Martin Lewis: Mulligans & Dimples… the rules for playing a Joker at golf

As usual with casual rules, someone (often me) always tries to push the envelope of what’s allowed. So recently, I codified our rules, and sent them out amongst the friends I play with. I thought some of you may enjoy reading them too. Of course these would be laughed at in a tournament, but it makes the game I play with my mates (who are often as competitive as me) a little more fun.

In recent years, through hard work and diligence, I have progressed from being poor-at-golf, to now feeling I can call myself a poor-golfer. I’m not a natural sportsman so getting down to an 18 handicap, has been hard work, but a great stress reliever (even if I end up having to write out rules…)

Joker Rules and Regulations

Rule 1: Jokers

1.1 Definition

A Joker is a stroke replay privilege allowing a player to retake a shot and then select the more favourable result of either the original stroke or the replayed stroke.

1.2 Declaration Requirement

A Joker must be clearly declared by the player prior to playing the second stroke, so at least one other player hears. Retrospective declarations are not permitted.

1.3 Timing and Synchronisation

A Joker may only be played within the same round of shots as other players taking their shots.

A “round of shots” is defined not solely by stroke count (e.g. first shot), but by a shared time frame wherein all players are actively playing their respective shots — regardless of whether they are on their second, third, or subsequent strokes.

1.4 Location and Use Restrictions

A Joker must not be used on the green, regardless of club or shot type.

A Joker may not be used on the fringe of the green if the player is putting.

However, a Joker may be used on the fringe if the stroke is taken with a wedge or any club other than a putter.

Rule 2: Super Jokers

2.1 Definition

A Super Joker is a special category of Joker that may be used on the green during putting.

2.2 Functionality

The Super Joker follows all the rules of a standard Joker (see Rule 1), except that it may also be used on the green, or on the fringe when putting.

2.3 Declaration

As with standard Jokers, a Super Joker must be declared prior to execution.

Rule 3: Provisional Jokers

3.1 Definition

A Provisional Joker is a type of Joker used when the location or playability of a ball is uncertain, typically after a long or potentially lost shot.

3.2 Conditions of Use

A Provisional Joker must be specifically declared as such before the second ball is played.

The player then plays a second (provisional) shot from the same spot.

3.3 Outcome Determination

If the original ball is found and deemed playable, it must be played, and the Provisional Joker is not counted as a used joker.

If the original ball is not found or is found unplayable, the second ball becomes the ball in play, and a Joker is deemed to have been used.

3.4 Limitation

A Provisional Joker does not permit choice between balls — the original ball must be played if found and playable.

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PS. No blog I wrote on golf would be complete without a reminder that a few years ago I got two holes in one in consecutive rounds. I've never done it before, never done it since, probably won't ever do it again, but definitely feel it is worth bragging about at every possible opportunity (like this).