Mulligans

[focal]

everyone's guilty from time to time in taking a muligan. But I'm curious how many people do take muligans consistently in a round? or just play the shot that resulted instead of taking a muligan?

I know golf is a leisure sport and for some, it's not the score but trying to string together a few good shots for that memorable par or birdie.

I've stopped taking mulligans (watching my index for tournament play) but I will take a 2nd shot from time to time, to prove to my self I could hit the shot after flubbing the first...I'll pick it up and play out where the 1st ball went (yes, this is technically against the rules also)

It really does keep you in the "game" more to not take a mulligan, as I also tend to focus harder and try to get an up & down or scramble for a par or bogey if I'm not taking mulligans.


other's opinion?

[simar]

I find I am starting to do more of the same as you, take a second shot to just prove it to myself, but play the first. seems to be a confidence booster if the second one does as expected.

[landlord]

An American goes to Scotland and plays St Andrew's for the first time. He flubs his drive off the first tee and decides -- it's once in a lifetime and all -- to hit another ball. He re-tees and remarks to his Scottish caddie, "In the States we call this a mulligan. What do you call it here?"

"Over here," the caddie says, "we call it 'hitting 3 off the tee,' sir." :rolleyes:

Whatever. I've been known to take a freebie off the first tee, especially if I haven't warmed up, but never after that.

Assuming you count only the first ball, what you guys are describing is not a mulligan but a practice shot.

[wayland]

I don't do it and we don't allow anyone in our regular group to do it either. I've taken practice shots if time allows for it. e.g. I push an approach to the right and after the other people in our group have taken their shots (or in between) I'll pop one in there.

If you're counting your score for a handicap, I suppose it's not acceptable to take practice shots during a round. Same thing as practice putting on the green you just finished. However I do see pro's do this but only in match play.

[smartgolfer]

Well we can all thank Mr. Mulligan, a good old Canadian boy.Hes allowed us to be a little easier on ourselves in this truely difficult game,especially when we are just learning.Until you become a low handicapper and every shot will effect that number,there is no reason not to take mullies,keep an extra ball in your pocket at all times and then drop it if your not satisfied with the shot.You wont hold anyone up and just stick to the one.So dont be afraid to drop a mulli from time to time and enjoy yourself.

[KaiShin]

An American goes to Scotland and plays St Andrew's for the first time. He flubs his drive off the first tee and decides -- it's once in a lifetime and all -- to hit another ball. He re-tees and remarks to his Scottish caddie, "In the States we call this a mulligan. What do you call it here?"

"Over here," the caddie says, "we call it 'hitting 3 off the tee,' sir."
I thought that was hilarious :rofl:

I don't take mulligans. Not even when a whole foursome screamed in excitement as one of their members holed a miraculous chip shot on the green beside my tee box, just as I reached the top of my backswing. I do however take a drop if I can't find my ball after I hit my tee shot because running all the way back to the tee box to hit 3 doesn't really seem like a good idea on a crowded GTA course. Of course I penalize myself a stroke. Not exactly the same but close enough in spirit, right? :D

[Carlton]

Same thing as practice putting on the green you just finished. However I do see pro's do this but only in match play.

You are only allowed to hit a practice putt on the green after the hole has been won only during match-play. In stroke play, you will be penalized 2 stokes on the next hole. If it is the player's last hole, the two strokes are added to the score on that hole.

If I'm playing a practice round, I may take the occasional second shot. If I'm play a full round where my score goes towards my handicap, zero muligans. If I'm playing a friendly game with beginners then we give each other 1 mulligan in the front, 1 in the back 9.

[Big Shooter]

up until last year, sure I took Mulligans, but this year since I am tracking my stats/handicap, no more! (unless I'm playing with my Dad, in which case we don't really keep score!) ;)

[ForeontheFloor]

My foursome plays one mulligan per 9 holes, but if you take it you are out of the skins for that hole. We only take them on really bad shots not just out of bounds shot. The rest of the round is strickly "play it where it lies", no fluffing or toe wedges. I got into an argument with a guy I was playing with once because he kept telling me to improve my lie. I finally had to tell the guy I am playing my ball not yours. Now knowing I have the option of a mulligan (and my bad swing)I always carry three balls in my pocket so I don't have to go back to my bag.

