Golf Notes: Ah, he took a Mulligan

Last Wednesday, November 3rd John Johansen joined the Stableford bunch for eighteen holes of golf. John has of late been playing now and then. Being the precise architect, he is John carefully teedup, glanced down the first fairway, and let her rip.” I want a Mulligan.”, John exclaimed. He didn’t like his shot. Butch Carlstadt John’s golf cart riding mate responded, “Mulligan died in 1640.”, indicating there ain’t no Mulligans. To the non-golfer, it has been stated in Golf Notes before, a Mulligan is a doover, taking another shot from the same spot. Mulligans are not allowed in regulation golf.

Where did the term Mulligan originate? There are several stories about the origin of the Mulligan, none of them dating back to 1640. A golfer named Mulligan, not liking his first shot, teed up and took a second shot in all the stories.

His golfing mates commented, “Ah, he took a Mulligan.” In another story, early bars, then called saloons, offered drinking customers a free shot of alcohol, and for some reason, this was called a Mulligan. Later the term was applied to the do-over in golf.

Then you have blades, a bag full of blades. Last week Bill Brekhus strolled up to the driving range carrying his golf bag. “Look at this, Tim,” I called out to Tim Mclaughlin standing nearby, “Blades.” I’ve had these for twenty years exclaimed Bill, “I’m too cheap to buy new clubs.” A bag full of blades might sound dangerous to the non-golfer, and they could be if you’re playing against someone who knows how to use them. Blades are a type of golf iron that is thin. The “sweet spot” is small and used by better golfers. Bill uses them as well a Colin Fling and a few other good local golfers. The majority of us use what is called cavity-back irons, which are much more forgiving.

Mushrooms on the golf course. They are sprouting up. Maybe the blades could be used to cut them. Recently Butch Carlstadt harvested a basketballsized bolete mushroom on the third fairway. Dinner. On the fourth fairway, just across the pond dam cart path, a small white object looked very much like a golf ball. Upon closer observation, it was a mushroom. Upon even closer observation, there were blue words written on the mushroom with a sharpie. They said, “This is not a golf ball.” True. Helpful. Thank you, mysterious author.