Quit
Quit means giving up a hole in match play — you concede it to your opponent without the hole being played out.
The quit is a peculiarity of match play, where you play hole against hole against an opponent instead of counting total strokes. If a hole goes hopelessly wrong for you, you can give it up: you say "quit", the hole is counted as lost, and you move on to the next tee. That saves time and nerves, and it is perfectly within the rules — in match play only who wins the hole counts, not by how many strokes. In stroke play, by contrast, there is no quit: there every hole must be played out because every stroke counts towards the total score.
A typical example from a match: your opponent is on the green after two strokes, one metre from the flag. After four strokes you are stuck in the bunker behind the green. Even in the best case you need two more strokes — your opponent will surely hole theirs. Instead of playing out, you say "quit" and mark the hole down for them. The result does not change, but the game stays brisk. The same applies in miniature: a short, inevitably decisive putt by your opponent can also be gifted to you — that is the related gimme, the quit at putt level.
The most common misconception is transferring the quit to stroke play. Anyone who picks up their ball there and abandons the hole is disqualified or takes the full penalty — lifting is only allowed in Stableford, where the hole simply scores no points. Also popular: the silent quit. Conceding must be stated clearly so that both sides count the same score. And be careful with strategy: whoever quits too early gives away holes in which the opponent could still have faltered. Quit is a tool for clear-cut situations, not for a bad mood.
FAQ
When should I say "quit" in match play?
When the hole is practically lost for you — for example your opponent is one metre from the flag and you are still stuck in the bunker. State the quit clearly, the hole goes to them, and you move on to the next tee. But be careful: if you quit too quickly you give away holes in which the opponent could still have faltered.
Can I also give up a hole in stroke play?
No, in stroke play every hole must be played out because every stroke counts — anyone who picks up is disqualified. The only exception is the Stableford format, where you may pick up and simply get zero points for the hole. Quit only exists in match play.
What is the difference between quit and gimme?
The quit concerns the whole hole: you concede it to your opponent without playing it out. The gimme is the same principle at putt level — a short, inevitably holed putt is gifted to you. Both exist only in match play, not in stroke play.