[landlord]

I do however take a drop if I can't find my ball after I hit my tee shot because running all the way back to the tee box to hit 3 doesn't really seem like a good idea on a crowded GTA course. Of course I penalize myself a stroke. Not exactly the same but close enough in spirit, right? :D
I agree with that, except I think a 2-stroke penalty is closer to the intended spirit. You could have hit 3 off the tee and still put it in the same place.

What I do -- and it's perhaps erring on the safe side -- is play my 4th shot from where I expected to find my first ball. If it's in the rough, too bad.

[wigler]

I have no problem with someone taking a mulligan if they are playing for fun and it does not slow up play.
BUT...for handicap purposes you better not be posting the score. And don't come up to me and say you shot XX and compare it to my score. My score was legit, yours was not!!

wigler

[Bellyhungry]

I have no problem with someone taking a mulligan if they are playing for fun and it does not slow up play.
BUT...for handicap purposes you better not be posting the score. And don't come up to me and say you shot XX and compare it to my score. My score was legit, yours was not!!
wigler

I echo this sentiment. This pretty much sums up how I feel as well.

A similar question is: Do you do lift, clean, and place (some call it cheat) in wet condition?

[corchard]

In non-stipulated rounds I'll often play two or more balls. I always ask my playing partners first, though.

[el tigre]

When I first started the game I took mulligans, gimmies and foot-wedges because that was normal among the people I played with.

But now that I play for my own personal enjoyment and take the game more seriously, I never take mulligans and play the ball as it lies. I hit provisionals if there is a chance of a lost ball, and I declare unplayables and drop according to the rules if I'm not going to try a rescue shot. I believe that has made me a better golfer, although originally that was not reflected in my scores. C'est la vie - I'm in this game for the long-term.

The only rules I regularly ignore are regarding advice (I enjoy helping people), practice after a flub (I'm not a pro) and the 14-club maximum (I'm a club 'ho). I'll take gimmies if I feel our group is not keeping a proper pace of play. It makes no difference to me what rules my playing partners use, because I don't play competitive golf with them. We're all here to have fun.

[<<BSD>>]

It's funny last year my budy and I used to also take 1 mully per 9 holes. Now that my scores have lowered to where I tie almost every time we play we stoped taking mullies and playing as it lies. Surprisingly my scores are better than before, I think you become a better golfer once you know you won't have that second shot if you miss the first one.

[wayland]

It's funny last year my budy and I used to also take 1 mully per 9 holes. Now that my scores have lowered to where I tie almost every time we play we stoped taking mullies and playing as it lies. Surprisingly my scores are better than before, I think you become a better golfer once you know you won't have that second shot if you miss the first one.

Words to live by. We do everything better knowing there's no second chance to rectify things.

[goshawk]

I feel that on a casual, friendly round, when the scores aren't being posted, there's no problem taking mulligans as long as it's not slowing down the pace. Also, if you're taking mulligans, you're more likely to be less focused because you know there's a safety outlet for a bad shot. Keeping strict to the rules generally makes you focus and concentrate more, which in turn causes more consistent shots, which in turn causes lower scores than when there's a known mulligan coming for an "oops".

[Thimble]

i've never taken mulligans. the closest to a mulligan i'll take is if i shoot two potentially lost balls in a row (the second being a declared provisional), and i can't find either ball, i'll play 4 from near where i lost the first ball. i just can't stomach the idea of hitting 6 on a second shot in play... maybe one day...

[EDSGolf]

I don't take Mulligans unless somebody farts loudly in my group while I'm hitting the ball, otherwise no Mulligans here :)

[Pingnut]

I've stopped taking mulligans - but don't mind at all if someone I'm playing with wants to take one / provided there's nothing on the line.

