What is a mulligan in golf?
A mulligan is a do-over — you replay a poor shot and take the second one instead, with no penalty added. It isn't part of the official Rules of Golf, but it's one of the most common house rules in casual and charity play.
How a mulligan works
Hit a bad shot, declare a mulligan, and play another ball from the same spot — the first shot is forgotten and doesn't count. The group agrees on the rules up front: how many mulligans each player gets, and where they can be used.
Common mulligan house rules
- Breakfast ball:one free do-over off the first tee, since nobody's warmed up.
- One per nine: a single mulligan on the front and one on the back.
- Purchased mulligans: at charity events, players buy mulligans (often $5–$10 each) as a fundraiser — usually one or two max.
- Tee shots only: some groups limit mulligans to drives, not putts or approach shots.
Mulligans at charity scrambles
Selling mulligan packages is a staple fundraiser at charity outings — easy money that also loosens up the field. If you're organizing one, see our charity scramble guide for the full list of on-course revenue ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mulligan legal in golf?
Not under the official Rules of Golf — a mulligan can't be used in a handicap-counting or competitive round. It's purely a casual or charity-event convention agreed on by the group before the round.
How many mulligans do you get?
It's up to the group. The most common casual rule is one 'breakfast ball' off the first tee. Charity scrambles often sell mulligan packages (one or two per player) as a fundraiser, sometimes capping them per nine.
Where does the word mulligan come from?
The most-repeated story credits a 1920s Canadian golfer named David Mulligan, who replayed a wayward drive and his playing partners named the do-over after him. There are competing origin stories, but the golfing meaning has stuck ever since.
Do mulligans count toward your handicap?
No. Because a mulligan isn't allowed under the Rules of Golf, any score using one can't be posted for handicap purposes. Keep mulligans to casual rounds and events.
Keep your group's games honest
mashie tracks your matches, skins, and side bets hole by hole and settles up at the end — so the only arguments left are about who gets a mulligan.