The first time I encountered the “good-good” expression was in the Coral Ridge international match play tournament in Boca Raton, Florida. On the third hole, my opponent’s ball was about one foot beyond mine on the putting green and she asked if I wanted to concede that both our putts were good without putting into the hole.
Match play gives golfers the option of conceding an opponent’s putt no matter what the length. Asking your opponent “good-good?” means s/he will give your putt and in return you will then concede his/her putt. If your opponent agrees, both balls are picked up and counted as holed.
If the opponent putts after the concession is made a miss doesn’t count. Once the putts are conceded the hole is over. In my case, I did not agree and told my opponent to putt out as she was much farther away than I was. She asked the “good-good?” on a couple of greens after that. It became apparent that she was attempting to use gamesmanship on me so I wouldn’t be able to get used to putting the short putts. Then later in the match she would have me putt when it mattered and there was more pressure.
Conceded putts are only allowed in match play which is a scoring system for golf where the player/team with the lowest score on a hole earns a point. If the golfers/team has the same score, each is given half a point. Conceded putts are not allowed under the rules of stroke play as the golfer’s score is the total number of strokes counted over one or more 18-hole rounds.
To make certain that your putt has been conceded:
- Look at your opponent to hear the concession from h/her.
- Do not move until the concession is agreed to.
- If you are not certain the putt has been conceded, ask your opponent.
“Gimmies” vs. Conceded Putts
Conceded putts are only allowed in match play competitions. “Gimmies” are not allowed at any time in official competitions according to the USGA Rules.
“Gimmies” have been used in recreational golf to speed up play, but constant use can erode your confidence. A “gimmie” is a very short putt where the golfer determines that it can’t be missed, picks it up, and counts it as if holed.
Golfers who constantly use “gimmies” for longer and longer putts may mentally think they can make them, but under pressure will lose their skill and confidence. It is important to create a good habit of making short putts. Seeing the line to the hole and hearing the ball drop in the cup will build confidence.
Sam Snead used to say, “Be careful of the guy giving you the short ones. He’s probably afraid of putting the short ones, and he wants you to give them to him.” Because he made his living by playing money games in match play, Snead never gave a putt to anyone.
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