
Can you use a Mulligan in a golf round?
In some situations where golfers might use a mulligan in a casual round, players have to penalize themselves with strokes instead of using mulligans -- including when a ball is lost out of bounds or in a hazard. There is no situation in which a player can replay a shot in golf except when a player declares a provisional ball.
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.
What is the origin of the term mulligan?
The origins of the term mulligan are unclear but there are a few theories. 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).
What happened to David Mulligan’s Ball?
However, all of them involve a golfer named David Mulligan, who played in the 1920s in Canada. These are all as stated by the United States Golf Association (USGA). David Mulligan, a hotelier, ended up hitting a ball out of bounds and simply decided to hit it again in its place.

How do you take a mulligan?
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. In other words, golfers use mulligans to wipe out the previous shot and consider it to have never counted. It's a do-over.
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.
Why do they call it a mulligan?
Theory: 'Mulligan' Is Named After a Golfer Mulligan probably originated when the golf do-over was christened mulligan after the name of a golfer who kept replaying shots. That's the most likely explanation, and according to Occam's Razor the simplest explanation is more likely to be the true one.
Is a mulligan only off the tee?
In golf, a "mulligan" is a do-over or second chance at a shot with no penalty during a casual round of play. Usually, mulligans are reserved for spectacularly poor shots off the tee. While there are no mulligans in competitive play, taking one or more mulligans is usually fine in a casual round of golf.
What are the rules on mulligans?
A Mulligan in golf is a shot which is allowed to be replayed without penalty and as if the first shot had not even happened. Thus if a player is unhappy with a bad shot, he or she can simply repeat it. It is against the rules of golf, but it is used in some social games.
Should you take mulligans?
However, if shenanigans by your fellow players results in a lousy shot, a mulligan is almost implicitly allowed. Catcalling during the backswing, interfering with another player's lie, or otherwise impeding on a golfer's ability to make a focused swing are all fair reasons to call mulligan.
Are Mulligans legal in golf?
A mulligan is a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder. Its best-known use is in golf, whereby it refers to a player being allowed, only informally, to replay a stroke, although that is against the formal rules of golf.
What does golf really stand for?
The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club.
Why are golf scores named after birds?
Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.
How do you play mulligans in golf?
To use a mulligan, Player A would first hit a shot and not be pleased with the result. After the shot's result is known, Player A can immediately call for a mulligan, if available, and use it to hit the shot again. To use a recall, Player A would first hit a shot and be pleased with the result.
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 considered a gimme in golf?
A gimme in golf refers to a putt so short that it is essentially unmissable. Rather than making your partner roll the ball into the hole, you can give them the shot and count it as holed.
Why do golfers use mulligans?
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 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. In other words, golfers use mulligans to wipe out the previous shot and consider it to have never counted. It's a do-over.
What is a do over in golf?
In golf, golfers hit a lot of shots they wish they could have back. Some are particularly bad. Golfers have come up with a do-over of sorts, called a mulligan, that allows them to get another try at the shots they wish they could hit again.
Is a mulligan legal in golf?
Are mulligans legal under the Rules of Golf? Mulligans are definitely, absolutely not allowed under the Rules of Golf. If you're playing in a competition governed by the Rules of Golf, mulligans aren't allowed. In fact, that term is not even in the rule book. In some situations where golfers might use a mulligan in a casual round, ...
Who invented the tee time?
The last variation says Mulligan got an extra shot after oversleeping, rushing to the first tee to make his tee time. A later version credits John A. Mulligan with inventing the term in the 1930s, when he worked as a locker room attendant at Essex Falls Country Club in New Jersey.
Who invented the mulligan?
There are a variety of stories that look to explain the origin of the mulligan. One popular story attributes Canadian golfer David B. Mulligan as inventing the term. Playing at the Country Club of Montreal in the 1920s, Mulligan re-teed and hit another ball after a poor shot.
Can you replay a shot in golf?
There is no situation in which a player can replay a shot in golf except when a player declares a provisional ball. A provisional ball is played by a player when they have reason to believe the ball they just hit is lost or will not be able to be played from a penalty area (hazard).
What is the History of a Mulligan?
Legend has it that a guy named Mulligan played golf hundreds of years ago and needed to take multiple shots. He would drive a wagon with his friends to the golf course, which meant he was doing all the work and was a bit tired before getting to the course.
What is the Purpose of a Mulligan in Golf?
A mulligan is a correction shot, or a second chance, for a golfer to shoot again without a penalty. Sometimes a lousy shot may happen, so your playing partners might offer you an extra opportunity to correct it.
Are Mulligans Part of Professional Golf Tournaments?
According to the official PGA golf rules, there is no mulligan of any kind during a game. That means that during an official golf tournament, you won’t see any mulligans occur, and whatever the hit was counts as a stroke for the golfer.
What about Using Mulligans During Charity Events?
Sometimes during fundraisers, the tournament might sell mulligans to the participants to raise additional money. For example, a country club might sell you five mulligans for an extra twenty dollars during a round of golf.
When to take a Mulligan in Golf?
Common reasons to take a mulligan in golf include taking a lousy tee shot, losing the golf ball in the woods or water, on a putt attempt, a shot that lands in the bunker, or just a poor shot on the green. The redo shot allows golf buddies to enjoy being out on the green without the stress of a bad shot to ruin the day.
