimme Golf

Touring Options

• Accommodation

Gimme Golf – Provides access to Melbourne ‘s and the Peninsulas exclusive courses, as well as the Jack Nicklaus designed Heritage golf and country club in the Yarra Valley. Our tours cater for all golfing budgets at great competitive rates. Tours are fully escorted or self drive with a minimum of two. We are able to provide better rates to all golf courses in Victoria, and able to provide access on weekends to some courses.

Website: www.gimmegolf.com.au

Popular Activities

More tours in malvern.

Discover some of the tours options around Gimme Golf

Add Your Insights

Share your inside knowledge, whether it be good places to stay or eat nearby, unusual places to visit in the area and any other useful information about this destination that does not normally appear in brochures or websites.

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Australia's Natural Wonders

Australia is a land of immense and diverse natural beauty. You'll see things here that you just won't see anywhere else in the world. Each corner of Austalia has an endless array of stunning natural landmarks just waiting for you to take the time to explore.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Australia's Best Islands

Around the coast of Australia there are many amazing islands that are an unforgetable pleasure for all who visit. Naturally, the Great Barrier Reef dominates any list of great Australian islands, with pristine wonders like the Whitsundays, Dunk Island and Lizard Island. Further off the east coast is the spectacular Lord Howe Island and off the coast of South Australia is the unspoilt Kangaroo Island.

Popular Things To Do

Discover some of this month's most popular Australian experiences.

TODAY'S TOP TOURS

• MonteBello Island Safaris
• Welcome Horse Riding
• Darwin’s North Australia Barra Fishing
• Whitsunday Quad Bike Bush Adventures
• Crab N Oyster Cruise
• Hawkesbury River Ferries
• Captain Cook Cruises – MV Reef Endeavour
• About The Bush By Jingo
• Cellar Door Pass
• Landscope Expeditions
• Matrix Ocean Adventures
• Kalbarri Abseiling & Rock Climbing
• Gibb River Road Bus Service
• Scuba World

THIS MONTH'S TOP TOURS

• Summerland Surf School
• Macka’s Barra Camp
• Wandering The Lake Cruises
• Capricorn Coast Trail Rides
• Wadda Tourism Pty Ltd
• Sand Safaris Active Adventure Tours
• Hel-a-va Jet Boats
• Wayward Bus Touring Company
• Coral Princess Cruises
• Camel Tours & Treks SA
• Petra’s Tailor Made Tours
• Oz Experience

• New South Wales
• Blue Mountains
• Broken Hill
• Coffs Harbour
• Darling Harbour
• Hunter Valley
• Lord Howe Island
• Port Macquarie
• Port Stephens
• Snowy Mountains
• Tweed Heads
• ... More NSW Destinations
• Airlie Beach
• Cape Tribulation
• Coolangatta
• Fraser Island
• Mission Beach
• Port Douglas
• Rockhampton
• Sunshine Coast
• Whitsunday Region
• ... More QLD Destinations
• Port Arthur
• ... More TAS Destinations
• Bells Beach
• Mornington Peninsula
• Phillip Island
• Port Campbell
• Warrnambool
• ... More VIC Destinations
• Northern Territory
• Alice Springs
• Uluru/Ayers Rock
• Kings Canyon
• ... More NT Destinations
• South Australia
• Adelaide Hills
• Kangaroo Island
• Flinders Ranges
• Outback South Australia
• Port Lincoln
• Yorke Peninsula
• Wilpena Pound
• ... More SA Destinations
• Western Australia
• Margaret River
• ... More WA Destinations
• Caravan Parks
• Caravan Parks in NSW
• Caravan Parks in QLD
• Caravan Parks in VIC
• Caravan Parks in SA
• Caravan Parks in WA
• Caravan Parks in NT
• Hostels + Backpackers
• Backpackers in NSW
• Backpackers in QLD
• Backpackers in VIC
• Backpackers in SA
• Backpackers in WA
• Backpackers in NT
• Experiences By State
• Nothern Territory
• Australian Experiences
• Luxury Australian Experiences
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Scenic Flights
• Scuba Diving
• 4WD Outback Adventures
• Australian Motorcycle Tours
• Australian Walking Tours
• City Walking Tours
• Chocolate Walking Tours
• Shopping Tours
• Learn To Surf in Australia
• Winery Tours
• Horse Riding
• Australia's Best Beaches
• Bondi Beach
• Cable Beach
• Cottesloe Beach
• Four Mile Beach
• Gold Coast Beaches
• Hyams Beach
• Manly Beach
• Ninety Mile Beach
• Noosa Beach
• Scarborough
• Surfers Point
• Whitehaven Beach

Your cart is empty

FREE SHIPPING FOR ORDERS OVER 70EUR

Green OG Cap

Green 1/4 Zip Jumper

Black 1/4 Zip Jumper

Grey OG Cap

Navy OG Cap

Black OG Cap

GREEN stand BAG

The latest drop.

