A mulligan is an unofficial do-over. In a casual round, a golfer who hits a bad shot, usually off the first tee, gets to hit again without counting the first one. Mulligans are not allowed under the Rules of Golf and don't belong in handicap rounds or competitions.
The unwritten rules
- Agree before the round whether mulligans are allowed and how many
- The most common deal is one mulligan on the first tee, or one per nine
- Charity scrambles often sell mulligans to raise money
- Once you take a mulligan, you play the second ball even if it's worse
Where the name mulligan comes from
Nobody knows for certain, and there are several competing stories. The USGA calls the most accepted one the tale of David Mulligan, who played at the Country Club of Montreal in St. Lambert, Quebec, in the 1920s. The details vary. In one version his opening drive was poor and he simply re-teed. In another, his hands were shaking after a bumpy drive over the Victoria Bridge to the course, so his partners let him try again.
A second story credits John "Buddy" Mulligan, a locker room attendant at Essex Fells Country Club in New Jersey in the 1930s, who asked for a replay after a bad opening shot. A newspaper writer in his group is said to have spread the term. Some researchers have also connected it to "Swat Mulligan," a fictional slugger in New York newspaper cartoons in the 1910s. However it started, the name stuck.
Common questions
Is a mulligan the same as a provisional ball?
No. A provisional ball is allowed under the rules when your first ball might be lost or out of bounds. A mulligan replaces a shot entirely and isn't allowed in official play.
Is a breakfast ball the same as a mulligan?
Yes. A breakfast ball is a mulligan taken on the first tee, usually in an early round.
More golf words in our golf terms glossary. Tired of needing one? Start with clubs that fit: see are used golf clubs worth it.
