National Mulligan Day is celebrated every year on October 17th, giving everyone permission to take a “do-over” on something that didn’t go quite right the first time.
History of National Mulligan Day
National Mulligan Day was created by C. Daniel Rhodes of Hoover, Alabama, who also created Brother’s Day and National Garage Sale Day. Rhodes envisioned a day when everyone could embrace a fresh start, borrowing the concept directly from golf’s most forgiving tradition: the mulligan, a free do-over shot typically granted after a poor attempt.
The exact origin of the golf term itself is genuinely disputed, with the United States Golf Association noting three competing stories. The most widely repeated credits David Bernard Mulligan, a Canadian golfer and one-time manager of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, who reportedly asked for a second shot off the first tee in the 1920s after a shaky start. A second account credits John A. “Buddy” Mulligan, a locker room attendant at a New Jersey country club in the 1930s. A third, per author Henry Beard, traces the term all the way back to Thomas Mulligan, a golf-loving Anglo-Irish aristocrat born in 1793.
How to Celebrate National Mulligan Day
- Give yourself a do-over on something that didn’t go as planned recently
- Offer a mulligan to a friend or family member who could use a little grace
- Hit the golf course and take a literal mulligan on your first shot
- Reflect on a mistake without dwelling on it, and simply try again
- Share your best do-over story on social media using #NationalMulliganDay
Fun Facts About National Mulligan Day
- National Mulligan Day was created by C. Daniel Rhodes of Hoover, Alabama.
- Rhodes also created Brother’s Day (May 24) and National Garage Sale Day (second Saturday in August).
- The golf term’s true origin is genuinely disputed, with at least three different named “Mulligans” credited across various accounts.
- A “Mulligan stew” is an unrelated term referring to a stew made from whatever ingredients are on hand, giving leftovers a second chance.
- Taking a mulligan in a casual round of golf isn’t considered cheating, as long as it’s openly acknowledged and agreed upon by other players.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Mulligan Day?
National Mulligan Day is celebrated annually on October 17th.
Who created National Mulligan Day?
C. Daniel Rhodes of Hoover, Alabama, created the observance to give everyone a dedicated day for a fresh start or second chance.
Where does the golf term “mulligan” come from?
The exact origin is disputed, with competing stories crediting different golfers named Mulligan, most commonly David Bernard Mulligan, a Canadian golfer active in the 1920s.