Today I played a quick 9 holes by myself. There were two 40+yrs old gentlemen in front of me, and 2 college kids in front them. Obviously, the adults with proper manner told me to go first. They've been tracking my pace and kindly let me go when I caught up to them. The two college kids however, didn't cooperate. They got me thinking about mulligans though. Why? because both of them were hitting like 3 mulligans per hole/per person. That translates into like... waiting for these guys to hit total 6~7 balls @ tee-box. Might as well go to driving range and practice. Worst part, they would look for all the balls they hit. It was taking FOREVER since those balls were everywhere. Pre-mulligan shots are usually really tough to find or far from the direction you must go to.


Mulligan by definition, "n. A golf shot not tallied against the score, granted in informal play after a poor shot especially from the tee."
Please help me find answers for these 3 questions.

1: Is "mulligan" a legit golf rule? written and signed? or is it something that golfers just made up for fun, but became so popular that it became a "term" or "tradition" to golf?

2: How many mulligans are you actually allowed to use per 18 holes? My friends told me this. In general, you can use many mulligans as possible if your handicap is somewhere between 30~40. BUT, only under circumstances that you are not pissing anyone off and not causing a huge delay of game. After that, maybe one mulligan per 9 holes if your handicap is somewhere between 25~30. Below that, no one really uses mulligan.

3: Can you "mulligan" a 2nd/3rd/4th shots? Say you hit well with your driver, but screwed up your FW wood and the ball went in the water. Can you mulligan that? What about mulligan for putting?


I used to use 1 mulligans per 9 holes when I first started golfing. this was when I used to play 18 holes and would lose 18 balls. I see so many people using so many damn mulligans. Its ridiculous. I had a friend who would use like 10+ mulligans per 18 holes. Thank god now he realized that just looks really bad. Im glad I never really got so comfortable of using mulligans, because that really helped me raise my game level. Unfortunately, some newbies thinks that breaking into 100 with 10 mulligans = true skills. When they brag about how well they hit, I nod, but I laugh my a** off inside thinking "WOW, 5 mulligans translates into 5~10+ shots you've saved. You used 10 mulligans, thats 10~20+ on your score card. Congradulations, your real handicap is still somewhere between 30~40.".


What is your thought on mulligans? Personal thoughts? funny experiences/stories?

To my knowledge there is nothing about mulligans in the rules, because in real golf (tournament or handicapped rounds) there ain't no mulligans. Therefore as they're only used in fun rounds, you can take as many as you like whenever you like.
If you'd need more than10 mulligans a round and are not trying out different shots, I'd seriously think about a new sport to take up....;-)

I only hit extra balls when I'm not slowing play down and i'm just practicing/playing with a friend. We don't play mulligans...generally

If you are writing numbers on a scorecard and adding 'em up, you don't get to take a mulligan, period. There are no "gimmes" either.

There are no special allowances based on your handicap.

This doesn't stop many people though

In a casual (non scoring) practice round, take all you want, as long as you aren't holding anyone up.

I could go on all day about mulligans but I'm sure most people here feel the same way.

Let me just say that they often give people a false sense of their abilities. Many people don't realize how much ONE SHOT can affect a round of golf.

Exactly. Some people doesn't understand how big of an effect it has on scores. To me, I usually shave approximately 2 shots off for par 4s/5s, and 1 shot for par 3. when I use mulligan.
That is just an estimated guess though, based on my skill level and ability to pull off rescue shots. Since Im not a very good rescue-shot maker, if I were to hit a second shot with the non-mulligan first ball(which probably is in a terrible location), it would take me at least 2 more shots to finish that hole compared to the score of second ball(mulligan) that landed on the fairway. It probably is similar for most mid-handicappers, but there is a considerable accuracy/distance difference between the rough shots and the fairway shots.

This usually is true, at least for me that is. I actually kept track of myself in a mulligan situation and wrote notes.
At last, my conclusion came out to be saving approximately 1.5 shots per mulligan. Which means if I used 5 mulligans, I add 7 or 8(depending on the difficulty of the course) to the score.

