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How Many Mulligans Are Allowed In Golf? Golf Rules Explained.
Are mulligans allowed in official golf? When are mulligans allowed in golf? In official golf games, like those under the rules set by the USGA or R&A, zero mulligans are allowed. A mulligan is an extra shot you take after a bad one, like hitting your first shot off the tee badly and deciding to hit another without counting the first. Mulligans are only allowed in golf when players agree to use them in casual, fun games, not for scoring or competition. This is the simple mulligan meaning golf players know.
Let’s look closer at golf rules and the idea of a mulligan. We will see when they are part of the game and when they are not.
What is a Mulligan?
A mulligan is a special chance in golf. It lets a player re-hit a shot they did not like. You get to forget the bad shot ever happened. Then you hit the ball again from the same spot. You do not add a penalty stroke to your score for taking a mulligan.
Think of it like a “do-over.” You hit your first shot off the tee, and it goes way off to the side. If your group agrees to allow mulligans, you might say, “I’ll take a mulligan.” Then you pick up the first ball and hit another one from the tee. Only the second shot counts.
This is different from the real rules of golf. In real rules, if your ball goes off the course (out of bounds) or is lost, you must take a penalty. You add a stroke to your score and hit another ball. A mulligan lets you skip the penalty.
So, a mulligan is not a real golf rule. It is a made-up rule for friendly games. It is meant to make the game more fun when you are not playing for a prize or keeping a proper score.
What Official Rules Say About Mulligans
Let’s be very clear here. The people who make the official rules for golf are the USGA (United States Golf Association) and the R&A (based in Scotland). They write the rules book that every golfer should follow when playing a real game or competition.
Golf rules on mulligans from the USGA and R&A are simple: there is no such thing as a mulligan. They do not allow them. The rules book does not mention mulligans at all.
Every shot you hit must count. If you hit a bad shot, that is part of the game. You must play the ball from where it lands. If the ball is lost or out of bounds, you must take a penalty stroke or strokes and follow specific rules for hitting again (like Rule 18).
Allowing a mulligan would change the score. It would not be a fair test of skill. It would not be fair to other players who followed the rules and played their bad shots. This is why USGA rules on mulligans and R&A rules forbid them.
In any official competition, big or small, or even just playing a round where you will post your score for a handicap, you cannot use a mulligan. Using one would mean you are not following the rules of golf. Your score would not be valid.
Are Mulligans Allowed in Official Golf?
Let’s answer this again very directly. Are mulligans allowed in official golf? No, absolutely not.
When you play in:
- A club tournament
- A league game
- A round where you want to post your score for your handicap
- Any game trying to follow the R&A/USGA rules
…you cannot take a mulligan. If you hit a bad shot, you deal with it using the official rules. This might mean hitting another ball and adding a penalty stroke, depending on what happened to the first ball.
Taking a mulligan in these situations is against the rules. It is like breaking a rule on purpose. It is not fair play.
The spirit of golf is to play the ball as it lies and the course as you find it. Every stroke counts. This tests your skill and your ability to handle both good and bad shots.
PGA Tour Mulligan Policy
What about the best golfers in the world? People who play on the PGA Tour or other professional tours? Do they get mulligans?
The PGA tour mulligan policy is exactly the same as the official rules from the USGA and R&A. Professional golf uses these rules strictly.
So, for golfers like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, or Nelly Korda, there are zero mulligans allowed. If they hit a bad shot, they must follow the rules.
Imagine a professional golfer hitting their first tee shot out of bounds on the first hole. They do not get to say, “That was a practice swing, I’ll take a mulligan.” No. They must apply the penalty under Rule 18.2b. They would have to drop a ball near where they hit from last and add one penalty stroke to their score. Their next shot would be their third shot.
Professional golf is the highest level of competition. The rules are followed strictly to make sure it is fair for everyone and the best player wins based on skill and following the rules. A mulligan would ruin the fairness of the competition.
When Mulligans ARE Allowed: Casual Golf Games
So, if official rules say no, when do people use mulligans? This is where casual golf game rules come in.
Mulligans are only allowed when players in a friendly group agree to use them. This is common when you are just playing for fun, not keeping a formal score, and not playing in a competition.
Many groups of friends who play golf together have their own unwritten rules or agreements. Using a mulligan might be one of these agreements.
For example, a group might say:
- “Okay, today we’re just playing for fun. One mulligan allowed on the first tee.”
- “Let’s play lift, clean, and place, and everyone gets one mulligan per nine holes.”
- “If you hit a tee shot right off the bat that’s terrible, you can take a mulligan, but only on the first hole.”
In these casual games, the players decide together what rules they want to follow. If everyone in the group agrees that mulligans are okay, then they are okay for that specific game.
It is very important that everyone agrees before the game starts. You cannot just decide to take a mulligan during the round if your playing partners did not agree to it. That would be bad golf etiquette mulligans.
This shows that mulligans are not part of the game itself. They are something added by players for fun in non-serious rounds.
The Breakfast Ball Golf Definition
One very common type of mulligan in casual play is called the “breakfast ball golf definition.” This is a mulligan taken on the very first tee shot of the day.
