National Mulligan Day
October 17
About National Mulligan Day
National Mulligan Day takes place every year on 17 October, and in 2026 it falls on Saturday, 17 October. The day celebrates the idea of the “mulligan”, a golfing term for a do-over, and extends it to everyone: a light-hearted invitation to take a second chance, forgive a mistake, and try again. It is a fun, low-pressure occasion that anyone can mark, whether or not they have ever picked up a golf club.
How to Celebrate National Mulligan Day
The whole point of National Mulligan Day is the do-over, so the best way to mark it is to actually take one. Here are plenty of ways to get involved:
- Play a round of golf with mulligan rules – Head to a course or driving range and allow yourself a free replay on any bad shot. It is the most literal way to honour the day and a relaxed way to enjoy the game without sweating the scorecard.
- Redo something that did not go to plan – Pick one task from the past week that went sideways, a recipe, a difficult conversation, a DIY project, and give it a fresh attempt with what you have learned.
- Make amends with someone – A mulligan works for relationships too. Reach out to a friend or family member you have lost touch with and offer a clean slate.
- Restart a habit you let slip – If a New Year resolution fizzled out months ago, treat 17 October as a second 1 January. Lace up for that run or reopen the book you abandoned.
- Host a “leftovers” or second-helpings party – In the spirit of second chances, invite friends round to finish off leftovers, or simply give everyone permission to go back for seconds without guilt.
- Learn a skill you once gave up on – Dust off the guitar, the language app, or the sketchbook. The day is a perfect nudge to revisit something you quit too soon.
- Forgive yourself for a past mistake – Second chances start internally. Take a quiet moment to let go of something you have been hard on yourself about.
- Share a second-chance story – Post about a time a do-over changed things for you, using #NationalMulliganDay to encourage others to embrace their own fresh start.
What is National Mulligan Day?
National Mulligan Day is an unofficial holiday dedicated to second chances. The word “mulligan” comes from golf, where it describes a replayed shot taken after a poor one, usually granted informally and without penalty among friends. The day takes that generous, forgiving spirit and applies it to everyday life, reminding people that a single bad shot, decision, or day does not have to define the rest. It is celebrated by golfers and non-golfers alike, anyone who likes the idea that it is never too late to try again.
When is National Mulligan Day?
National Mulligan Day is observed annually on 17 October. In 2026 that falls on a Saturday, which makes it especially convenient for a weekend round of golf or a relaxed do-over of any kind. The date is fixed and does not move from year to year, so it is easy to add to your calendar as a recurring reminder to embrace a fresh start.
The History of National Mulligan Day
National Mulligan Day was created by C. Daniel Rhodes of Hoover, Alabama, who wanted to set aside a day for everyone to enjoy a fresh start. The holiday draws its name and meaning directly from the golfing tradition of the mulligan, but its message is deliberately universal: everybody deserves a second chance.
The origin of the golf term itself is genuinely disputed, and several colourful stories compete for the truth. The most widely repeated traces it to David Bernard Mulligan, a Canadian businessman and one-time manager of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. The story goes that in the 1920s Mulligan would routinely take an extra shot off the first tee, and his playing partners began naming the practice after him. In 1985, journalist Don Mackintosh interviewed Mulligan, helping cement his place in the legend.
Other accounts point elsewhere. One version credits John A. “Buddy” Mulligan, a locker-room attendant at Essex Fells Country Club in New Jersey in the 1930s, who reportedly talked his way into replaying shots during morning rounds. A more far-fetched tale even names a 1793 Anglo-Irish aristocrat called Thomas Mulligan. The United States Golf Association notes that the term achieved widespread use in the 1940s. Whichever story you prefer, the mulligan had passed firmly into golfing vocabulary by the mid-twentieth century, and from there into everyday speech as shorthand for any second attempt.
Fun Facts About National Mulligan Day
- The mulligan is not part of the official Rules of Golf and is never permitted in tournament play; it survives purely as a friendly, informal courtesy among casual golfers.
- At charity golf events, players are often sold mulligans in advance, with the proceeds going to the cause, turning a do-over into a fundraiser.
- The term is so embedded in everyday English that “taking a mulligan” is commonly used well outside golf to mean any second chance.
- There are at least three competing origin stories for the word, and none has ever been definitively proven, which is part of its enduring charm.
- A “breakfast ball” is a common nickname for a mulligan taken on the very first tee, early in a round.
- David Mulligan reportedly played at the Country Club of Montreal before his exploits made the term famous on both sides of the border.
Why National Mulligan Day Matters
Beyond the fun, National Mulligan Day carries a genuinely warm message. Mistakes are part of being human, and the idea that you can always take another swing is both comforting and motivating. The day gives people a gentle, good-humoured reason to forgive themselves and others, to restart something they let slip, and to approach setbacks with optimism rather than regret. If you enjoy quirky calendar moments that double as a nudge toward self-improvement, you might also like National Fun at Work Day, another occasion built around a lighter, more forgiving outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Mulligan Day?
National Mulligan Day is an unofficial holiday celebrating second chances. It takes its name from the golf term “mulligan”, a replayed shot taken after a poor one, and applies that forgiving spirit to everyday life.
When is National Mulligan Day in 2026?
National Mulligan Day is on Saturday, 17 October 2026. It is observed on the same fixed date every year.
Where does the word “mulligan” come from?
The term comes from golf and its precise origin is disputed. The most popular story credits David Mulligan, a Canadian golfer in the 1920s who took extra shots off the first tee, though John A. “Buddy” Mulligan and others are also named in competing accounts.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best do-over story on social media with #NationalMulliganDay and #NationalMulliganDay2026. Tag a friend who deserves a second chance and challenge them to take one too.
Related Awareness Days
- National Golf Day – Celebrates the sport that gave us the mulligan in the first place.
- National Fun at Work Day – Another light-hearted occasion that encourages a more relaxed, forgiving outlook.
- New Year’s Day – The classic moment for fresh starts and second-chance resolutions.
Links
Featured image: Photo by mk. s on Unsplash.
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