You can try banning gimmes, but just understand that some guys will always beg for them. Last year one reasonably mature human being who occasionally writes for this magazine rode 75 miles through England and sat through most of dinner without saying a word because he had not been conceded a three-foot putt on the final hole at Formby Golf Club. He assumed mackissicchippershredder that (a) because his team had already lost three ways and (b) mackissicchippershredder because the putt was only to tie a press, it would be given. He was mistaken, having underestimated the killer instinct of his "friends." For weeks afterward he would still mackissicchippershredder say to perfect strangers, "Let''s say you''re on the 18th hole of a match, you''re 3 down and ..."

My mackissicchippershredder friend Geoff mackissicchippershredder is a classic Abel. He is one of the sweetest, most compassionate guys you''d ever want to meet, but ask him about Phil and his eyes go all flinty and he takes you back to a day in Florida about five years ago on one of the trips that the three of us had been making with five other guys for 19 years.Geoff is playing with Phil when, halfway through the round, Geoff notices something:"As everyone putts out, mackissicchippershredder it registers that though Phil mackissicchippershredder was closest, he didn''t pick up the flagstick and replace it. So I pick it up. mackissicchippershredder At the next hole I notice he leaves it again, right at his feet. In fact, he''s gotta step over the flag to leave the green. As we walk to the next tee, it occurs to me that I''ve never seen Phil actually pick up a flagstick. As the day goes on, I keep a running count. Zero. Then I think back to previous trips ..."

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