I never take a mulligan, ever. I always play according to the rules set forth by the USGA and R&A. It does not matter whether I am playing in a tournament or just by myself. I don't use Mulligans so that I can gauge my game against a standard. Mulligans would mask a poor shot as the poor shot is removed from my score. I have an accurate measure (score) of my abilities, my failures and what I need to work on when not using a Mulligan. Besides that, I am really only cheating myself. In a casual round, with no monies exchanging (which is normal for me), I could care less whether a person uses a Mulligan or not. However, when they say how great they did compared to how poorly I might have played a hole, I kindly remind them I did not play a Mulligan and they did.

Now in a tournament, I will not tolerate a Mulligan because it is my responsibility (as well as every golfer in the field) to protect the field against rules violations. Mulligans are not a provision allowed in the rules and should never be played merely as such in any round that is in a tournament field (unless local rules state differently) or in a round that is used to establish a handicap.

If my recent rounds are indications of my consistency, I could save 4-6 shots (or so) if I used a Mulligan per side (2 per round) as I usually have 3 or 4 bad holes per round. The 4-6 shots usually stem from a very poor tee shot and only gets worse when I attempt to recover from that shot. I mean when I have a bad hole, it is bad!!! At least I would eliminate 2 of those holes which eliminates the usual cascading sequence of bad shot after bad shot after bad shot. However, that is another story.

1. A mulligan is strictly prohibited in the official 'Rules of Golf';

2. & 3. Playing recreational golf, you are only allowed one mulligan per round - on your tee shot at the first hole...

The term mulligan comes from David Mulligan who was playing in the 1920's at 'The Country Club of Montreal' and had to drive his playing partners to the course - nearby a (by then) tough bridge to cross (Victoria Bridge)... He was obviously the only one to have a car... thus, his buddies allowed him a second shot on the first tee because of the nervousness caused by crossing the bridge just prior to playing...

When i play with my usual crowd on my homecourse we have 1 mulligan on the first tee if needed, thats it. The reason is that its a tricky starting hole, and it sucks to have a really bad start. But thats it, from there its a grind

Ofcourse never in any competition or the likes.





Playing recreation golf where you keep scores and adjust hcp up or down if needed, the one mulligan is one more than whats allowed. There is simply no such thing as a "second serve" in golf. Essentially, the flight agrees to break the rules and are in effect cheating.

A lot of charity tourneys I've played you can buy one mulligan per 9 holes. These are usually at a very high cost, but it goes to the charity. It's all in good fun and nothing wrong with them if taken like that. Hitting 3-6 tee shots per hole is a bit excessive.

I used to work on an English Cruise ship and ran the golf program. Most had never heard the term Mulligan and didn't know what it meant on the Virtual Golf Simulator and always asked me what the hell a Mulligan was.

On GolfWRX, I suspect everyone agrees that they are just not permitted in golf. In fact, they are pretty much the antithesis of golf. The whole point of the game is to count the strokes. Taking a "do over" on the worst strokes obviously negates the entire purpose of keeping score.

GolfWRX, however, is not exactly composed of the sort of weekenders that make up the majority of annual rounds played. In casual play on the average muni, the "breakfast ball" is often more of a norm than an exception. I've walked on as a single and been put with groups of people that actually have long discussions about "mulligan rules" ... (everyone gets one, or one per 9 holes, etc., etc.)

I myself don't care what other golfers do - if it makes it fun for them, that's fine. But what does get me pretty irritated is the scenerio in the OP ... foursomes that take mulligans on almost every hole (especially on courses with no rangers).

I really don't get the people that seem to have no clue they're even being that rude ... worst I ever saw was a couple of years ago ... slow round of golf on a weekend. We were wondering why we were waiting on every tee box, as the people in front of us didn't seem that bad. Finally stumbled on to the foursome in front of us - waiting on a tee box behind the foursome in front of them ... who, with two full foursomes waiting behind them, still hit about two or three balls each off the tee. Utterly clueless.

What's a mulligan?

you're kidding, right?

No mulligans! I hate them. I also hate how they sell them in charity scrambles/best ball tourneys, because the rich guys will literally buy 20 of them each. Your whole round is worthless if you take even one mulligan.

