Pace of Play - Putting | USHandicap Classic

heartotexas Professional Champion
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To improve the pace of play, when you putt and come up short or go a little long or wide, say no more than 2 feet from the cup, do you putt it out right away even though others in the group are further away or do you follow strict etiquette and mark your ball and putt last?
heartotexas Professional Champion
# 16 5/28/2011 8:07:54 AM
I have also found that if you start scoring better than your playing partners on a regular basis, there is no such thing as a gimme in their vocabulary. Its funny how those things work. This may be one of the funniest pearls of wisdom I have read on this site ever. Good call armygrunt. :)
Power13 Professional Champion
# 17 5/28/2011 9:09:06 AM
. We like to think everyone knows and "plays by the rules" but that isn't always the case and frankly people sometimes have their own rules, right or wrong. If someone giving the putt isn't acceptable then the safest thing is to state it up front before the round and not assume it. If I'm playing a casual round with my friends or family I don't worry much about but if I'm playing a round that I intend to use for my handicap or say a virtual competition I make it clear at the beginning that I'm putting out, no mulligans, no winter rules, etc. This. You can make it sound very casual, as well. "You know, I think I'm gonna put everything out today and see if that affects my usual score" if you don't want to sound condescending. if someone gives me a "gimme", I do one of 2 things: * Accept the first one (if it was a certain putt),but also say that I wish to put everything out for the remainder of the round. (This option is usually employed if the offender paid my green fees...heh heh) * Say "thanks, but I need to work on my short putts. I'm gonna putt out."
heartotexas Professional Champion
# 18 5/28/2011 10:46:24 AM
If someone tosses a gimme back to me, I just proceed under rule 18, replace my ball and putt out. No need for any words to be said. Actions are louder than words.
Golfman1968 Professional Champion
# 19 5/31/2011 1:35:05 PM
I putt everything out. Does that mean I take time to line up every short putt...NO. If the ball goes past the hole or short I go up and tap it in with out marking and lining up. To me it all depends on the distance.
Jaysohn Professional Champion
# 20 6/10/2011 12:42:55 PM
The only "gimme's" I take are if I'm playing match play. If the other player concedes my putt, and we are playing $ / hole match, then I take it. If someone else in the group (not playing the match) tries to give me the putt, I will putt out. Under the rules of golf - when a hole or putt is conceded, you have to take the strokes you would "reasonably expect to take" from the last position. If I have a 10 ft putt for birdie and the other player conceds the hole, I will still take a putt at it to see if I can make it, but then I'll pick up if I can reasonable expect to make the next putt. If I did not attempt the 10ft putt, I would automatically take 2 strokes from that distance, knowing that I would only make a putt from that distance less than 1/2 the time. If the putt was only from 6ft, I would just take the score counting 1 stroke, since I make more than 1/2 of my putts from 6ft. "If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a stroke, record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score is the number of strokes already taken, plus in the player's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that point more than half the time."
heartotexas Professional Champion
# 21 6/10/2011 12:59:57 PM
The only "gimme's" I take are if I'm playing match play. If the other player concedes my putt, and we are playing $ / hole match, then I take it. If someone else in the group (not playing the match) tries to give me the putt, I will putt out. Under the rules of golf - when a hole or putt is conceded, you have to take the strokes you would "reasonably expect to take" from the last position. If I have a 10 ft putt for birdie and the other player conceds the hole, I will still take a putt at it to see if I can make it, but then I'll pick up if I can reasonable expect to make the next putt. If I did not attempt the 10ft putt, I would automatically take 2 strokes from that distance, knowing that I would only make a putt from that distance less than 1/2 the time. If the putt was only from 6ft, I would just take the score counting 1 stroke, since I make more than 1/2 of my putts from 6ft. "If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a stroke, record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score is the number of strokes already taken, plus in the player's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that point more than half the time." I understand but just want to point out that the quote there is NOT from the USGA Rules but from the USGA Handicapping FAQ's. see... http://www.usga.org/handicapFA..
Mongo68 Legend
# 22 6/10/2011 1:02:14 PM
Most of the time yes. If I'm in a tournament and it's a tricky little putt (or if I would have to stand awkwardly to avoid standing on someone's line), then I'll mark. Same here. As short as 2 feet is, I've missed a few for not taking my time or marking.
Jaysohn Professional Champion
# 23 6/10/2011 1:10:16 PM
Here is the actual rule: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books../ 4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.) There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation. The FAQ is a little easier to understand - defining "most likely" as more than half the time.
heartotexas Professional Champion
# 24 6/10/2011 1:20:58 PM
Here is the actual rule: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books../ 4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.) There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation. The FAQ is a little easier to understand - defining "most likely" as more than half the time. I dont really want to argue, but this is the rules for the USGA Handicap system, not the USGA rules of Golf ...http://www.usga.org/Rules.aspx..
Jaysohn Professional Champion
# 25 6/10/2011 1:46:46 PM
heartoftexas - Absolutely - this is the handicap rule I'm talking about, as it relates to posting scores here on stracka for holes where someone concedes a putt. As far as the rules of golf - there are definitely no conceded strokes possible in a stroke play event, only in match play. I tend to play match play with my friends for $1 / hole, as this keeps us focused on each hole individually and has helped me to "get over" a bad hole more quickly by forcing me to focus on the next hole. "2-4. Concession of Match, Hole or Next Stroke A player may concede a match at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that match. A player may concede a hole at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that hole. A player may concede his opponent's next stroke at any time, provided the opponent's ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his next stroke, and the ball may be removed by either Side. "
Byron_Kolding Professional Champion
# 26 6/10/2011 3:01:19 PM
go ahead and tap it in - takes like 3 seconds. Also, all these golfers that grind over EVERY putt?!?!?!?!?! If you do not know what the ball will do in the first few seconds of checking the slope of the green, the length of putt, plimb bobbing, conferring with your GPS, etc. you need to go back to the practice green for a couple of hours and practice a quick look, walk up to your ball, take NO PRACTICE stroke(s) and just putt the ball. You might be surprised how close you can actually get to the hole - no more three putts and once-in-a-while a one putt. FIRST IMPRESSION conditioning of the brain and muscles. I would submit (for this discussion forum) that the main reason for us amateurs regarding SLOW play is how much time is spent on the green trying to "win the Masters, Open, US Open" in your own mind. Pros should be a lot better putters but seriously should not take three back-offs, do other 360 looks at an 8 foot putt. Yeah they are playing for really serious $ but I cannot watch that on TV and especially when I play in my League or tournaments at the group ahead of mine. I marshall at a local course and most of us hackers out there would better serve the rest of us by taking that time saved by just putting after their first impression and fix their %&%&% ball marks...

