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.
Full Answer
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 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. He called it a "correction shot," but his friends named it after him.
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.
What is a floating mulligan 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.
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 is it called a mulligan in golf?
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.
What does it mean to pull a mulligan?
: a free shot sometimes given a golfer in informal play when the previous shot was poorly played.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why does golf have 18 holes?
Andrews formalized the rules and stated, “One round of the Links, or 18 holes is reckoned a match, unless otherwise stipulated.” Legend has it that the reason for 18 holes is that a bottle of whiskey contained the same number of shots as holes on a course, thus providing just enough drink for a shot on each hole.
What is a provisional mulligan?
With the 'Must' Mulligan you must use your mulligan or second shot off the tee. With the 'Provisional' Mulligan you have a choice of using your first shot or your second mulligan shot, whichever is best. Well, it looks like the 'provisional mulligan' is a chance for a win, win, Mulligan situation.
How many clubs are legal to carry in a golf bag?
14 clubsYou are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs for play (but you can have fewer). There is no restriction on the type of clubs you carry – for instance you can carry multiple putters, multiple drivers, or some left-handed clubs and some right-handed.
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 do they say 4 in golf?
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.
How do mulligan's work in a golf tournament?
A mulligan is a “do-over” for a golfer. Hit a bad shot; use a mulligan to take the shot over. While mulligans are not legal in competitive golf, they are popular for fundraising golf events. Offer golfers at your event a chance to buy mulligans to be used during the events.
Do you have to take your 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.
What is 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.
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 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.
Are Mulligans allowed in competitive play?
Mulligans are only used in casual rounds, and not allowed in any type of competitive play.
How do you take a mulligan in golf?
To take a mulligan, what you need is for all players on your side of the hole to agree that they will allow it. You can’t just ask one player if he or she wants to let you have another shot-you have to get everyone on board.
When to take a mulligan
There’s no definitive answer as to when you should take a mulligan. Some golfers might only take one if they really mishit the ball, while others may try to take a mulligan on every hole.
Purpose of a Mulligan
The purpose of a mulligan is to retake a shot you mishit, giving yourself another opportunity to make a good golf shot. It’s not meant to be used as an advantage, but simply as a way to help you get back on track.
How many mulligans can you take?
If you’re playing by the official golf rules, you can not take any mulligans during a round.
When did Mulligans become popular in golf?
Mulligans became popular in golf in the early 1900s. There is no official rule about them in the golf handbook to this date.
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.
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 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.
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.
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, ...
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.
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 ...
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.
Can you use a mulligan in a friendly game?
This practice in casual play can speed up play and reduce the time used for searching for a lost ball. All members of the group must unanimously agree to the use of mulligans before you can call for a mulligan.
Do you need a mulligan for a round?
Alternatively, practice harder and get into a position where you do not need a mulligan.
Mulligan Definition
According to yourdictionary.com, “ (golf) In informal play, a second shot given to a golfer as a substitute for a poorly played shot, for which the golfer is not charged an additional stroke.”
Are Mulligans Legal?
In short, no. Mulligans are not allowed according to the USGA’s Rules of Golf. That should never deter a group from allowing a mulligan here and there as long as it’s not a scored match and it doesn't slow down the pace of play.
How Mulligans Originated
There are several stories behind the term mulligan and how it came about. Some have been debunked, some are more folklore than others. The most credible origination, which is recognized by the USGA, dates the term to the late 1920s to mid-1930s.
About the Author
Todd Mrowice is a Staff Writer for GolfLink. He has been writing about golf for over 10 years including a long tenure at GOLFChicago Magazine. Todd has covered all aspects of the game including travel, products, business, and professional tours.
Theory 1: Named after David Mulligan
David Mulligan was a Canadian amateur golfer who played at the country club of Montreal in the 1920s. The version states that one day, after hitting an unsatisfactory tee shot, Mulligan immediately teed up and shot again. To his friends, he called it a ‘correction shot.’
Theory 3: This golf term borrows its name from the saloons
In earlier times, bars (then known as saloons) would offer free bottles to customers. They called this a ‘Mulligan’. From there, the term was applied to golf and was used to denote a replay stroke.