I do not take mulligan's but I always give my Uncle a mulligan when we play together. He plays recreational golf, shoots 90 to 105 and just wants to have a good time. I have no problem with a mulligan in that sense. Now when he comes in one day and says he shot an 82 or 85...well, then I may have bring up the whole mulligan thing with him.

i don't play mulligans ever on the golf course (might have stolen a line from kevin costner in tin cup about taking a mulligan - but that wasn't on the golf course). i can't find mulligans in the usga rules, so i don't play it.

i have a few friends that if we don't warm up i will let them take a mulligan on the first tee and only the first tee. i have another friend i give 1 mulligan per side, only from the tee too.

Technically, I know what a mulligan refers to. He asked for our thoughts on mulligans. My post best sums up my thoughts on them because I never take one.

Not all mulligans are off the tee !

I play once a month with some guys who are relatively new to golf and they allow themselves ( and everyonne in the foursome) ONE mulligan per nine holes. it is their idea , not mine.

Anyway, I drive them a little bit crazy because I do not have to use my "mully" off the tee; i save it for use on or around the green - if I accidently chip the ball way too far past the hole or if I jerk my first putt way too hard, then I take my mully then and there. we all know how well we usually play the second shot .

Mulligans have a valid place in a casual game. they make the game more fun ( less intimidating ) for beginnners. Like everything else, they can become a bad thing if they are abused or used too often.

Here's something some people don't think about...;

You hit your tee shot into a hazard. So you take a mulligan and smoke it down the fairway, hit GIR, two-putt and make par.

Now if you hadn't taken the mulligan:

You hit your third shot from a nasty lie after you drop your ball. That shot hooks into a hazard as well. Now you're playing your fifth shot. You hit five into a greenside bunker. Your bunker shot goes o/b and you have to drop in the bunker. Now you're playing your EIGHTH SHOT!

It pops up onto the green and three putt for an ELEVEN.


That's SEVEN STROKES you just saved because of one little mulligan.

Now this is an extreme case but we've all had holes like this. (or at least I have- ha ha!)

there are no mulligans in the game of golf, if you use one and still report your score at the end of the round, you are cheating!!!!

That's a bit different than the story I read. What I read was that Mr. Mulligan had a slice and was famous for playing a second shot if his first one went into the woods. He got so proficient at it, that he would have his second shot airborne before before the first one touched the ground.

In researching the term "Mulligan" in golf, there are about 5 different "official" versions. I believe the origin of the term is leaning toward the "urban myth" category.

It is not part of the Rules of Golf. In casual play and in some charities, mulligans are common. See other posts for the origins.



How many mulligans are allowed, who gets them, when they can be used, and where they can be used, are decided upon by the golfers that are playing. There are no standards that I know of. I play in a small company tournament. Until this year, we used to give one mulligan per 18 holes to our better players to be used outside of 100 yards from the green. Everyone else got one mulligan on each nine that could be used anywhere on the course. We dropped mulligans from the rules this year because we ran into an issue with "provisional mulligans".



Again, this is entirely up the golfers playing.

Personally, I don't have much experience outside of my company tournament. Based on what little experience I do have with them, I found that the most valuable mulligans are the ones that are used near the green, though putting mulligans don't seem to be as valuable as you might think. One time I saw two players make four strokes at a four foot putt and missed all four times. A player that misses a putt with his first stroke will likely miss it again with his mulligan, but a player that blades a ball across the green from a sand bunker will likely find the green with his mulligan. That said, a really good player may get his best value when putting.

no doubt but im fairly sure that most people who frequently use mulligans or use them at all dont really post scores. one of my favorite things to see on the course is the guy who goes through a routine, waggles, adjusts, waggles, adjusts, waggles and then stands over it for another 20 seconds only to roll one down the fairway. then you see him tee up a ball real quick and actually get a decent result. i dont really have a problem with people taking a quick mulligan because honestly i dont care what anyone else claims to have shot. i play a lot of tournament golf, money games, skins games, etc and you dont get mulligans there...i also keep a ghin handicap so no mulligans for me. however if im playing by myself i do not post the rounds for handicap purposes so ill hit some extra shots here and there for practice.

