What is Mulligan in Golf: History and Origin Explanation
Mike Bailey
If you play golf, you may have heard of Mulligan even if there is no explicit permission in the golf rules.
But do you know the origin of the term? Is there really anyone? Sure, there are some stories, but one aspect that everyone seems to agree with is that it originates from a guy named “Murigan.”
What is mulligan?
But first, let’s define “Mulligan”. This is a growing number of things, and it’s not just for golf. I’ve heard it in many other references. For example, when a musician starts playing a song and typing the wrong notes, the person may pick up Mulligan and start the song.
I once interviewed a famous baseball pitcher who was also a passionate golfer. He said there were many first innings in his baseball career and he hoped he could pick up Mulligan and could start the game if he gave up a run or two earlier.
But on the golf course, it’s the privilege of redoing bad shots (most often tees), rather than figuring out the first one. I can’t tell you how many friendly matches I played, my opponent took Mulligan on the first tee and just won the first hole. Of course, I may have benefited from the Muriga on several occasions, but I don’t seem to remember them.
Mulligans are not completely legal
Again, I must emphasize that using Mulligan does not comply with golf rules. By the rules, if you put another ball on the golf course, your hit free throw plus distance will be evaluated. While you may be able to buy in a charity battle, it’s not a real game (teams often shoot less at charity, sought-after scores at charity Scrambles), and while you can buy them in a charity battle, there are no Murimans in a real game.
The rules of fighting for it are not golf. (Scramble is a format where every player in a team hits the ball, and the team then picks the best or preferred shot, and each player hits it from there until the ball is thrown away.)
Since the idea of charity scrambles to raise funds in fact for a good reason, Mulligans are often sold before the event to help raise more money.
In other words, players may pay an extra $20 for a pair of Mulligans to use anywhere in the course, whether it’s on Tee shooting, approaching or usually on putting, for example, all members of the team may have missed an important eagle or birdie attempt.
During casual play between friends, the Murigas rarely use them on putts, usually in rounds. Although I compete in group competitions from time to time, everyone can award a Mulligan for use at any time.
Is the breakfast ball mulligan?
Most commonly, Mulligan may be approved on the first tee, especially if the player is not warming up within the shooting range. In these cases, it is often referred to as “breakfast balls”, although I also heard them called “lunch balls” when a group lifted them up later in the day.
There is a certain understanding of the name of the breakfast ball that once you leave the first t-shirt, there will be no more Murimans. After all, the excuse for breakfast balls is usually that you don’t heat it up, which doesn’t apply to the rest of the rounds.
Still, many casual players seem to have hit the unlimited Mulligans throughout the round, especially if they don’t keep scoring. This can be annoying for the rest of the group, especially if that player tends to look for all of these balls. And, if the player does keep scoring while using Mulligans, is it legal to score?
Of course, the answer to the last question is “No”. And if you are using mulligans, you should not post scores for GHIN (Golf Disaster Information Network) obstacles.
Honestly, this is dishonest, although if you are, your barrier will be lower than the barrier you don’t use Mulligans. (Some people call this reverse sandbag or vanity barrier.)
How did this Mulligan thing start?
So you might think Mulligan started in Ireland because it was the name of Ireland. But that’s not the case.
There are two popular theories, but the term doesn’t seem common until decades after golfer Mulligan played.
One is Canadian golfer David Mulligan, who played football at Montreal Country Club in the 1920s. Legend has it that David Mulligan is a little thumping or nervous on the first tee, hitting the bad tee, kicking again, and hitting the other, hitting the second one to “correction.” He eventually brought the concept to the Winged Footsteps Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY
Another theory of this practice is named after John “Buddy” Mulligan, a locker room waiter at the Essex Fells Country Club in the 1930s.
The story is that after he finishes cleaning the locker room, he will play with an assistant pro and one or two members. Because they were able to practice before the round, but he didn’t, he thought that if he needed an extra shot at the start of the round.
He would tell the members about his privileges, and the members also began introducing the practice as Mulligan.
Play with the Murimans
Regarding the concept that Mulligan is illegal, it must be pointed out that golf is originally fun. So if you are not submitting points for obstacles or scores for the competition, you can definitely have fun with Mulligans.
Maybe you have a game with friends where everyone can use two Mulligans at any time throughout the round. In my opinion, you should keep them in a crucial position. (The calves sometimes called “Monika” may be a good place to use it.) I’ll most likely use it on a critical putter or a bad drive.
How many types of Muriga are there too many people? It depends on your team, but if you hit Mulligans after hitting the ball in each hole (Mulligan might be bad at poor golfers too), that could be overkill. They slow down the game and may annoy your game partner.
Mulligan’s Opposite
But what if the game you are playing involves a reversal of Mulligan? If you hit a great shot, say within an inch of the hole, or you make a long putt and the opponent evokes “Gilligan”?
What is that, you ask? Well, that’s sure to thwart the castaways stuff. Your good shot doesn’t count and you’ll have to hit it.
Professionals and very good players love playing this game, which is similar to playing worse balls, you and your partner hit percentage, have to pick the worse shots of both to play each time until the ball is thrown away.
Of course, these Gilligans should have restrictions, right? Can’t they call Gilligan in a hole? Well, if those people are your friends, that’s not.