The first tee shot can be hard. You might be cold, nervous, or just woke up. Maybe you did not warm up properly. So, hitting a bad first shot is common for many golfers.
A “breakfast ball” lets you forget that bad first tee shot. You get to hit it again. It is called a “breakfast ball” because it happens at the start of the round, like eating breakfast.
This is purely a casual game thing. There is no mention of a “breakfast ball” in the official rule book. It is a friendly agreement among players to help start the round on a better note if the first swing is terrible.
Again, using a breakfast ball needs agreement from your playing partners before you tee off. It is often agreed upon quickly on the first tee: “Breakfast balls today?”
Local Golf Course Rules
Sometimes, a local golf course rules sheet or their website might mention something that sounds a bit like a mulligan, but it is usually for specific fun events or very casual play days, not for regular rounds or competitions.
Most “local rules” posted by a golf course are about how to play the course under the official rules. For example, they might say:
- “Area marked with stakes is Ground Under Repair.”
- “If your ball goes into the woods on Hole 5, you can drop near the edge for a two-stroke penalty.” (This is a special local rule, not a mulligan)
A local course will almost never say: “Everyone gets one mulligan per round.” If they did, it would mean any game played under that rule could not be counted as a real golf score under USGA/R&A rules.
However, a course might host a fun scramble event or a charity tournament where they specifically allow mulligans as part of the event’s format. These are special cases. The rules for that event are set by the organizers, not by the official rules of golf. You might even be able to buy mulligans in a charity event to raise money!
But for your everyday round where you want to play by the rules or post a score, don’t expect the local course rules to give you a mulligan.
Golf Etiquette and Mulligans
Even in casual games where mulligans are allowed, there is golf etiquette mulligans players should follow.
- Ask First: Never just announce you are taking a mulligan after hitting a bad shot unless it was agreed upon before the round started. It is polite to check: “Are we playing with mulligans today?” or “Is it okay if I take a mulligan here?”
- Agree on the Rules: Before the first tee, talk with your playing partners. How many mulligans are allowed? Only on the first tee? One per nine? One per round? Only off the tee? Make sure everyone understands the rules for your game.
- Don’t Abuse It: If you agree on one mulligan per round, don’t try to take more. Don’t take a mulligan on a shot that was just okay – they are usually for truly terrible shots.
- Don’t Slow Down Play: Taking a mulligan means hitting another shot. This takes time. Be quick about it. Don’t make the group behind you wait.
- Accept the Outcome: If you decide not to use a mulligan (or are not allowed one), accept the result of your shot, good or bad. Golf is about handling mistakes.
Using mulligans politely makes the game more fun for everyone. Not following the agreed rules or being rude about it can make the game less enjoyable for your playing partners.
Why Mulligans Are Not Part of the Real Rules
Let’s spend a bit more time on why mulligans are left out of the official rules. It is not just to be strict. There are good reasons related to the core of golf.
1. Fairness and Equality
Every player in a competition must play by the same rules. If one player gets a free re-hit and another does not, it is not fair. Official rules make sure everyone faces the same challenges and penalties.
2. Testing Skill
Golf tests many skills: hitting the ball well, knowing the rules, thinking your way around the course, and handling pressure. A big part of the test is dealing with bad shots. Can you recover from hitting your drive into the trees? Can you play your next shot well? A mulligan removes this part of the challenge. It makes the test of skill incomplete.
3. Accepting the Outcome
In golf, you must accept where your ball goes. This is a key part of the game’s mindset. You hit it, you find it, you play it. Good shot or bad shot, you live with the result. Mulligans let you avoid living with a bad result.
4. Integrity of Score
Golf scores are important, especially for handicaps. A handicap allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly. Scores used for handicaps must follow the official rules. If mulligans were allowed, scores would not truly show a player’s ability under the rules. This would mess up the handicap system.
Mulligans take away from these core ideas. They make the game easier, but they also change its nature. That is why they are kept out of official play.
Different Ways Mulligans are Used in Casual Games
When players agree to use mulligans in casual games, they often set specific limits or types. Here are some common ways people use them:
h4 First Tee Mulligan (Breakfast Ball)
- Rule: You get one mulligan on your very first shot of the day, off the first tee.
- Why: As mentioned, the first shot can be tough. This is a popular and often agreed-upon type in casual groups.
h4 One Mulligan Per Nine Holes
- Rule: You can use one mulligan on the first nine holes and one mulligan on the second nine holes.
- Why: This gives players a little help throughout the round but limits how many they can take.
h4 One Mulligan Per Round
- Rule: You get only one mulligan for the entire 18-hole round.
- Why: This is stricter than one per nine and makes you think hard about when to use your one chance.
h4 Tee Shot Mulligans Only
- Rule: You can only use a mulligan on a tee shot (the first shot on any hole).
- Why: Bad tee shots are often the most frustrating. This rule focuses the help there. You cannot use a mulligan on a shot from the fairway, rough, or bunker.
h4 Asking Permission Each Time
- Rule: Even if mulligans are allowed, you must ask your playing partners before taking each one.