My dad plays a Shapiro. Thats when your mulligan is worse than your first shot and you play the first one.

Q U A L I T Y !

I posted sometime ago about gimmies and some other generosities that are not accepted by some serious amateurs. Some aggressive poster even said why do I even play golf if I get gimmies?

There are different reasons why you play golf. Some play golf to gamble on money, some want to get a compensating feeling from a hobby while he is not good at his main job, some this, some that.

I sometimes play competitive golf, but most of times I play golf with my good friends to have fun with them while we do some physical exercise. We accept any rule that will give us some fun. Gimmie, no problem, mulligan, why not? We even tried a game "Harry Putter" which we used a hockey stick as a putter and the winner of a hole is forced to use only the Harry putter.

Do whatever you want as long as that doesn't bother anyone in your group and the group behind you. And make sure you don't add up the score to your handicap if you took gimmies or mulligans. Simple.

Joke:

A golfer was visiting Ireland where he chose to visit a famed golf course. He lined up one of the oldest and best caddies available and proceeded to the first tee. After hitting his first drive out of bounds, he turned to his ancient caddie and asked him, "What do they call Mulligans in Ireland?"

His caddie replied, "Aye laddie, we call it hittin three."

Mulligans are for pusses. It's not just a major rules violation, it violates the spirit of the game. They are a big time contributor to slow play and a childish way of trying to make golf easier. Even a 10-year old should've already outgrown 'do-overs'. Anyone who takes mulligans might as well ride a bike with training wheels because that's about how stupid and babyish they look when they do it. It's embarrassing to watch. You can't respect the golf game of anyone who takes mullligans.

I'm not elitist, I couldn't care less about how bad someone's tee shot is as long as they walk up to the ball and play a proper second shot. That is golf my friends. ALL of us are capable of skanking one off the tee, nobody is ever truly above that. A true GOLFER will think, OK now I've got a challenge, how am I going to make a par or bogey at worst out of this situation?

But if your impulse is to hit another one instead, you are not quite ready for the challenge of real golf. Sure you can pay your greens fees and proceed to play 'hit-around' on the course and not much anyone can do to stop you, but you are PART OF THE PROBLEM. Games need rules to exist, I don't get what people find so HORRIBLE about playing golf the way it's intended.

All you mulligan-takers, when you hit a bad shot at least try and ACT like a man and play your next shot properly.

Good one. I wanted to post that myself.
While playing Golf on a public course in Florida (with residents, not tourists), I got introduced to another strange beast, the "Gilligan". A few regulars on that course allowed each other to take a "Gilligan" under the following "rules":
If your regular shot is a bad slice or hook, which makes you aim to the extreme left or right of the fairway to account for it, and if you hit it straight out of sheer luck once in a while, which puts you in trouble, because it goes exactly where you aimed it, you're entitled to take a "Gilligan". I think their "rules" included 1 for each player per nine holes. But their rules also included a certain illegal substance, and I can testify to the fact that they DID inhale.

Mulligans are a no-no if you are keeping handicap- EXCEPT, on the first tee. Technically, lets assume you hit your first shot OB- you can declare that you are starting a new round. So your not really breaking any "rules" so to speak. And you cannot post the first shot on your score card as you did you complete the required number of holes.

That's a new one.

There is NOTHING WRONG, even in a tournament, with rehittnig that tee shot. You've just scored it wrong. By wisely taking a new tee shot (an option when in water from the tee, right?), you've done very well, saving yourself FIVE STROKES.




1. Get over yourself. De-puff your chest, and realize that not every moment in everyone's life need to be taken so seriously. Uptightness does not make the man.

2. As noted above...sometimes taking a 'do-over' is in fact the smartest, and perfectly legal (so long as you take your first stroke and penalty) thing to do.

3. If you're not competing, playing for money, or submitting a handicap, AND you're not holding anyone up (therefore: a practice round), AND everyone in your group is on the same page...take all the mulligans you like. What the hell do I care? Just don't go bragging about your score without clarifying. Do I respect you any less? No. I do have a couple friends who take mulligans and kick-drops (out from under a bush, etc.) all day long -- yes, when they mention how great their score was last weekend, I do not believe it, and respect suffers somewhat then (as they're being dishonest with me, and presumably themselves).

