[Sawgrass]

I'm curious as to how folks deal with short putts in your typical stroke play.

Unless I'm given a putt in match play, for decades I've made sure to putt out every putt on every single hole, even if it's an inch. (I figure if I'm giving myself an inch today it will be up to a foot next week and two feet the next, so it's safer to never even think about it. Slippery slope and all that.) But other than when playing with my circle of friends, who do the same, I rarely get paired with a stranger who does this. And they in fact often try to pleasantly "give" me putts, despite the fact that we're not in a match with each other and they are technically in no position to "give" me anything.

Please vote and then sound off as to whether or not it's important you to hole out, or how you see various conditions effecting your decision.

[sk373]

Quote

Unless I'm given a putt in match play, for decades I've made sure to putt out every putt on every single hole, even if it's an inch. (I figure if I'm giving myself an inch today it will be up to a foot next week and two feet the next, so it's safer to never even think about it. Slippery slope and all that.) But other than when playing with my circle of friends, who do the same, I rarely get paired with a stranger who does this. And they in fact often try to pleasantly "give" me putts, despite the fact that we're not in a match with each other and they are technically in no position to "give" me anything.

most ppl who play golf aren't anywhere near as serious about the game as you and your friends. for most ppl, golf is for fun, recreation, and socializing. and it's not fun for many ppl to feel like they have to make every putt as if they were in a real competition.

[Supersteel]

I don't always putt out, no. But it has to be practically in the damn hole -- i mean an inch or two. And usually I just ask the person tending the flag to knock it back to me so we can move on to the next hole. If it's within a distance that I would feel comfortable using the toe of my putter to tap it in, then I just speed up play and move on.

[hoganfan924]

You never know when you're going to shoot a personal best. Will you feel it's legit if you didn't putt out on each hole?

[masterli]

Sawgrass, on Jun 17 2009, 10:23 PM, said:

And they in fact often try to pleasantly "give" me putts, despite the fact that we're not in a match with each other and they are technically in no position to "give" me anything.

i've always been confused by that. sometimes i think they think i'm being rude by putting out. like "i'm too good for you to give me putts." but the truth is i'm playing the course and they can't give me the putt. it has nothing to do w/ them. what's worse is when strangers pick up my ball w/o me asking them to. don't touch another man's balls w/o asking! it's a universal rule.

[sk373]

Quote

You never know when you're going to shoot a personal best. Will you feel it's legit if you didn't putt out on each hole?

nope. but then again, if it's a casual round where i didn't putt out on each hole, it would never be considered for a personal best score to begin with. on another note, i've found it rather common that ppl are annoyed and/or intimidated when one tries to observe the rules of golf faithfully when playing a casual round.

[Dizzub]

The guys I play with never really putt it out. Were all pretty decent players and usually playing for something so anything inside 3 feet is usually conceded by the others...of course unless its a short bender and downhill type of putt. Now the very rare time I play outside of my circle of friends and get paired with people that putt them out then I'll putt them out. But there is nothing worse than playing golf on a crowded course with the group in front of you going through a 45 second pre shot routine to tap in a 1.5 foot putt.

[dpark]

When not in tournament play, the group I play with usually give putts that are tap-ins to save time. The only thing I am a stickler about is anything for a birdie (or better). I always putt those out (old Harvey Pennick saying, its not a birdie if you didn't putt it).

[Bones01gt]

dpark, on Jun 17 2009, 11:30 PM, said:

When not in tournament play, the group I play with usually give putts that are tap-ins to save time. The only thing I am a stickler about is anything for a birdie (or better). I always putt those out (old Harvey Pennick saying, its not a birdie if you didn't putt it).

+1

[Eagle006]

dpark, on Jun 18 2009, 05:30 AM, said:

When not in tournament play, the group I play with usually give putts that are tap-ins to save time. The only thing I am a stickler about is anything for a birdie (or better). I always putt those out (old Harvey Pennick saying, its not a birdie if you didn't putt it).

+1

Putting out every time, even in a casual round with friends is only going to end up in slow play.

[LBlack14]

Depends on the game. I normally putt out and don't give myself anything, but if somebody I'm playing gives me one, I'll pick it up depending on the circumstances. We usually have some kind of game going.

[sajohnson]

I've always kinda felt like the point of the game is to get the ball in the hole. You've come all this way, why not? There's something satisfying about finishing it off to me. The sound, etc. Probably a bad example, but picking up is like hitting a homer and heading for the dugout after you round 3rd or something. No fun in that!

