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what is a "mulligan" in golf

by Jeremie Satterfield Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.Apr 1, 2020

What is a mulligan at a golf tournament?

If mulligans are for sale at a charity tournament, that means the golfer can buy, say, three mulligans for a set price each. The sale of mulligans is sometimes used as an additional fund-raiser at charitable events. Do all golfers use mulligans in the same way?

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.

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 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.

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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.

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?

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 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.

What Is the Origin of the Mulligan?

The origin of the mulligan in golf is one steeped in folklore with several origin stories. However, two stand out as the most credible and both stories include men with the last name Mulligan.

How Does a Mulligan Work in Golf?

Taking a mulligan is pretty simple. If your first attempt at a shot fails miserably, grab another ball and place it exactly like the first one and try again.

What Are the Rules for a Mulligan in Golf?

Mulligans tend to operate in the gray area of the game of golf. It is an unwritten rule in the game and mulligan rules are established on a case-by-case basis among playing partners. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow should mulligans be included in your next round of golf.

Are Mulligans Included in the Rules of Golf?

The Rules of Golf don’t allow for the use of mulligans. The Rules of Golf explicitly say the ball must be played as it lies and every stroke must count unless a specific provision under the Rules allows for any exceptions.

Is it Ok to Take a Mulligan Anytime?

It’s OK to take a mulligan anytime only if the mulligan rules for the round of golf say so. Mulligans are most commonly used only on the first tee of the first hole during the first shot of the round.

How Many Mulligans Are Golfers Allowed to Take?

Typically, golfers are only allowed to take one mulligan per round unless the group agrees that more mulligans can be used. One thing to consider if golfers are allowed to take as many mulligans as necessary is that it will drastically slow the pace of play for the round.

When Can You Take a Mulligan in Golf?

The most common and accepted place to take a mulligan is on the tee box of the first hole of the round. The underlying thought here is that as the golfer progresses through their round they should be better able to navigate the golf course and accept the results of the swings as they come.

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.

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What Is A Mulligan in Golf?

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In golf, the term mulligan essentially boils down to a ‘do-over’ or a second try at a shot, after the first try has gone wrong. Most golfers have taken a couple of mulligans in their time, in an effort to get the perfect shot. So, if you’re down at the golf course, and hear someone refer to someone taking a mulligan, then you kno…
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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 …
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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…
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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.
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