The mulligan, that magical do-over after a topped drive or a shank into the woods, raises a common question among casual golfers: can you use it for absolutely any shot you hit? This article gives you a straight answer, explaining the official rules, the common etiquette for friendly games, and how to navigate the unwritten laws of this popular, unofficial golf tradition.
Put simply, a mulligan is an informal “second chance” to replay a poor shot without it counting against your score. You hit a stinker, you declare a mulligan (or your friends generously grant you one), and you hit again from the same spot as if the first shot never happened. The first terrible ball is picked up, and your new shot is the one you play.
It’s important to understand this from the get-go: the mulligan is not part of the official Rules of Golf. It's a completely informal, friendly custom. Legend credits its name to a Canadian golfer, David Mulligan, who, after a shaky first tee shot in the 1920s, simply re-teed and hit again, arguing his partners should let him since he was still warming up. Whether the story is true or not, the term stuck, becoming a cherished tradition in charity tournaments and laid-back weekend rounds everywhere.
In any context where the formal Rules of Golf (as governed by the USGA and R&A) are being used - like a tournament, a club championship, or even just posting a score for your handicap - mulligans are strictly prohibited. There are no do-overs. Every single stroke you make is counted.
If you were to hit a poor shot in a competitive round and try to replay it, you wouldn't just be breaking a rule, you'd be adding penalty strokes to your score. The specific penalties would depend on the situation, but they could include playing from a wrong place, playing a wrong ball, or others. In short, hitting a "mulligan" in a formal game is a fast way to turn a bogey into a triple bogey or worse.
So, the official, black-and-white answer to our main question is a resounding no. But most golf isn't played under the strict eye of a rules official, which brings us to the more nuanced part of the discussion.
This is where social etiquette and friendly agreements come into play. While you theoretically could agree with your buddies that mulligans are allowed on every botched shot, that's not how it typically works. The acceptance of a mulligan is highly dependent on the type of shot you're re-hitting.
This is the most common and widely accepted use of a mulligan. Sometimes called a "breakfast ball," it's a free pass on the very first shot of the day. Why is this one so universally acceptable? A few reasons:
If mulligans are going to be allowed at all, the first-tee breakfast ball is almost always a given.
Here’s where things get dicey. Taking a mulligan on an approach shot from the fairway is generally frowned upon, even in a very casual game. You had a good tee shot and earned a good position. Hitting the approach shot is a key part of the game. If you chunk a 7-iron from 150 yards, that’s just part of golf. Reloading and trying again removes a fundamental challenge of the sport: executing under pressure. It also severely slows down play if everyone starts re-hitting iron shots.
Taking a do-over on a chip or a pitch shot is a step further down the path of poor form. The short game is all about touch and learning to handle tricky lies around the green. Skull a chip over the green? Duff it three feet in front of you? Tough luck - that’s a score-breaker for everyone. Asking for a mulligan here fundamentally changes the nature of the game and takes the skill Known as 'scrambling' completely out of the equation. Most groups would not consider this acceptable.
This is almost universally a no-go area. A mulligan for a missed putt is virtually unheard of and would be met with rightful mockery from your playing partners. Putting is the final test of a hole. You read the line, you judged the speed, and you made a stroke. If you miss a 3-footer for par and try to re-hit it, you’re not playing golf anymore. The only exception is taking a practice putt *after* you’ve already completed the hole, which is fine as long as you're not holding up the group behind you.
The verdict is clear: a mulligan is generally understood to be a tee shot forgiveness card, primarily for the first hole, and rarely for any other type of shot.
To avoid any awkwardness or breaking an unwritten rule, stick to these guidelines when it comes to mulligans in your friendly rounds.
As a coach, I'd feel amiss if I didn't offer this perspective. While mulligans are fun, they can slow down your actual improvement as a golfer. Golf is a game of managing misses and recovering from mistakes. That terrible drive you snap-hooked into the trees? Learning how to punch out sideways, leave yourself a good wedge distance, and try to salvage a bogey is a real skill that builds mental resilience and course management chops.
Consistently taking mulligans robs you of these learning opportunities. You never truly face the consequences of a bad swing, so the feedback loop is broken. Playing the ball as it lies, no matter how bad, teaches you about the real state of your game. It forces you to develop a recovery game, which is what separates low and high handicappers. If you want to get better and see your scores drop in rounds that actually count, I encourage you to sometimes put the mulligan away, even in a friendly game. Embrace the challenge of playing the course as you find it!
The mulligan is a delightful, unofficial custom reserved for casual golf, almost exclusively for a botched first tee shot. While friendly groups can set their own rules, its use is generally not extended to approach shots, chips, or putts, as doing so undermines the very challenge and spirit of the game.
Instead of hoping for a do-over after a bad shot, a better approach is to build the confidence to hit the right one the first time. We developed Caddie AI to help players do just that. Our AI coach gives you smart, simple strategies for every hole and recommends clubs and shot types for tricky situations - just describe the shot or snap a photo of your lie. The goal is to take the guesswork out of your game so you walk up to every shot with a clear plan, allowing you to focus on a committed swing and leave the mulligans in the bag.
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