I do think people take short ones too much for granted in general. Even little 2 footers are eminently missable if you don't pay attention as I'm sure we've all experienced. I see some people I play with kind of rake the ball to the hole, miss it, miss it again, and then score it like they made the first. If you want to learn how to really score, it ain't helping you to do that. But if folks don't care about that and just want to have some fun, no biggie - I'm no stickler.

Not sure it really slows down play to putt out - unless you're marking and going through some long routine for a tap-in. I've never really seen anyone do that except for the occasional pro on the TV. If it's something you'd read and take any real time on, it probably isn't a gimme anyway, is it?

But to each their own and all that...

[bjackson]

Putt it out.

[CHRIS509]

Personally "I" always putt out! What's the point of playing if you don't, it's the object of the game?
I do give putts. If that player wants to take it, that's up to them (social games).
If someone offers me a putt (social) i say thanks but i always putt out, its my thing.

I don't know of any other sport/game that "gives" goals/points/runs etc so why should we in golf.
To say it helps speed up play is rubbish, it takes seconds to tap in.
Also, if the one left is that "long" and you feel the need to line up, that means you know thiers a chance you could miss it.

Play the game.

[AndyJ]

Eagle006, on Jun 18 2009, 06:58 AM, said:

dpark, on Jun 18 2009, 05:30 AM, said:

When not in tournament play, the group I play with usually give putts that are tap-ins to save time. The only thing I am a stickler about is anything for a birdie (or better). I always putt those out (old Harvey Pennick saying, its not a birdie if you didn't putt it).

+1

Putting out every time, even in a casual round with friends is only going to end up in slow play.

+2

Don't waste time on putts less than 6" when not in a competition.

[tbowles411]

I like the sound when the ball goes in the cup. I have to hear it.

[bortass]

I always putt out because I'm always in stroke play. All my rounds are casual but I'm trying to track my progress.

I don't see why a 6 inch putt would cause slow play. Slow play is caused by slow players. Errant tee shots cause things to slow down more then a real short putt in my experience. So I guess people should just drop their ball in the fairway to speed up play. Yes, this is tongue in cheek, but technically there is no difference between a short putt and any other stroke in the game. Every stroke has the potential for a penalty or not to hole out.

That said, I don't care how anyone else plays their game. The guys I play with will pick up instead of putting out at times. It's all good since these are casual rounds.

[roll - gybe]

tbowles411, on Jun 18 2009, 07:48 AM, said:

I like the sound when the ball goes in the cup. I have to hear it.

I find this interesting. You have to hear it? Is it like a drug or something? Even on 1 footers? Lucky guy.

This came up recently:
How about in match play?

For instance if I am giving a stoke, and I have a disaster and make double bogey 5. The other guy lies 2 with a three footer left. At that point he can beat me with a 3-putt from 3 feet.

The guy says "No, I like to putt them out," and proceeds to 3 putt for a 5, net 4. He wins the hole and pads his handicap.
Is there any way to stop this?

[Bluefan75]

The only time I don't putt out is if in a casual round, I have had a disaster of a hole, and I am lying double bogey and am not on the green yet, and the group behind us is waiting. I'm going to have to adjust it for ESC to enter anyway, and if I've done that, typically I'm not challenging my all time best anyway, so it's not as though I'm de-legitimizing a good score.

Having said that, in over 30 rounds this year(should be more--damn weather!) I have done that twice.

I've asked several times how to handle the situation, because, not only will guys say "that's good" when we're not playing a match, but they'll actually knock the ball back when I have never given any indication that that is my intention. I like to hear the rattle. I come all this way to hear the rattle, I want to hear the rattle. I don't care what you do with your ball, it's your score, game and conscience, but leave mine alone.

I've been told to say something on the first tee about working on short putts so I will putt them out, but it becomes a question on nearly every hole, because it almost seems like a game to them get me to not putt one out. If you don't say anything, then you run the risk of having to tell someone after the fact that they should not be touching your golf ball, and looking like an a$$.

As I'm typing this, it occurs to me, particularly at the club I joined this year, I haven't quite gotten my game to the level I want, which is to say not being out of place at all playing with the best golfers in the club. So most of my rounds so far have been played, for varying reasons, with 10+ handicappers. Is this a higher handicapper phenomenon? I may be getting cloudy, but I used to play a lot with the better players at my old club, and I don't seem to remember ever needing to be concerned.

[kylemacca01]

If shes up for it i always put out! Hang on maybe i'm getting the wrong idea with this thread?

[tjy355]

Something flawed in this poll... All the answers have to do with giving YOURSELF putts. You CAN'T give yourself a putt. Your opponent can give you a putt.

roll - gybe, on Jun 18 2009, 06:12 AM, said:

This came up recently:
How about in match play?

