Mulligan
A mulligan is an unofficial do-over shot in golf, replayed from the same spot as the original without adding a penalty stroke. It is accepted in casual rounds by group agreement but is not permitted under the Rules of Golf.
What is a mulligan?
A mulligan lets a golfer pretend a bad shot never happened. The player re-tees or re-drops, plays the shot again from the original spot, and the first attempt is wiped from the scorecard. No stroke is added, no distance penalty is applied, and the round continues as if the bad swing did not occur.
It exists because golf is a difficult game, and a frustrating opening drive can ruin a casual afternoon. In friendly rounds, golfers agree to allow a limited number of do-overs to keep the mood relaxed and the pace moving. The catch is that this is a social convention, not a rule. The USGA and R&A do not recognise mulligans anywhere in the official Rules of Golf, which is why they are confined to recreational play.
Most mulligans happen on the opening tee shot, where nerves and cold muscles often produce the worst swing of the day. Some groups extend the privilege to any tee shot or even approach shots, but the further from the first tee a mulligan strays, the more controversial it becomes.
Where the term comes from
The most widely accepted origin story credits David Bernard Mulligan, a Canadian amateur golfer who played at the Country Club of Montreal in the 1920s. According to the USGA Museum, Mulligan hit a poor opening drive one morning, re-teed without hesitation, and called the second attempt a “correction shot.” His playing partners thought the gesture deserved his name, and the term travelled with him to Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, where he was a member while managing the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
A competing theory points to John “Buddy” Mulligan, a locker room attendant at Essex Fells Country Club in New Jersey during the 1930s. The story goes that Buddy would finish his shift, join the assistant pro for a round, and argue that he deserved an extra shot because his partners had been able to warm up on the range while he was working. Sportswriter Des Sullivan covered the practice in the Newark Evening News, and the name spread.
A third theory, proposed by researcher Peter Reitan in 2017, ties the term to “Swat Mulligan,” a fictional baseball slugger who appeared in the New York Evening World in the 1910s. Reitan points to 1920s newspaper quotations using “take a Mulligan” to mean taking a powerful swing, predating both of the golfer stories.
When a mulligan is allowed
Mulligans are restricted to casual play, and even there, only by group agreement. They are banned in any round governed by the Rules of Golf, including professional tournaments, amateur championships, club competitions, match play with stakes, and any round being posted for handicap.
The USGA addresses the practice directly in its handicap guidance. If a player takes a mulligan during a round otherwise played by the rules, the entire round cannot be posted as played. Under the Rules of Handicapping, the hole on which the mulligan was taken is replaced by net par for that player, which preserves the other 17 holes of valid scoring without rewarding the do-over.
Common house rules in friendly play include one mulligan per round used whenever the player chooses, one per nine that splits the round into halves, or a “breakfast ball” limited to the opening tee shot. Charity scrambles often sell mulligans as a fundraising tool. A team might pay $20 to $50 for a pair of mulligans that can be used anywhere on the course, with the proceeds going to the cause.
Mulligan vs. provisional ball
The mulligan and the provisional ball are often confused because both involve hitting a second ball after the first goes wrong. They are not the same.
| Mulligan | Provisional ball | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised by Rules of Golf | No | Yes (Rule 18.3) |
| Penalty | None | Stroke and distance if used |
| Permitted in tournaments | No | Yes |
| When played | After any unsatisfying shot, by agreement | When the original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds |
| Original shot | Erased from the scorecard | Counts as the played shot if the original is found in play |
A provisional ball is a formal procedure that protects pace of play. If a golfer thinks their drive may be lost or out of bounds, they announce a provisional, play another ball, and only use it if the first cannot be found in bounds. The original shot still counts if found.
Common types and variations
Mulligans have spawned a small dictionary of nicknames, most of which describe variations rather than entirely different concepts.
Breakfast ball: a mulligan limited to the first tee shot of the day, named for the idea that the player has not had time to warm up.
Lunch ball: the same idea applied to the opening shot of an afternoon round.
Gilligan: the reverse of a mulligan, where an opponent forces the player to replay a good shot, erasing the favourable result.
Reverse mulligan: similar to a gilligan, depending on the group’s vocabulary.
Provisional mulligan: the player hits a second shot, and if it turns out worse than the first, they keep the original. The mulligan is discarded.
Charity ball: a purchased mulligan in a fundraising tournament, often usable anywhere on the course rather than just the tee.
Related Golf Terms
- Money ball — A designated ball in a team format that must be counted for scoring.
- Member’s bounce — A lucky bounce that helps the ball, as if the course is favoring a member.
- Match play — A format where the winner is determined by holes won rather than total strokes.
- Mental game — The psychological aspects of golf including focus, confidence, and course management.
- Medal play — Another term for stroke play, where the total number of strokes determines the winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mulligans are you allowed in a round?
There is no fixed number because the Rules of Golf do not recognise the practice. Casual groups typically allow one per round, one per nine, or a single breakfast ball on the opening tee. The limit is whatever the group agrees to before the first swing.
Can you take a mulligan on a putt?
Only if the group explicitly allows it. Putt mulligans are uncommon in friendly rounds and are generally considered poor etiquette, though they are sometimes sold as part of a charity scramble package.
Is a mulligan legal in golf?
No. The Rules of Golf, jointly maintained by the USGA and R&A, do not include any provision for a penalty-free replay. A mulligan taken during a competition is grounds for disqualification.
Can a round with a mulligan count for handicap?
The full round cannot be posted as played. Under the Rules of Handicapping, the hole on which the mulligan was taken is recorded as net par, which protects the rest of the round from being discarded entirely.
Why is it called a mulligan?
The most common explanation is that the term comes from David Bernard Mulligan, a Canadian golfer in the 1920s who took a “correction shot” after a poor opening drive. Other theories credit John “Buddy” Mulligan, a New Jersey locker room attendant, or a 1910s newspaper baseball character named “Swat Mulligan.”
Sources
- United States Golf Association. “Rules of Handicapping.” Accessed November 2025.
- Florida State Golf Association. “Handicapping and the Rules of Golf.” Accessed November 2025.
- Wikipedia. “Mulligan (games).” Accessed November 2025.
- Golf Monthly. “What Is A Breakfast Ball In Golf?” Accessed November 2025.
- GolfNow Blog. “What is a Mulligan in Golf: History & Origin Explained.” Accessed November 2025.
- Under Armour Playbook. “What Is a Mulligan in Golf? History, Etiquette & Pro Tips.” Accessed November 2025.
- Golf News Net. “What is a mulligan in golf, and what does it mean to use one?” Accessed November 2025.
