How Did the Mulligan Get Its Name?

Theory: 'Mulligan' Is Named After a Golfer

What Does It Mean to Call a Mulligan?

: A Free Shot Sometimes Given a Golfer in Informal Play When the Previous Shot Was Poorly Played.

Are Mulligans Legal in Golf?

A Mulligan in Golf Is a Shot Which Is Allowed to Be Replayed Without Penalty and as If the First Shot Had Not Even Happened. Thus If a Player Is Unhappy with a Bad Shot, He or She Can Simply Repeat It. It Is Against the Rules of Golf, but It Is Used in Some Social Games.

Where Does the Golf Term Dormie Come from?

'Dormie' Probably Arose from a French Word

Why Is It Called a Bogey in Golf?

The Term 'Bogey' Comes from a Song That Was Popular in the British Isles in the Early 1890S, Called "The Bogey Man" (Later Known as "The Colonel Bogey March"). the Character of the Song Was an Elusive Figure Who Hid in the Shadows: "I'm the Bogey Man, Catch Me If You Can."

Why Is Golf Named After Birds?

A Bogey Means One over Par. Birdie: in the 19Th Century, the Term "Bird" Was the Equivalent of "Cool" or "Excellent" - Golf Scholars Believe This Is Where the Term Came From. an Atlantic City, New Jersey, Course Claims That the Term Originated There in 1903. the Meaning Being a Score of One Under Par.

How Many Mulligans Are You Allowed in Golf?

It Is Rarer Still - Rarely Seen, in Fact - for Mulligans to Be Used on the Putting Green. and Some Groups Allow Mulligans from Just About Anywhere on the Golf Course, but Set a Limit - Say, Three Mulligans per Round, or Nine, or 18.

Is Mulligan Only off Tee Box?

Traditionally, Mulligans Can Only Be Played on Tee Shots (Which Are Notoriously Difficult to Make Accurately), and Sometimes They May Only Be Played on the First Tee Shot of the Round.

Is Mulligan Irish or Scottish?

Mulligan Is a Surname Originating from Ireland, Coming from the Irish Ó Maolagáin Literally Meaning "Grandson of the Bald Man".

What Does the Letters in Golf Stand for?

A Common Misconception Is That the Word Golf Is an Acronym for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. This Is a 20Th Century Joke and Definitely Not True. It Is Now Generally Accepted That the 'Golf' Is Derived from an Old Word Meaning 'Club', Though This in Turn May Have Older Cognate Roots Dating Back to Ancient Times.

What Does Let's Take a Mulligan Mean?

: : A Free Shot Sometimes Given a Golfer in Informal Play When the Previous Shot Was Poorly Played.

Why Is a Second Chance Called a Mulligan?

One Day, Following a Particularly Poor First Shot, He Argued That He Should Be Given Another Shot. After All, the Others Had Been Practicing or Playing and He Had Just Clocked Out. Thus, the Mulligan. Today, Some Players Allow an Unused First Tee Mulligan to Be Put into Play Elsewhere in the Round.

What Is a Dog Leg in Golf?

A Dogleg Is a Hole Where the Fairway Turns Somewhere Before Reaching the Green, Which Makes the Green Not Completely Visible from the Tee. It Is One of the Most Common Types of Golf Holes Across All Courses, from the Local 9 Hole Course to Championship-Level Courses.

What's a Gimme in Golf?

In Golf, a Gimme Is a Shot That the Other Players Agree Can Count Automatically Without Being Played. When a Player Has Only a Very Short Putt Left to Play, Other Players May Grant a Gimme (I. E. , One Stroke Is Counted), but the Ball Is Not Played.

Can You Mulligan a Putt?

You Could Use a Mulligan from a Bunker, Replay a Short Putt, Drop a Ball and Play Another to Avoid a Likely Lost Ball. Mulligans Can Make Golf More Fun (Less Painful), Take Some of the Heat out of the Competition and Improve the Pace of Play.

A Duff, Also Known as a Chili Dip, Happens When You Hit Way Too Far Behind Your Intended Impact Area and Lay the Sod over the Ball. This Often Occurs When Players Are Nervous and Feeling Pressure.

How Do Mulligans Work?

To Take a Mulligan, a Player Shuffles the Cards in Their Hand Back into Their Library, Draws a New Hand of Cards Equal to Their Starting Hand Size, Then Puts a Number of Those Cards Equal to the Number of Times That Player Has Taken a Mulligan on the Bottom of Their Library in Any Order."

What Is a Ostrich in Golf?

The Term "Ostrich" Is Used to Describe the Completion of a Hole Using Five Fewer Strokes Than the Par. Each Hole Is Assigned a Number of Strokes That Are Considered to Be Par, Otherwise Known as Average for the Course.

What Is a Turkey in Golf?

Its Origin Is Almost Certainly American in Nature. in Ten-Pin Bowling, a Trio of Consecutive Strikes Is Called a Turkey, While Six in a Row Is Known as a Wild, or Golden, Turkey. It Wouldn't Be the First Time Golf Has Borrowed from Another Sport to Expand Its Lexicon. Click Here to Return to Ncg's Golf Glossary.

Why Is 3 Birdies in a Row Called a Turkey?

During the Late 1700S and into the Early Year's of the 1800S, Bowling Tournaments Were a Popular Diversion for All, from the Working Class to the Aristocracy. the Prizes Typically Awarded at These Tournaments Were Gift Baskets of Food, Often Containing Coveted Items Like a Large Ham Or, You Guessed It, a Turkey!

What Is an Albatross in Golf Terms?

Albatross: This Term Means Three Under Par, but the "Double Eagle" Synonym Is Simply a Continuation of the Aviary Theme of Good Scores. the Albatross Is Rare, as Is a Three Under Par.

Why Is It Called Skins in Golf?

According to an Old Legend, the Name Originated from American Furriers Who Arrived in Scotland and Took to the Golf Links and Gambled the Rounds with Their Pelts (Animal Skins). It Is Interesting to Know That in the Past, the Game Was Known by Many Popular Regional Names Such as Cats, Scats, Skats, and Syndicates.

What Is 5 over Par Called in Golf?

Quintuple Bogey. Completing a Hole Having Struck the Ball Five More Times Than Par, Such as Taking an Nine on a Par Four Hole.

What Do You Call Someone Who Loves Golf?

1. Golfer - Someone Who Plays the Game of Golf. Golf Player, Linksman.

Why Is a Golf Shot Called a Mulligan?

By Alexander Ross

• Oct 9, 2026 • 6 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

According to This Version, the Term Was Named After a Locker Room Attendant at the Club Named John A. 'Buddy' Mulligan, Who Worked at the Club During the 1930S and Was Known for Replaying Shots, Particularly on the First Tee.

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.

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