How long is a gimme? Ask four golfers and you might get four different answers. This week on Next on the Tee, we’re talking Golf’s Guide To Respectable Cheating and how vital it is to get control of the pencil at the start of the round.

Brothers Ross and Michael Greenburg join me to talk Golf’s Ultimate Guide to Respectable Cheating, the book they wrote with their friend Mark Goldman. They trace it back to years of trading stories after their rounds and a text exchange about whether aerated greens should earn you an automatic two-putt. They also share what it was like growing up playing competitive golf, how their dad kept the banter going even during their backswing, and why they’ve come to care more about who’s in the foursome than what’s on the scorecard. You’ll hear how gimmes went from inside the leather to somewhere around 4 feet. The art of the mulligan, how an 87 was more likely an 89 or 93, and how an 8 never finds its way onto the scorecard.

Then PGA Master Professional John Hughes shares a simple towel drill to help you control where the club bottoms out and make cleaner contact. He also explains why trying to get two strokes back after an early double bogey can lead to another big number. If you’re trying to break 100, 90, or 80, John offers a different way to think about where your strokes come from, including how the par 3s and par 5s can shape your round. And when you get to those last few holes with a personal best in sight, he shares how to stick with your routine and trust the swing you brought that day.