- Why: Good etiquette. It keeps everyone involved and prevents someone from taking too many without checking.
h4 The “Gimme” Mulligan
- Rule: This is less common, but sometimes a group will allow a mulligan on a short putt that was badly missed, basically saying “take that one again, it was too short to miss.”
- Why: This is very informal and only in very friendly games. It is not standard.
It is vital to agree on the specific rules for mulligans before the game starts. This avoids arguments later on.
Alternatives to Mulligans in Official Play
Since you cannot take a mulligan in official golf, what happens if you hit a bad shot? The official rules have ways to handle problems, but they usually involve a penalty.
The most common situation where people wish they could take a mulligan is after a bad tee shot that goes out of bounds or is lost. In official golf, the rule for this is generally Rule 18.2.
- The Situation: Your tee shot goes out of bounds (past white stakes or lines) or you cannot find it within three minutes (it is considered lost).
- The Official Rule: You must go back to where you hit your last shot (in this case, the teeing area). You hit another ball from there. You add one penalty stroke to your score.
- The Result: If your first shot was your 1st stroke for the hole, you go back and hit your 3rd stroke (1st shot + 1 penalty stroke = 2 strokes, your next shot is your 3rd).
This is called playing “stroke and distance.” You lose the distance you hit the ball, and you get a penalty stroke.
Compare this to a mulligan:
- Mulligan: Hit bad shot (1st stroke). Take mulligan. Hit again (new 1st stroke for score). Score = 1 stroke so far, plus strokes from the good re-hit.
- Official Rule (Stroke & Distance): Hit bad shot (1st stroke). Ball is lost/OB. Go back, hit again. This is your 3rd stroke. Score = 3 strokes so far, plus strokes from the 3rd shot onward.
The penalty in official golf is a key difference. It makes you think carefully about each shot. A mulligan lets you escape the penalty.
Interpreting the Spirit of the Game
Even though mulligans are not in the rules, they show something about how people enjoy golf. For many, especially beginners or casual players, golf is about spending time outside, being with friends, and hitting some good shots. The stress of every single bad shot counting can be too much for a fun day.
Casual golf game rules like mulligans make the game more forgiving. They can help new players not get too frustrated. They allow friends to have a more relaxed time.
However, for people who want to test themselves against the course and the rules, or against other players in a fair way, the official rules are needed. Accepting the bad bounces and missed shots is part of the challenge and the reward of playing golf well.
Grasping the difference between official play and casual play is key. If you are playing in a competition or posting a score, follow the rules strictly – no mulligans. If you are playing a friendly round just for fun, agree with your partners on what casual rules, like mulligans, you want to use.
Knowing when and why mulligans are used helps you understand golf better, both the formal rules and the informal customs people use on the course.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions people ask about mulligans in golf.
h4 How Many Mulligans Can I Take?
In official golf rules (USGA, R&A), you can take zero mulligans. In casual games, the number of mulligans you can take depends entirely on what you and your playing partners agree on before the round starts. It could be one on the first tee, one per nine, one per round, or any other number you all agree to.
h4 Are Mulligans Free?
Yes, in the sense that they do not add a penalty stroke to your score in a casual game where they are allowed. If you take a mulligan, you just forget the bad shot and hit again from the same spot, counting the new shot as your first (or whatever shot number you were on). However, in official golf, there is no such thing as a free re-hit for a bad shot; mistakes usually result in penalty strokes.
h4 Can I Take a Mulligan on Any Shot?
In casual games, whether you can take a mulligan on any shot (tee shot, approach shot, putt) depends on your group’s agreement. Often, groups limit mulligans to tee shots only. In official golf, you cannot take a mulligan on any shot.
h4 What If My Group Doesn’t Agree on Mulligans?
If you are playing a casual game and your group cannot agree on whether to allow mulligans, the standard official rules of golf apply. This means no mulligans are allowed. It is always best to talk and agree before you start playing.
h4 Is a “Gimme” a Type of Mulligan?
No, not really. A “gimme” is when a very short putt is agreed by your playing partners to be “holed” without you actually hitting it. You pick up your ball and count one more stroke. This speeds up play. While not in the official rules for scores, it is a widely accepted custom in match play and casual stroke play. A mulligan is re-hitting a shot you did hit; a gimme is agreeing you would have made a short putt without hitting it.
h4 Does Taking a Mulligan Affect My Handicap?
If you take a mulligan during a round, that score cannot be used to post for a handicap under official handicap systems like the World Handicap System. Scores used for handicaps must be played following the strict rules of golf, which do not allow mulligans.
Summary
To wrap things up:
- Official Golf: Zero mulligans allowed. USGA, R&A, PGA Tour rules say no. Every shot counts. Bad shots lead to penalties under specific rules.
- Casual Golf: Mulligans can be allowed if all players in the group agree before the game starts. This is a custom for fun, friendly rounds, not for posting scores or competition.
- Common Usage: Often limited to the first tee (breakfast ball), one per nine, or one per round in casual play.
- Etiquette: Always agree beforehand and follow the agreed-upon rules politely.
Knowing the difference between official rules and casual customs is important for every golfer. It helps you play the game the right way when it matters and have fun with friends when the score is less important.