heartotexas

Professional Champion

Go to Last Reply

303 Views 28 Replies 2 Likes

To improve the pace of play, when you putt and come up short or go a little long or wide, say no more than 2 feet from the cup, do you putt it out right away even though others in the group are further away or do you follow strict etiquette and mark your ball and putt last?

heartotexas

Professional Champion

# 16 5/28/2011 8:07:54 AM

I have also found that if you start scoring better than your playing partners on a regular basis, there is no such thing as a gimme in their vocabulary. Its funny how those things work.

This may be one of the funniest pearls of wisdom I have read on this site ever. Good call armygrunt. :)

Power13

Professional Champion

# 17 5/28/2011 9:09:06 AM

. We like to think everyone knows and "plays by the rules" but that isn't always the case and frankly people sometimes have their own rules, right or wrong. If someone giving the putt isn't acceptable then the safest thing is to state it up front before the round and not assume it. If I'm playing a casual round with my friends or family I don't worry much about but if I'm playing a round that I intend to use for my handicap or say a virtual competition I make it clear at the beginning that I'm putting out, no mulligans, no winter rules, etc.

This.

You can make it sound very casual, as well. "You know, I think I'm gonna put everything out today and see if that affects my usual score" if you don't want to sound condescending.

if someone gives me a "gimme", I do one of 2 things:

* Accept the first one (if it was a certain putt),but also say that I wish to put everything out for the remainder of the round. (This option is usually employed if the offender paid my green fees...heh heh)

* Say "thanks, but I need to work on my short putts. I'm gonna putt out."

heartotexas

Professional Champion

# 18 5/28/2011 10:46:24 AM

If someone tosses a gimme back to me, I just proceed under rule 18, replace my ball and putt out. No need for any words to be said. Actions are louder than words.

Golfman1968

Professional Champion

# 19 5/31/2011 1:35:05 PM

I putt everything out. Does that mean I take time to line up every short putt...NO. If the ball goes past the hole or short I go up and tap it in with out marking and lining up. To me it all depends on the distance.

