Mulligan
Also known as: do-over shot
A mulligan is an informal "do-over" — hitting a second ball after a poor shot without counting the first one — that has no basis in the actual rules of golf and is purely a casual, friendly-round convention.
A mulligan is a golfer replaying a shot, most commonly the very first tee shot of the round, without penalty, simply by informal agreement among the group. It has no standing whatsoever in the official rules of golf — under the actual rules, a stroke counts the moment it is made, regardless of the result — and exists purely as a casual, friendly-round custom, sometimes formalized (a group might agree everyone gets one mulligan for the day) and sometimes not.
Mulligans are common in relaxed recreational rounds, charity scrambles, and casual outings specifically because they lower the stakes of an early nervous shot and keep the round moving without an argument about a poor start. They are never used in any handicap-posting round, club competition, or any format where an official score is being recorded, since allowing an unrecorded do-over would make the resulting score meaningless for handicap purposes.
New golfers sometimes assume a mulligan is an actual rule they can invoke whenever they choose; understanding that it is purely a casual social agreement — one that must be agreed to by the whole group in advance — avoids confusion or disagreement mid-round.
Example
Before teeing off, a casual foursome agrees each player gets one mulligan for the day — a friendly do-over with no basis in the official rules, purely to ease first-tee nerves.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a mulligan is an official rule available in any round, rather than a casual social agreement that only applies when the whole group has agreed to it in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a mulligan in a tournament or handicap round?
No — mulligans have no basis in the official rules and are never allowed in any round where an official score is being posted for handicap purposes or in any sanctioned competition.
Related terms
- Whiff (Air Shot)A whiff, or air shot, is a full swing that completely misses the ball — it counts as a stroke under the rules, and it is a normal, common experience for beginners rather than a sign of a serious problem.
- Gimme PuttA "gimme" is a short putt that playing partners agree is close enough to the hole that it can be counted as made without actually being holed — a casual convention rather than an official rule, and formally allowed only in match play through a genuine concession.
- Ready Golf (Pace of Play)"Ready golf" means playing shots in whichever order gets the group moving fastest — whoever is ready hits, rather than strictly waiting for the golfer farthest from the hole — a widely encouraged practice in casual and recreational rounds to keep pace of play reasonable.
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