For instance if I am giving a stoke, and I have a disaster and make double bogey 5. The other guy lies 2 with a three footer left. At that point he can beat me with a 3-putt from 3 feet.

The guy says "No, I like to putt them out," and proceeds to 3 putt for a 5, net 4. He wins the hole and pads his handicap.
Is there any way to stop this?

A concession can not be declined or withdrawn.

There are some considerations to follow when turning in a score from a match play round as it applies to uncompleted holes.

"A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score."

A player who would take extra strokes to pad his handicap is not following the spirit of the handicapping system and is subject to sanctions by the committee.

The way to stop it is to report the cheater to the handicap committee.

[sandwedge59]

On weekdays when were not playing for money or dont keep a card inside a foot we give putts regularly but when in matches or posting for handicap we putt them all in , when im playing alone sometimes i putt them all in and sometimes i dont , i get in practice mode when i play alone and more concerned about ball striking vs. putting anyway

[Sawgrass]

tjy355, on Jun 18 2009, 09:30 AM, said:

Something flawed in this poll... All the answers have to do with giving YOURSELF putts. You CAN'T give yourself a putt. Your opponent can give you a putt.

The poll is about stroke play, where no one can give you a putt, even your opponent. The questions have to do with whether or not you choose to violate that rule.

[grayefc]

I've started putting everything out, just to get used to the sound of the ball hitting the bottom of the cup, wether it be from 3 feet or 3 inches i try to knock them in.

Had major putting problems about a month ago missing 2 and 3 footers constistanly, since ive started putting out, i have become so much more solid from 5 feet and in.

I am a bit of a beleiver that hearing ball hit the bottom of the cup, boosts confidence. and you eventually get used to it, and in time the 3 and 4 footers become routine,

I've noticed the people who tend to give themselves the putt or look to you to give them the Putt are the ones who dont hole out all the time and the reason for this i have noticed is that on the short ones they arent very confident and very often miss them.

[bigred90gt]

I used to give myself all putts within the leather, as I was only playing for fun, and not keeping a handicap. Before I started keeping a handicap, I joined the egolf tour. As in any stroke play tournament, there are no gimmies, and you have to putt everything, even if it is hanging over the lip. In a tournament, I walked up and casually tapped a 6" putt, and misse. Since then, I dont care if it is a practice round or not, I putt everything. I'm also keeping a handicap index now, so I have to, but just missing the 6" tap was enough regardless.

[youraway2]

I used to take putts inside the grip (that’s the length of the grip not the length of the shaft). A few years ago I was playing with a guy named Cleve Beasley in Salt Lake and another guy. We were playing skins (straight stroke play) for a $1 a hole with carry-overs. This guy stiffs it on 16 inside a foot. I hit it to about 8 and when I walked passed him, as he was marking his ball, I said that’s good. He looked at me kind of funny and I said it’s good, isn’t it Cleve? Cleve responded, well if it’s good then why don’t he just go ahead and tap it on in. Cleve taught me a good lesson that day. If you’re playing stroke play and you feel like it’s good (that means there no doubt you can make it), then why not just go ahead and tap it in?

Now back home in Florida I’ve continued to putt all my putts out as well as asking others to do so if there’s a bet. Sometimes it isn’t received very well and I let it go. Why jeopardize a friendship? If your paying on your own without a bet then after all it’s up to you; isn’t it? If you want to take a shot go ahead do so, if you hit it in the jungle, just take a mulligan, who cares? I believe you should care.

Oh by the way, that Cleve can really play, I lost $11.

[desaille]

Skins game
all your putts are good on the front nine
back nine you're putting out everything

[alittleoverpar]

If I am playing with a group that gives putts, then I play along and don't putt out. When I play by myself I always putt out on every hole. I do it so I don't get nervous over short putts in tournaments when they matter. Plus, it never hurts to see the ball go in the hole.

[tbowles411]

roll - gybe, on Jun 18 2009, 09:12 AM, said:

tbowles411, on Jun 18 2009, 07:48 AM, said:

I like the sound when the ball goes in the cup. I have to hear it.

I find this interesting. You have to hear it? Is it like a drug or something? Even on 1 footers? Lucky guy.

This came up recently:
How about in match play?

For instance if I am giving a stoke, and I have a disaster and make double bogey 5. The other guy lies 2 with a three footer left. At that point he can beat me with a 3-putt from 3 feet.

The guy says "No, I like to putt them out," and proceeds to 3 putt for a 5, net 4. He wins the hole and pads his handicap.
Is there any way to stop this?