Valero Texas Open

TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)

Pick it up?

We're giving way too many gimmes, according to these real golfer putting stats

Arctic-Images

The gimme is a fascinating concept. In our game where the objective is to get the ball into the hole, we often swipe away a two- … or three- … maybe even a four-footer instead of knocking it in.

Gimmes are common etiquette in golf—helping pace of play and preventing yip-induced heartbreak—but how rationally do we give (or take) them? Players of varying abilities have vastly different make percentages from short range, so what is considered a gimme for each should, in theory, be different.

To help us make sense of the gimme, we consulted our friend Lou Stagner , lead data analyst at Arccos Golf. Before diving into the calculations for average players, let’s take a look at the make percentages of tour pros at varying distances.

If we assume that a gimme is a putt a player will make the vast majority of the time—in other words, a foregone conclusion—then let’s say a putt is “good” if a player would make it 90 percent of the time. As you can see, the tour average is 92.1 percent from three feet and 81.6 percent from four feet. So, broadly speaking, a gimme for a tour pro is anything inside three feet.

RELATED: The do's and don'ts of gimme putt etiquette

Of course, not all three-footers are created equal. An uphill, straight putt will have a higher make percentage than a downhill, left-to-right slider. Don’t get too caught up in the details, just remember that a gimme for a tour pro is somewhere in the two-and-a-half to four-foot range, depending on the break.

Figuring out the exact make percentages on short putts for amateur golfers is a little trickier. GPS data inhibits the ability to get reliable data from close range, but Stagner gives us a good rule of thumb:

In general, the make percentage for someone who shoots in the 90s is about 60 percent of the tour average. That number moves to around 70 percent for those averaging in the 80s.

It’s worth noting that this is a rough estimation and doesn’t necessarily hold true for every distance. For our purposes, though, it gives us a great benchmark to measure gimmes.

Before we look at a few putts, let’s preface with this: We’re not advocating for the elimination of gimmes for the average player. They serve practical pace-of-play purposes and make our game more enjoyable. That said, if you’re set on having your handicap be fully reflective of your golfing ability, consider the below scenarios and whether you’re giving yourself too many putts.

Tour average: 81.6 80s shooter (70 percent of tour average): 57.1 90s shooter (60 percent of tour average): 49.0

Is this a gimme? No. On average, tour players will miss nearly two out of every 10 putts from this distance, so this is far from good in your weekend game. Even on a straight putt, where the percentages will be higher than above, this is not a gimme for anyone other than a top-level pro. Again, the numbers we use for 80s and 90s shooters are rough estimations, but the point holds.

Tour average: 92.1 80s shooter: 64.5 90s shooter: 55.3

Is this a gimme? For a tour player, on average, yes. That said, a downhill putt with plenty of break would lower the percentage under our 90-percent threshold and would not be a gimme. An uphill, straight three-footer may also be a gimme for a scratch player. Everyone else? No.

You could argue that a 90s shooter averages better than 55 percent from three feet, and we won’t die on that hill. That said, even if the actual number is slightly higher, it is still nowhere near our threshold. If you’re giving yourself three-footers, that’s fine (and the pace of play diehards thank you), but just know that you’re likely artificially lowering your handicap.

RELATED: 13 Rules Of Golf Etiquette You Are Probably Breaking

Tour average: 98.2

Is this a gimme? For a tour player, yes. For a scratch player, yes. For an 80s or 90s shooter, it depends.

We didn’t include the percentages for higher handicaps because at very short distances, our previous rule of thumb starts to break down. By that estimation, an 80s shooter would average a tick under 70 percent from two feet. The actual percentages for 80s and 90s shooters will be closer to the tour average, but they certainly do not reach it. The point being, some two-footers may be gimmes for higher handicaps, but if a 90s shooter has a two-foot sliding putt, their make percentage is well below our 90-percent threshold.

RELATED:  Here's what you should do when you only have 1 hour to practice

Tour average: 99.8

Is this a gimme? Yes. For all practical purposes, this is a gimme for every golfer. It is worth noting, though, that on a tricky downhill one-footer, a 90s shooter may miss from time to time.

More From Golf

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

Gimmes – Are They Good Or Bad For Golf?

Gimmes speed up play and can be a useful tool in matchplay but they can also encourage bad habits and a false sense of security in strokeplay.

• Sign up to Golf Monthly Newsletter Newsletter

From Jack Nicklaus’ famous “Concession” in the 1969 Ryder Cup right down to the Sunday fourball at your local club, the "gimme" is an integral part of golf. But are gimmes good or bad for the game? They can save friendships as well as break them, they might speed up play but they can paint a false golfing picture… Here we consider the good and bad sides of the gimme.