How Many Mulligans Can you Take in Golf?
The number of mulligans allowed on the golf course depends on the event. For example, charities might offer five mulligans over nine holes for an additional charge of the money. With that being the case, you have a few extra free shots to take during the event if you choose.
How Do you Score a Mulligan in Golf?
Since mulligans are not in the rules of golf, taking one during a game is more out of good sport than anything else. That means taking a mulligan means you redo the shot, and you don’t mark it as anything on the scorecard. Players could tally up mulligans if they want on a scorecard, but most just let it act as a redo and nothing more.
Why did Mulligan get an extra shot?
A second version has the extra shot given to Mulligan due to his being jumpy and shaky after a difficult drive over the Victoria Bridge to the course. A third version is that he was given an extra shot after he overslept and then rushed to get ready to make the tee time.
When to allow 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.
What are some alternatives to the must mulligan?
The alternatives are: The must mulligan – Irrespective of the outcome of your mulligan you MUST play the ball from where it ends up. If the ball is in a worse position, you still have to play the second shot. The provisional mulligan – This will offer you a choice of whether you want to play the original shot or the mulligan.
What is a mulligan in golf?
A mulligan in golf is a special occurrence offering you a second chance to clear your psyche, alleviate stress, save your sanity, and bolster self-esteem. The reverse of a mulligan is a “ gilligan ” whereby your opponent can request you to replay a successful stroke.
What is ball played as it lies?
Golfing Terms Explained for Everyone. Last Updated: by Nick Lomas. Golfers are sticklers for rules and Rule No. 13 of the United States Golf Association’s “Rules of Golf,” is referred to as “Ball played as it lies.”. This rule prohibits improving the lie, the area intended for making a swing, the line of play, or the area in which ...
Where did the term "mulligan" come from?
The origins of the term mulligan are unclear but there are a few theories. 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 ...
What did bars and taverns offer for free?
The Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins offers another explanation that freebies were offered by bars and taverns offering a bottle of booze or a mixture of spices kept for customers to get some extra kick from their beers.
What is a Mulligan in Golf?
In golf, a "mulligan" is a do-over or second chance at a shot with no penalty during a casual round of play. Usually, mulligans are reserved for spectacularly poor shots off the tee.
When to Take a Mulligan
New golfers and golfers with high handicaps in general often struggle to keep the ball in play when hitting off the tee for a variety of reasons.
Check with Your Group Before Taking a Mulligan
Before taking a mulligan, make sure that the other players in your group don't mind. Often, they'll even offer you the option.
Don't Take Too Many Mulligans
While most golfers will be okay with you taking the occasional mulligan, you definitely don't want to be taking one on every other tee.
A Mulligan is Not a Golf Rule
"Mulligan" is not an official term as far as the rules of golf are concerned. Mulligans are not allowed in professional play or any amateur competitions abiding by USGA rules.

What Is A Mulligan in Golf?
- A mulligan means you get another chance to play redo your stroke if you missed the first one due to an error or your ball went out of bounds. Thus, if you hit a stroke and, for some reason, your club does not hit the ball or ends up hitting it extremely badly, you can ask for a mulligan. This can allow you to hit the ball again, counting as a redo ...
Does It Come with A Penalty?
- There is technically no penalty involved when it comes to a mulligan. Thus, a mulligan can essentially give you a second shot without losing out on anything while also letting you regain your dignity after that original poor shot. In this case, your progress using the mulligan will count in your final score (if you are keeping score) instead of the original shot. No harm done! Of cours…
How Can It Help?
- In a casual game, there are several ways in which a mulligan can prove to be usefuland helpful. For instance: 1. It can allow you to shoot another stroke for the second time to recover from an error. 2. It can help you progress in the game by lowering your score (provided that you hit the ball right this time around). 3. It can reduce your stress levels in the game that might have been caus…
Origins of A Mulligan
- The origins of the term mulligan are vague and unclear. There are several theories or versions that you can go through below to get a rough understanding of how this concept came to develop. However, all of them involve a golfer named David Mulligan, who played in the 1920s in Canada. These are all as stated by the United States Golf Association(USGA). 1. David Mulligan, a hotelie…
Rules and Restrictions
- Based on the official rulesof golf, there are no associations with a mulligan or any mention of it whatsoever. It is, however, clear that a mulligan is prohibited from formal tournaments and matches that fall under governing organizations such as the USGA. Thus, if a professional player is caught attempting to redo their stroke, they might be disqualified entirely or penalized in som…
Taking A Mulligan
- When and how can you take a mulligan in a casual game? There are several situations where you might feel the need to take a mulligan. These can include: 1. Hitting a ball out of bounds, especially when you are starting off the game 2. Following up the initial tee stroke to push the game ahead 3. Completely missing out on hitting the ball 4. The ball getting blown away due to …
Is A Mulligan Universally accepted?
- A mulligan is most certainly not universally accepted. Since it is prohibited by the USGA, using a mulligan in professional matches is completely out of the question. Internationally, this kind of play is not allowed either. When it comes to casual games, whether or not a mulligan is accepted depends on the people you are playing with. A mulligan might be accepted in amateur games if t…
Final Remarks
- This guide has taken you through certain relevant details surrounding a mulligan in golf. While it is not a part of official matches, you can decide to play using one in recreational games if you and your fellow golfers agree to it.