4. Games do need rules. However, your $1/hole (or $1000/hole for that matter) skins game is not in fact a USGA sanctioned event. If, before your casual match, all involved agree to a mully-per-9, well then...so be it. Great. All are on a level playing field, and there's no dishonesty (again, as long as the score is not used for anything USGA-related, and you're not bragging about it as if it didn't happen that way). It's still golf -- just with a "house rule" thrown in. Courses can declare local rules, and so should you, if that's what you want to do. Still golf.

5. Mulligans make the game more fun for some people (and for beginners who are struggling...a mulligan or two here and there may actually speed up their pace of play). The couple times a year I play with my father in law, well, he likes to take a few. Do I care, even a little? No. We are out there strictly to have fun, and it's how he likes to play. I don't ever declare a mulligan on my shot with him, but if I blow it and he says, "take a mulligan", I will, just so he doesn't feel like a jackass for his. We always have a good time.

6. My own policy: I never announce, or even think about, taking my own mulligan. If others are taking them, I haven't warmed up at all, it's the first tee, and someone suggests it...sometimes I'll take one (in a "six pack" round). If I shoot well and later tell someone about it, I'll always mention the mulligan. If I'm playing alone with no one behind me...I take 'em occasionally. Then I'll often play both balls out and mark both scores on my card (which is not being turned in), and if not put an "M" on there, so I can figure my "real" vs. my "coulda been" score. It's called practice. Other solo days, I'm strictly by-the-book, as I want to see where I'm actually at.

Jeebus. Take all the mulligans you want. Just don't hold up play, and don't be dishonest about it (with others, the USGA, and most importantly: yourself). Golf is a game, not a religious sacrament. That is all.

You know, it sounds preposterous on the surface, but I'd be curious to hear the ruling on that. If you can hit 27 holes, then pick the best two consecutive 9's to record for your handicap (you can do that, right?)...why wouldn't you be able to claim that that first shot was indeed an abandoned round?

I mean...unethical and devious at best, but I wonder if it's technically sound.

I'll admit I take mulligans occasionally. I try to avoid them as much as possible, but right now I'm trying to work on my game. I'm a high capper and so when I'm out with my dad (about the same hcp as me) He'll give me one or there.

That said even when adding up the scores I always take those in mind, and in reality I realize it would be a few strokes higher per mulligan.

But right now I'm trying to work on my game.. and keep some enjoyment in the game :p I never take them when it's busy though... do what you want just don't hold up any groups.

That said when I play by myself I don't take mulligans, just doesn't ever really occur to me, I might hit a 2nd tee shot just to work on the swing, but if I take that it's always scored as my 3rd shot. Now I want to start keeping an official hcp soon, and after that mulligans are a no no :p

But what you guys have to realize is that golf is a casual sport for the most of us. We can't all go out and shoot 70s day in and day out. Golf can get very frustrating and striping every tee shot into the junk is no fun. Not only that but the golf course is the best play to work on your game. Now I will agree 2-3 mulligans per hole is excessive and just ridiculous.

if your good enough to hit more than one ball of the tee box you should know where they are all going.

Yes, that's true but my point was that ONE mulligan can change the scope of the entire round. And is seldom just one stroke.


And re-teeing isn't usually the best option anyway. ;-)

True enough. I was playing devil's advocate, just because so many people knee-jerk when they see somone re-tee, crying foul and saying things like, "Mulligans are for pussies." When in fact may be a completely legit move, and...occasionally a smart play.

I have to admit: you don't see it too often on tour.

Thought: I guess if you see someone hit into a bunker and re-tee...they are definitely not playing by the Rules.

Ok that's what we need, people feeling free to "take all the mulligans" they want.

And what is with the bashing? I'm not advocating anything unusual - just play by the rules. Really, it's that offensive to you?

I usuall;y just re-tee because I'm so mad and to prove to myself that I'm better than the errant shot I just hit. It's usually a stupid decision and if I end up losing the tournament by a stroke or two i really feel like a donkey!

Mulligans are ok but Gotchas! are far more useful...

