Can you refuse a conceded putt?
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 04, 2026
When the concession is made, the ball is considered holed and the golfer whose putt was conceded is finished playing that hole. Once a stroke is conceded, the concession can't be refused or withdrawn.
Do you have to accept a conceded putt?
Under the Rules of Golf, putting out after a concession is fair game; nothing forbids it. The concession stands regardless of the outcome of the putt. The one exception comes in four-ball match play, if a player putts out after a concession and doing so gives his partner an advantage.Can you refuse a conceded putt in match play?
In match play only, you may decide to concede a stroke to your opponent. The ball is considered holed and your opponent may pick it up. You may also concede a hole, or the entire match. A concession cannot be declined or withdrawn.Can you still putt a conceded putt?
You (or your opponent) may concede a stroke, a hole, or even the match to each other. If your next stroke has been conceded, you are permitted to putt out, unless this will help your partner (for example, by showing them the line for their putt).Can you concede a putt in stroke play?
Normally in match play, players are permitted to putt out after a concession — but not in four-ball in a situation only when doing so you can help your partner. Once you conceded A's putt, he has completed play on the hole, in this case making a par.The rules of conceding a putt | GOLF.com
What happens when you concede in golf?
Golf DefintionEssentially, in competition--whether friendly or otherwise--conceding a hole means stopping play on a hole and admitting that another player has "won" the hole.