I am guilty of counting some putts that didn't drop.
If I miss a 3 footer for triple bogey sometimes I give it to myself :shhh:

[Dan_L]

Im really against a "mulligan" in any sort of play but trying a different type of shot just as an alternative after you original shot is finished can sometimes be acceptable under some circumstances. Playing a practice round or hitting a low one bouncer rather then a flop shot, those type of things.

Not taking mulligans makes you a better *and more honest* golfer.

[ForeontheFloor]

Not taking mulligans makes you a better *and more honest* golfer.

Holy crap, all I have to do is not take the odd mulligan and I may break 100:fingersx:
as far as more honest how does taking a mulligan during a friendly game make me a dishonest golfer.

[Dan_L]

Holy crap, all I have to do is not take the odd mulligan and I may break 100:fingersx:
as far as more honest how does taking a mulligan during a friendly game make me a dishonest golfer.

Im really glad people take things so personal. :)

taking a mulligan is just eliminating a shot taken, usually a poor shot.

1 shot into a bunker can equal out to three shots extra on the scorecard
1 mulligan onto the green instead of the bunker can take shots off the scorecard

I guess if you dont keep score it doesnt matter.

[ForeontheFloor]

Im really glad people take things so personal. :)

taking a mulligan is just eliminating a shot taken, usually a poor shot.

1 shot into a bunker can equal out to three shots extra on the scorecard
1 mulligan onto the green instead of the bunker can take shots off the scorecard

I guess if you dont keep score it doesnt matter.

I'm really glad people take things so seriously:)

We only take them for the really bad shot tee shots like topping it ten feet, if it is at all playable like in a bunker no need for mulligan

for the record unless I am shooting the best round of my life I don't keep score, just par's

Oh and thanks for explaining the whole mulligan thing to me I was a little confused.

[Dan_L]

I'm really glad people take things so seriously:)

We only take them for the really bad shot tee shots like topping it ten feet, if it is at all playable like in a bunker no need for mulligan

for the record unless I am shooting the best round of my life I don't keep score, just par's

Oh and thanks for explaining the whole mulligan thing to me I was a little confused.

Next time you have your camera on tour and you take a video of me and I look so sad, convince Will to let me take a mulligan. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

ref: FCN video.

[ForeontheFloor]

Next time you have your camera on tour and you take a video of me and I look so sad, convince Will to let me take a mulligan. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

For five bucks I will turn off the camera and no one needs to know:shhh:

[Dan_L]

For five bucks I will turn off the camera and no one needs to know:shhh:

dude, Im from hamilton. Where the heck am I going to get five bucks? :hush:

[ForeontheFloor]

dude, Im from hamilton. Where the heck am I going to get five bucks? :hush:

Open up a Cheez whiz sandwich stand on the back of your f150

[landlord]

If I may ... the point of NOT taking mulligans is that you have to live with the outcome of your shot, no matter what. The back-of-the-mind idea that you have a second chance (a mulligan) affects your judgment and execution.

So it improves your focus, for starters. It also teaches you that one bad shot doesn't ruin a round. Short of OB or lost ball, it doesn't even ruin your chance of getting a par.

An occasional bad shot forces you to play better, that's all.

It helped me to play by the real rules of golf, but that's just me. If nothing else, you'll never know how truly bad you are till you count 'em all. :eek:

[Dan_L]

oh man, Im bad and I count them all.

I usually shoot around the same score pretty much every single time.

I can go and have 4 pars in a row to start and then something crazy happens and viola, bogey golf.

I try and keep track of things suggested in golf digest's "your best score" (or something like that)

I keep track of putts, times in sand, lost ball, shots over 50 yards GIR, and FWs. very UNflattering.

[Haps]

I try to be as honest as I can because really the score only matters to me. And being honest about my score will be the only way I can judge my improvement.

However, I have been known to take a mulligan when I inexplicably can not find a drive that "I KNOW" landed in the fairway. Sometimes I wonder if my ball got picked up or occassionally I maybe just can't find it.