What is the origin of the term “mulligan” in golf?
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA), it is named after a Canadian golfer who played out of the Country Club of Montreal during the 1920s, David B. Mulligan (1869-1954). The exact circumstances are unknown but the 3 possibilities that may have led to the origin of the term are
What are the pros and cons of a Mulligan in golf?
Mulligans can help speed up play instead of forcing golfers to chase for lost golf balls, and it can help golfers fix problems in real time on the golf course. So long as mulligans don't hold up the pace of play and flow of a golf round, they're find to use sparingly in a casual round of golf.
What is the difference between a Gilligan and Mulligan?
A Gilligan is in effect the opposite of a Mulligan. With a Mulligan a player can replay a bad shot with a Gilligan a player’s opponent can make them replay a good shot. Neither Mulligans or Gilligans are part of the rules of golf, but are used in some social games by prior arrangement.
How do you use a mulligan card in golf?
To add some fun to the use of the mulligan in a round of golf, place your Golf Mulligan Excuse Card in your back pocket. When selecting to employ the mulligan, rip the card out of your pocket and wave it in the air to the amusement of your playing partners.
How many mulligans are allowed in golf?
It is rarer still - rarely seen, in fact - for mulligans to be used on the putting green. And some groups allow mulligans from just about anywhere on the golf course, but set a limit - say, three mulligans per round, or nine, or 18.
What is the mulligan rule in golf?
In golf, a mulligan is a stroke that is replayed from the spot of the previous stroke without penalty, due to an errant shot made on the previous stroke. The result is that the hole is played and scored as if the first errant shot had never been made.
Why is a golf shot called a mulligan?
According to this version, the term was named after a locker room attendant at the club named John A. 'Buddy' Mulligan, who worked at the club during the 1930s and was known for replaying shots, particularly on the first tee.
Do pro golfers get mulligans?
A Mulligan is Not a Golf Rule Mulligans are not allowed in professional play or any amateur competitions abiding by USGA rules.
Is a provisional the same as a mulligan?
Alternative #2: “The Provisional Mulligan” With this second kind of mulligan, if your second shot is not as good as your first, you can still use your first. In other words, your second try is what we call a PROVISIONAL shot.
Why do golfers say fore?
It Is Derived from the Word 'Forecaddie' Forecaddies were in charge of watching the golf balls and indicating where the golf balls landed. To let the forecaddie know when the ball was being struck, the golfers would yell out forecaddie. Eventually, the caddie part was dropped, leaving just the fore.
Why are golf shots named after birds?
Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.
Why is an eagle called an eagle in golf?
The meaning being a score of one under par. Eagle: American in origin, this play on birdie essentially upped the stakes. If a good score of one-under was a bird, a great score of two-under was a more prestigious bird.
Why is a bogey called a bogey?
So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil. Golfers of the time considered they were playing a Mister Bogey when measuring themselves against the bogey score.
What is a dog leg in golf?
A dogleg hole is one that is crooked or bends like the hind leg of a dog. Doglegs tend to be strategic holes where the player must aim to find a suitable spot on the fairway from the tee with which to get around the bend, or dogleg of the hole, with the next shot.
What is a breakfast ball?
Basically, a "breakfast ball" is a mulligan for a tee time that is in the morning. So, what's a mulligan in golf? A mulligan is a stroke in golf that is played from the same spot that a player hit their previous stroke, looking to re-do the prior shot without penalty.
Can you tee up on the fairway?
Can You Use A Tee On A Fairway? The rules of golf state that you must play a ball as it lies. If you walk up to your ball in your fairway and tee it up, this would be breaking the rules of golf. You cannot tee your golf ball in the fairway once it is in play.
How did the term Mulligan originate?
No-one is sure. Most stories agree it was after a chap named Mulligan, but they differ as to who this Mr Mulligan was. Some versions have him as Ca...
What is the Mulligan-Recall golf game?
This game involves each player being awarded a set number of Mulligans and Recalls. A player can call a Mulligan after one of their own poor shots;...
What is a Gilligan in golf?
A Gilligan is in effect the opposite of a Mulligan. With a Mulligan a player can replay a bad shot with a Gilligan a player’s opponent can make the...
Mulligan – The Origins
The Stigma Attached to Mulligans
- The mulligan is not a practice that is too widely accepted, and some gofers are highly offended if you even dare to mention the word in general conversation. Jon Tattersall, the Atlanta-based GOLF Top 100 instructor, said “a roving mulligan is just ‘taking the piss,’ as we say in England. At that point, you are not playing, you’re practicing.” He added “It can be helpful to get into the habit …
The Right and Wrong Time to Ask For A Mulligan
- A good guide for allowing a mulligan is when a golfer drives his tee shot off the first tee out of bounds. Mulligans can make things more enjoyable for some but allowing too many mulligans can strip the stakes and enjoyment of the game for competitive-minded players. Do not make use of a mulligan when it affects your pace negatively, or the group behind you are playing faster tha…
What Is A Mulligan in Golf?
What Is The Story Behind The Term ‘Mulligan’?
- There are a few competing theories as to the origin of the phrase ‘mulligan’ to describe a do-over in golf. They all revolved around the same two situations, both about a man with the surname Mulligan. The first and more famous of the three stories is about an amateur Canadian golfer called David Bernard Mulligan. In the first story, Mulligan took a poor initial drive off the starting …
Are Mulligans Golf Legal?
- No, as much as you might want them to be, taking a mulligan is most definitely not golf legal, and directly goes against all the rules of golf. So, don’t be expecting to be able to use it in a competition governed by golf rules – as it is so illegal that the term isn’t even mentioned in the rule book. Typically, a mulligan may be allowed in a casual round of golf against friends, though i…
Final Thoughts
- In conclusion, a mulligan is a slangy golf term, meaning retaking a shot after a bad start or bad tee off. We have covered their origin story, and their legality under the rules of golf. If you do have any further questions, don’t hesitate to let us know.