It's a discussion I've had many, many times with a number of different people. 

You see, a lot of golfers play the "gimme" game.  If they get the ball close to the hole, like within a foot or two, they take what they call a "gimme".  They assume they'll make the short putt so they pick up the ball and move on to the next tee box. 

It's OK with me but I don't like to do it.  It goes back about 30 years.  I was playing with some good friends who insisted that we putt out - put the ball in the hole.   

"That's the name of the game," my friend told me.  "The goal at the beginning of each hole is to get that ball in the cup, so why would you not finish the job?", he said. 

It makes sense, right?  If you were playing hockey and you got sent in on a breakaway, you'd try to put the puck in the net, would you not?  So, if you're playing golf, why would you not put the ball in the hole? 

Some of my partners think it's funny and I do take some good-natured ribbing from time to time.   

You know, I'd score better and improve my handicap if I played the "gimme" game.  Perhaps my handicap is honesty and integrity.  Or, maybe it's stupidity.  The jury's out.