Jaysohn

Professional Champion

# 20 6/10/2011 12:42:55 PM

The only "gimme's" I take are if I'm playing match play. If the other player concedes my putt, and we are playing $ / hole match, then I take it. If someone else in the group (not playing the match) tries to give me the putt, I will putt out. Under the rules of golf - when a hole or putt is conceded, you have to take the strokes you would "reasonably expect to take" from the last position. If I have a 10 ft putt for birdie and the other player conceds the hole, I will still take a putt at it to see if I can make it, but then I'll pick up if I can reasonable expect to make the next putt. If I did not attempt the 10ft putt, I would automatically take 2 strokes from that distance, knowing that I would only make a putt from that distance less than 1/2 the time. If the putt was only from 6ft, I would just take the score counting 1 stroke, since I make more than 1/2 of my putts from 6ft.

"If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a stroke, record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score is the number of strokes already taken, plus in the player's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that point more than half the time."

heartotexas

Professional Champion

# 21 6/10/2011 12:59:57 PM

The only "gimme's" I take are if I'm playing match play. If the other player concedes my putt, and we are playing $ / hole match, then I take it. If someone else in the group (not playing the match) tries to give me the putt, I will putt out. Under the rules of golf - when a hole or putt is conceded, you have to take the strokes you would "reasonably expect to take" from the last position. If I have a 10 ft putt for birdie and the other player conceds the hole, I will still take a putt at it to see if I can make it, but then I'll pick up if I can reasonable expect to make the next putt. If I did not attempt the 10ft putt, I would automatically take 2 strokes from that distance, knowing that I would only make a putt from that distance less than 1/2 the time. If the putt was only from 6ft, I would just take the score counting 1 stroke, since I make more than 1/2 of my putts from 6ft.

"If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a stroke, record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score is the number of strokes already taken, plus in the player's best judgment, the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that point more than half the time."

I understand but just want to point out that the quote there is NOT from the USGA Rules but from the USGA Handicapping FAQ's. see... http://www.usga.org/handicapFA..

Mongo68

Legend

# 22 6/10/2011 1:02:14 PM

Most of the time yes. If I'm in a tournament and it's a tricky little putt (or if I would have to stand awkwardly to avoid standing on someone's line), then I'll mark.

Same here. As short as 2 feet is, I've missed a few for not taking my time or marking.

Jaysohn

Professional Champion

# 23 6/10/2011 1:10:16 PM

Here is the actual rule:

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books../

4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes
A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.)
There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation.

The FAQ is a little easier to understand - defining "most likely" as more than half the time.

heartotexas

Professional Champion

# 24 6/10/2011 1:20:58 PM

Here is the actual rule:

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books../

4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes
A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.)
There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation.

The FAQ is a little easier to understand - defining "most likely" as more than half the time.

I dont really want to argue, but this is the rules for the USGA Handicap system, not the USGA rules of Golf ...http://www.usga.org/Rules.aspx..

Jaysohn

Professional Champion

# 25 6/10/2011 1:46:46 PM

heartoftexas -

Absolutely - this is the handicap rule I'm talking about, as it relates to posting scores here on stracka for holes where someone concedes a putt.

As far as the rules of golf - there are definitely no conceded strokes possible in a stroke play event, only in match play. I tend to play match play with my friends for $1 / hole, as this keeps us focused on each hole individually and has helped me to "get over" a bad hole more quickly by forcing me to focus on the next hole.

"2-4. Concession of Match, Hole or Next Stroke
A player may concede a match at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that match.
A player may concede a hole at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that hole.
A player may concede his opponent's next stroke at any time, provided the opponent's ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his next stroke, and the ball may be removed by either Side. "

Byron_Kolding

Professional Champion

# 26 6/10/2011 3:01:19 PM

go ahead and tap it in - takes like 3 seconds. Also, all these golfers that grind over EVERY putt?!?!?!?!?! If you do not know what the ball will do in the first few seconds of checking the slope of the green, the length of putt, plimb bobbing, conferring with your GPS, etc. you need to go back to the practice green for a couple of hours and practice a quick look, walk up to your ball, take NO PRACTICE stroke(s) and just putt the ball. You might be surprised how close you can actually get to the hole - no more three putts and once-in-a-while a one putt. FIRST IMPRESSION conditioning of the brain and muscles. I would submit (for this discussion forum) that the main reason for us amateurs regarding SLOW play is how much time is spent on the green trying to "win the Masters, Open, US Open" in your own mind. Pros should be a lot better putters but seriously should not take three back-offs, do other 360 looks at an 8 foot putt. Yeah they are playing for really serious $ but I cannot watch that on TV and especially when I play in my League or tournaments at the group ahead of mine. I marshall at a local course and most of us hackers out there would better serve the rest of us by taking that time saved by just putting after their first impression and fix their %*&%*&% ball marks...

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