In fact, Arnord Palmer played once, in his prime, against a 10capper amateur and asked the guy how many shots he wanted... The guy replied: 'no shots, only two Gotchas!'... Palmer, not knowing what Gotchas! were said 'fine, two Gotchas! it is'... The local Pro was laughing at this guy wanting to go head to head with Palmer, no shots!

Fast forward 4 hours later, Palmer comes back to the clubhouse and the local Pro asked him by how many he won... Palmer, grunting, replied that he had lost bad - worst round of his life!... 'How come?' asked the Pro... 'Well, he had two Gotchas!'... 'So?'...and Palmer explained...

You see, I tee'd up on the first hole, and just when I started my downswing the other guy, standing behind me, lifted and smashed his driver head against my b@lls... saying: 'One Gotcha!'... Now try and play the rest of the round knowing he has another one...

Naturally, I've got no problem whatsoever with you advocating playing by the rules. I respect you for staunchly adhering to your own standard, and I bet you've got a pretty good game.

However, I do not respect you summarily judging others, simply because they may not take the game or themselves so seriously.

Calling others "pussies", and saying they need to play like "real golfers" and "real men" (what, are mulligans ok for women?) is in fact a little offensive, and comes off as very childish. If they're not holding you up...WTF business is it of yours??? Judgemental and juvenile statements like that are as dishonorable as any duffer's harmless mulligan, IMO.

Bingo! I think we've all been there. For me it's usually an aesthetic thing, and a desire to successfully execute plan A. Rarely does it turn out to be worth two strokes though (which is why you pretty much never see it on tour I guess -- they know better, and if not, have a caddy to slap some sense into them).

Count my vote for the "take a mulligan as long as you don't hold up play" choice.

I don't think some of you GolfWRXers understand how many people are NOT as serious about golf (or as skilled) as you are. You say "it's considered cheating!" or "you're a pu$$y!'. Do you really think that those mulligan-takers care? As some have said, people golf for different reasons: some adhere strictly to every rule and some are there to drink beer and hit balls. The latter probably doesn't care much about how much one bad shot might have affected their score. I could care less how they choose to play golf and if they want to have fun--just don't slow down play.

For myself, I never take a mulligan....can't remember the last time I ever did. I have BAD shots off of the tee, too. But here's my reasoning: I'm on a major quest to 1) break 80 and 2) get into single digits.... I would feel like total crap if I ended up breaking 80 one day knowing that I took one mulligan...Hitting so many crap shots off of the tee, I know how much a part of my score it is to have to not only get myself out of the crap, but also how hard it is to collect myself mentally. If I broke 80, I don't know if I'd be able to even celebrate a mulligan-taking round.

It is weird, though...on the greens, if i'm playing with others, I don't feel bad about taking anything inside the grip.

That's the key, IMHO. How it registers in your own head is what matters. If you think there's any chance whatsoever you're going to regret it...don't take a freakin' mulligan!



That's funny, as I will occasionally take a M on the first tee (IF I haven't warmed up at all AND it's a pure practice round AND my partners are of the same mind -- NEVER in the presence of strangers in the group).

But I NEVER take gimmes on the green. For me: not so much strict rules thing, but pure aesthetics. Putting the ball in the hole is in fact the entire goal of the exercise, and I guess I just don't feel like I've completed the hole until I hear that ball drop -- even from 1" away.

The problem is, you, me and everyone on here know that a person taking the mulligan is not playing it as "3 from the tee". It is "that shot doesn't count, this is the one that counts." You yourself said the mentality is what counts. Well, which one are they hitting? If they are using the word mulligan anywhere.......

I'm with tementrock on this one. Hit your ball. Deal with the consequences.

And this first tee stuff, isn't that what a driving range is for?

No mulligans in life.
No mulligans in golf.

Even if it's for charity? I owe all my long drive trophies to mulligans.

Just kidding. Anyway, in real life and in real tourneys that aren't for 3rd world orphans, you are exactly right. You seem the type of guy I'd love as a playing partner. Straight forward and to the point.

Is this your personal philosophy or a general observation. For most people life is full of mulligans - that's why computers come with a delete key and you get those pencils with an eraser on top.