It speeds up play, it keeps friendly games friendly and can be used as a strategic weapon in more competitive matches.

Pace of Play

Pace of play is a topic that’s constantly revisited in clubhouses across the country - “I grew a beard out there!” “I missed my kid’s birthday out there!” We’re always keen to consider methods for expediting the average round. Removing gimmes from the game would be a significant step in the wrong direction where speedy golf is concerned. If you take the average four ball match: On every green, you’ll see at least a couple of gimmes. That’s a considerable amount of time saved in marking, lining up and putting out. It could add up to tens of minutes over a round.

Keeping it friendly

Let’s face it – the average amateur struggles with the short putts . The nasty left to right two-footer is the thing of nightmares for many of us. When we’re out playing a fun game with our best golfing buddies, we don’t want to expose them to such tortures. Ok we might, but we’re smarter than that and will generally follow the principle of, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” A few considered gimmes will save friendships and prevent a silent, gravelly lunch in the clubhouse. 

Shrewd tactics

In matches with a bit more needle – games you really want to win – the gimme can be a useful instrument of tactics and gamesmanship. Early doors, a few casual gimmes from the two to three-foot range can throw an opponent off guard. When you keep silent on one of similar length for a crucial half towards the death, they’ll be unprepared both mentally and physically, having not faced a short one to that point.

The gimme is good for golf when used correctly. It’s friendly and quick but can also be deadly when calculatingly deployed and held back.

The objective of golf is to shift a ball from a defined point to another distant, defined point and into a 4.25-inch-wide hole. If the ball doesn’t go into that hole, the objective of golf has not been completely fulfilled.

Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter

Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.

Gimmes in golf lead to bad habits, a sense of false security and can cause friction between golfers.

Confusion and Frustration

Obviously in competition strokeplay events, the gimme is not allowed. But when playing a strokeplay format in friendly golf, the gimme could be used. In those “bounce” games, whether in a single group or part of a society outing, the gimme can cause confusion and frustration – who in the group agrees that putt is a gimme? Do all agree? Does one person want to give it but another feels it’s miss-able? It’s a gimme minefield.

Not In General Play

Under the World Handicap System , we can all submit General Play scores for handicap. Over an 18-hole round, 10 holes must be completed to The Rules of Golf for a score to be submitted. That means – No Gimmes! If a putt is given on a hole, then the player doing a General Play score would have to record a nett double bogey as they played it but did not complete it. The last thing we want are gimmes creeping into General Play golf and affecting people’s handicaps either positively or detrimentally, depending on their integrity!

False Sense of Security

How's Rory missed that one?

Gimme putts can lead to a false sense of security. If you never have to hole an 18-inch putt, how do you feel when you suddenly do have to in a competitive round or tense matchplay scenario? Being able to hole out well is an important part of golf and one that should be practised. Those who are rock-solid from short range should enjoy a golfing advantage over those who are not and the gimme detracts from this.

Gimme Friction

The gimme can also cause contention: “I didn’t give you that.” - Remember the 2015 Solheim Cup when Alison Lee picked her ball up only for Suzann Pettersen to say she hadn’t actually conceded it. It wasn’t a great situation. Or – “Why did you give that?” – The pleasant round turns into a stand-off when your playing partner objects to your generosity towards the opposition. We’ve all been in situations when a given putt has caused friction.

The gimme will though, and should, remain a feature of matchplay golf – it wouldn’t be the same without it. But when it comes to strokeplay, particularly with the introduction of the World Handicap System and General Play scores, perhaps it would be simpler, fairer, more accurate and better for our golf if we just always holed out. 

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

The 2022 champion was penalised for slow play during her second round and will miss the chance to play Augusta National on Saturday

By Ben Fleming Published 4 April 24

Mito Pereira has now responded to the American's comments which were captured by Netflix's Full Swing cameras

• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Accessibility statement
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Your cart is empty

Estimated total.

Welcome to our store

The GimmePro Story

At Gimme Golf Lab, we are in the pursuit of chipping excellence and we frequently practice our short games during the week.

Recognizing the challenges faced at the practice greens, we saw the impracticality of traditional solutions. Collecting golf balls around the green and bending over frequently can cause pain, and takes a lot of time. Our journey began in April 2022, driven by a commitment to finding a better solution. The development of GimmePro is a collaboration between everyday golfers, tour professionals, and esteemed coaches. Through attention to detail and incorporating fantastic feedback, we navigated many design challenges to bring you a great product. GimmePro has been very fun to create, and we are proud to now offer a compact and convenient solution tailored to the needs of every golfer.

We are grateful for your support in making GimmePro a reality. 

Sincerely, Gimme Golf Lab team

Contact us at [email protected] 

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

• Fax: +61 3 9809 1028
• Mon to Fri | 0830 hours - 1730 hours
• Australia Time (GMT +11 hours)
• Email: [email protected]