MULLIGANS whats your opinion?????

[sirshanksalot]

I personally think it's just good form to not take any mulligans and play by the rules. Taking an out of bound mulligan essentially puts you up for 2 strokes that you wouldn't count. Why disservice yourself from the truth?

[bsettle]

Well,

yeah , I am with this train of thought. Two off the first tee, but nothing else.

[Kingfisher]

Well, it's certainly a mixed bag of views.

It's good to see that some golfers can still embrace a slight 'fun' element when playing with their buddies.

However, the number of golfers that insist mullies are a heinous crime is surprising - you guys must be a bundle of fun during your friendly fourball!

I'd wager that the vast majority of these folks knocking mullies don't know the vast majority of the rules, so isn't it a touch hypocritical to slate mullies as cheating / inappropriate if you're not following all the rules verbatim?

What's the difference between taking a mulligan and breaking one of golfs other rules? Nothing.

[Fourputt]

Mulligan????? Never saw that mentioned in the Rules of Golf????? Don't use them myself.... never have.

[gspjeb]

Personally I don't see a big issue with them as agreed in a friendly 4 ball. I certainly support 2 off the first tee but to each his own.

[wedge player]

What's the difference between taking a mulligan and breaking one of golfs other rules? Nothing.

yea ground a club in bunker/hazard same penalties,well almost.........

[flopdarock]

ive been to some courses where there are signs saying no mulligans off teh first tee... lol

[Yukari]

Well, it's certainly a mixed bag of views.

Granted not everyone knows all the rules. But that is not the point. There is this funny thing called "intent". If you know the rule and still break it, it is more egregious violation than if you break a rule unintentionally.

If we take your logic to its extreme, no one would give a damn about the rules. The point is, if you know the rule, then you play by them. If you don't know the rules, you should at least be familiarize yourself with the most basic rules. And carry a rule book, just in case odd situations arise. And just because you play by the rules does not mean you are not having any fun. Actually, it is more fun because it takes awkward situations out of play from the beginning.

[kfowler]

It's good to see that some golfers can still embrace a slight 'fun' element when playing with their buddies.

I could care less if my golf buddies take a mulligan on each stroke. They can play the game however they see fit. Just don't come tell me you shot an 85 when you took six mulligans through out the round. I don't use mulligans because I want to know personally what my real HCP is. I don't see how that affects the fun aspect of golf.

BTW, I've played plenty of rounds with friends who are not very good golfers and are really struggling. If they hit a bad shot I'll tell them to hit another one if they want. They're not out there to establish a HCP so it doesn't bother me one bit.

[Kingfisher]

Granted not everyone knows all the rules. But that is not the point. There is this funny thing called "intent". If you know the rule and still break it, it is more egregious violation than if you break a rule unintentionally.

I understand where you're coming from and appreciate that you recognise the importance of carrying a rule book. It makes a refreshing change to come across golfers who care.

Ok, the point I made may be a little extreme to some, but in my eyes if I'm playing in a competetive game, then there's no difference to me whether my opponent breaks one of golfs many other rules or reloads and takes a mully. The bottom line is this: If I'm playing with my 65yr old dad or my wife / one of my buddies who is new to the game, I don't give a rat's a** if they want to take mullies - hell, I may even reload myself, because at the end of such a game I'm not going to be beating my chest bragging about what score I did shoot or bleating about what score I didn't shoot. There is a place in golf for mulligans - not for everybody, certainly not all of the time, definitely not when you're playing a comp / submitting a card for h'capping, but when the circumstances are right - mood, format of play, your playing partners all agree - then there's no harm done. On the other hand if I'm playing with other 'players', then I'll be all over them like a rash if they try and flout one of the rules and I would expeect them to do the same to me.

[Kingfisher]

Mulligan????? Never saw that mentioned in the Rules of Golf????? Don't use them myself.... never have.

Wow. You must be the only 11.5 handicapper who knows ALL the rules of golf and plays by the book ALL of the time.

You da man

[Yukari]

I understand where you're coming from and appreciate that you recognise the importance of carrying a rule book. It makes a refreshing change to come across golfers who care.

I am not disagreeing that some people play mulligan. All I am saying, and I think this is what the poster was asking, is that I personally do not play mulligan. I agree with you that if someone else plays mulligan, I couldn't give a rat's ass--as long as they are not playing for something on the line against me.

[shaun]

I'm amused that some people felt the need to point out that they don't take mulligans during competitive rounds; I thought that went without saying.

As for taking "mulligans" during a practice round before a tournament, I don't see this as a huge problem, provided the pace of play is maintained and the course doesn't take a beating. At some stage in their practice rounds, some guys will always hit more than one shot just to see how the ball reacts when (say) it's hit high or low, or to different parts of the green, even though they generally aren't allowed to do so. Those shots probably don't count as true "mulligans", though.

I doubt that it matters much whether mulligans are allowed during purely social rounds -- sure, you're not playing "real golf" if you don't play by the rules, but social golf is rarely real golf anyway.

Personally, I've only ever taken mulligans while playing Microsoft Golf.

[TakeDeadAim]

Take as many as you like.

+1

have I heard that quote elsewhere??

[mcman1]

Mulligans are for hackers...don't get in a bad habit.

[Blades4me]

i like to go with 1 mulligan for every 18 holes but no puts, just looking to see what the norm is for everyone else.

It depends; when just play'n for fun I'll hit a second shot, but will play my 1st one. When play'n for money, no mulligans, no give me's all putts must be putted, by the rules all the way.

[2puttmike]

My regular playing partner and I sometimes agree to take 1 mullie per 9 off the tee. Our b.s. logic is we don't have a pro caddie to help with those extra 4 strokes, lol. Now that I practice and play more often, I have no "good" excuse for using the mullie. Like others have posted, I often hit good scramble shots to save par or bogey, which is a great reward for not fooling myself. I feel like an ass when I declare "no mulligan today" then "o.k. I changed my mind, 1 per 18", lol. It also gets annoying when you get paired with other players that claim to have the same 86 I shot when I know ****well he shot a 96. Oh well, what can ya do?

[goob3r]

Take as many as you like.

My thoughts exactly. My brother takes one on about every 4th hole or so. Then when I hit a bod shot he always tries do get me to hit another. That's when I inform him that I'm playing golf.