For me, I don't sink many in that 10-20 foot range. I always got into the habit of putting anything close. It helps me learn to read ths shorter ones. But aside from all of that, it's when I learned to putt, I was taught to listen for the sound. That became "must hear it hit the cup." I've never played match play to the point of missing a 15 footer and leaving me 12 inches to the cup. But I know me. I've missed 12 inches away before. So to me, I'd rather putt them out. May I change my mind if I have money on the line.

[highscoreinky]

Putt it. I have played with several people who suddenly find themselves playing "over their handicap" in matches where all putts have to be holed. Most are so used to having "gimme's" or just picking up and moving on that even 1 footers can be challenging when it's a must make putt.

[Ronzo]

I always putt out. And it irritates the crap out of a lot of people I play with, including my son and his father-in-law.

They are very casual players, and I'm known as a guy who takes his game seriously, even though I suck. I have no idea how you can measure your actual progress at this game if you don't play by the rules. They are intrinsic.

[BookBoy]

Interesting poll. I recently stayed at hotel on a course where my room overlooked a green. After awhile I started counting and of the 22 people that played through only 7 put the ball in the cup.

I putt everything out for some of the same reasons already mentioned.

[jmtigers]

Nothing irritates me more than this situation:

My playing partner and I are both equally having a bad bad hole or maybe its the toughest hole on the course. I make a nice 5+ footer for bogey or double and my partner who I spent the last 10 minutes riding through the woods with chunks a chip on the green then knocks a long putt 6ft past. Then he proceeds to just pick it up and move on.. with the "gimmie a 6 for that one"

[ejmac]

I always prefer to putt out and get a little peeved when someone bats my ball back to me calling it good. It's not good until it's in the hole.

[ezra76]

dpark, on Jun 18 2009, 12:30 AM, said:

When not in tournament play, the group I play with usually give putts that are tap-ins to save time. The only thing I am a stickler about is anything for a birdie (or better). I always putt those out (old Harvey Pennick saying, its not a birdie if you didn't putt it).

Same here. I'm a good chipper so put it inside a foot quite a bit. My playing partners always knock those back to me. I do it playing alone most of the time as well. If there is basically any chance I could miss the thing, I'll putt it. No point in lining up a 13inch uphill putt for a bogey save. I'm going to make that 100% of the time as I'm sure anyone would. Some days I'll just knock it in with my wedge blade for the heck of it. I guess I'd have to mention I have a solid, consistant preputt routine. If I choose to putt a 9 incher, I'm going through the whole thing. If you want to wait that 1:10 for me to do it all, so be it, lol. Also, as someone else mentioned, ESC only allows me to enter double at worst. If I miss a bogey putt, chip, whatever, I usually pick it up.

[Sawgrass]

ejmac, on Jun 18 2009, 04:55 PM, said:

I always prefer to putt out and get a little peeved when someone bats my ball back to me calling it good. It's not good until it's in the hole.

The situation you describe used to absolutely kill me too, particularly if I was potentially heading for my personal best, which it is my firm policy to believe every time I step on the first tee. It bothered me until I realized that the rules cover this. So now I just replace the ball at no penalty and sink it. While it's an awkward situation for a minute, I've never once had someone do it again after I pleasantly thanked them and then replaced the ball.

One other comment: I remember watching a PGA tournament years and years ago when Travino and Nicklaus were in the heat of a competition. Travino left a ball on the lip, moved to it and passed his putter by the ball, then tapped it in. He turned to Nicklaus and said, "I intended to hit that." He was describing his "whiff". I don't think anyone in the world would have known that his first pass was anything other than a waggle. He took the extra stroke. Impressed the hell out of me. (Wish I could remember if he won anyway. Anyone else remember this moment?)



If Lee Travino can miss a one inch putt, I can too. So I putt it every time.

[kekoa]

I always putt everything out whether its 2 ft or 2 in. I actually struggle w/ shorter putts so it helps me practice. Plus it doesn't really save time by giving putts unless the players sit over a putt like furyk. I love it when guys i'm playing w/ slap at a 5 footer after a crappy lag expecting to make the putt. When they miss, they still take the score if they made the putt.i gues thats why i like tournament play. EVERYTHING gets holed out.

[elliottriddell]

nobody gives them to you in tournaments. enough said

[DaveLeeNC]

For me this is one of the most awkward situations that I run into in golf.

1) I'm playing with some friends in a casual round who are mostly high handicappers (and probably older so probably slow).

2) I've got a 15 inch putt and am the last guy to putt out

3) Our group is slightly behind and the guys that I am playing with know it and would like to fix that

4) The group behind is waiting to hit to the green

5) I MUST go through my normal routine on putts that are 15 inches or longer or (history says) I might well miss it.

That is a damned awkward situatiion - golf purity or not.

dave