It all comes down then, to the individuals in question and, in my humble opinion; I’d like to think golfers from each side of the gimme argument could come to some sort of compromise.
Personally, when it comes to casual rounds with friends, I am happy to give putts from inside two feet or so and, on the odd occasion, when for instance one of them is putting from three feet for a triple bogey, I will give them the nod and put them out of their misery! In competition however (matchplay of course), I am a little stingier…
That’s not to say I am really mean when it comes to handing out freebies in a competitive situation. Having played my fair share of matchplay over the years, I have come up with a set of guidelines for what I consider a gimme to be.
To put it simply, I gage the putts I give according to the ones I am given by my opponent on the day. If I get given a two-footer (if you play me, you’d be wise not to give me anything outside of 6 inches!) for a half on one hole, my opponent will be afforded the same luxury for a half later in the match. That is of course, unless I am a well down in the match and staring down the barrel of a 5&4 drubbing! Also, needless to say, when it comes to the putt that wins or loses the match, it has to be holed in my book.
So, for me, a gimme is a consideration of my opponent’s propensity for generosity and of course, the value of the putt in question in relation to the match score at the time. With that said, I’ll now give my two cents on how you can almost guarantee not getting a gimme from me!