When playing golf, you may come across many golf terms which no may not understand. One of the common ones used during a mis-hit tee shot is called a “Mulligan”. You may be confused why someone suggests that you take a bad shot again, and if this is allowed.
So what exactly is the Mulligan, the history of it, and the purpose of it. Is it actually allowed in tournaments to ask for a Mulligan? These will be answered in this article so without further introduction, let’s dive right in!
What Does a Mulligan in Golf Mean?
A Mulligan in golf is simply taking another first tee shot when the first shot was very poor. It’s not legal in official tournaments, but common in friendly golf rounds. Some amateur tournaments or local course tournaments may allow it if it’s a fun or charity tournament.
If you ever had a poor shot off the tee, and someone suggested you take it again, then you are effectively doing a Mulligan shot. Maybe you didn’t warm up properly, or you didn’t prepare enough for the tees-hot leading to the poor golf swing. Regardless, you may hit it again, if you ask to. Hopefully, the re-hit is a much better shot right down the fairway closer to the green.
Some golfers may ask to take a mulligan for long shots down the fairway, but it’s not as common. It’s rare to ask for a Mulligan when you are very close to or on the green itself.
History of the Mulligan in Golf
The origin of the term Mulligan is widely thought to be named after a person, though the accepted actual person is not knowing. There are two main golfers that it is most commonly thought to be named after:
- David Mulligan – a Canadian golfer who in the 1920s hit a poor tee shot one day and then re hit the shot again. He told the others that he did it to correct his poor first shot. The rest of the day, other golfers did the same themselves and called it a “Mulligan”.
- John A “Buddy” Mulligan – a locker room attendant who in the 1930s used to play a round with other golf course workers after their shifts. Similar to the David Mulligan story, John had a poor tee shot and replayed the shot, a correction shot. The other playing partners found this funny and term this a “Mulligan”.
The Purpose of a Mulligan in Golf
So what is the purpose of a Mulligan shot? A Mulligan can be described as being forgiven for hitting an extremely bad previous shot. So for amateur golfers looking to improve their game, it could be a great way to just learn how to hit a better shot from where the ball is with a penalty.
In charity or casual rounds where the Mulligan is allowed, it could add an element of less pressure or relief on golfers. This is because if you hit a bad shot, you could retake a correction shot to have another chance to hit that perfect golf shot.
How Many Mulligans Are Allowed?
When you make mistakes on the golf round, ask if you can have a second chance more than one once on the same hole. This really depends on the type of round you are playing it.
- In an official tournament, a Mulligan is not part of the rules of golf, so a Mulligan is not allowed at all.
- If you are playing in a charity event that allows Mulligans, you can check beforehand how many they allow. Typically, it could be one Mulligan per round, or per 9 holes, or per hole.
- If you are playing casually with friends, it’s completely down to the rules that you agree on before the round.
When to Avoid a Mulligan in Golf
Although the Mulligan is popular in casual golf rounds, sometimes it may be inappropriate to ask for one. These include:
- During official tournaments: according to the USGA and R&A, a Mulligan is not recognized in golf. As such, a Mulligan is not allowed, and every stroke is counted as it’s made.
- When you are holding up the pace of play: a Mulligan may also not be liked by other golfers on busy days. This is because it holds up play as you re-take your shot. So make sure if there are people behind you that you take it quickly and collect your mis-hit ball.
- Strict Golf Rules: in a casual round, the players you are playing with may decide that extra shot Mulligans will not be allowed. In this instance, it would be like a golf tournament, and each stroke would be counted.
- After you’ve observed your shot: generally, if you observed your shot all the way to when it stays stills, it’s not considered good etiquette to ask for a Mulligan. Mulligans are meant to reverse poor shots or hits, so watching the ball to the end and requesting a Mulligan would not be wise.
- After excessive requests: asking for a Mulligan repeatedly in a round of golf can slow down the pace of play and frustrate other golfers. Here it’s important to keep in mind that others are waiting for you so don’t ask for a Mulligan all the time.
Final Thoughts – What is a Mulligan in Golf?
To summarize, a Mulligan in golf is taking your first tee shot again when the hit was very poor. Although not allowed in official tournaments, it generally doesn’t count to your final score is common in casual or charity games.
Do remember that there are some golf etiquettes that should be maintained and you should know the rules of a Mulligan before you play at the country club. You wouldn’t want some angry fellow golfers behind you!
