David Bernard Mulligan

David Bernard Mulligan was born in Pembroke, Ontario in 1871, the youngest of 7 children of Captain & Mrs. David Mulligan, graduated from High School at age 14, studied law at Osgood Hall and passed the Bar 3 years later at age 17. His interest turned to hotels and he started as a room clerk at the Palmer House in Chicago. He then worked at the old Holland House in Manhattan & then the old Waldorf Astoria Hotel, also as a room clerk.

Mr. Mulligan became owner and operator of the Russell House Ottawa, and in 1914 became General Manager of the Canadian National Hotel chain, remaining until 1924, when he became Manager of the Windsor Hotel in Montreal. Also in 1924, he took over duties of Manager of the Waldorf Astoria. He was a member of the Country Club of Montreal. In 1927 he formed his own company and bought the Windsor. He became President & Managing Director of the Biltmore in 1932, president of Realty Hotels in 1943 (Biltmore, Barclay & the old Park Lane Hotels). He was appointed Chairman of the Board in 1945. He was described as the Dean of North American Hotelmen.

Origin of the Mulligan in Canada - Its Beginning The origin of the Mulligan is as follows: In the late 1920's, one David B. Mulligan regularly provided transportation to the Country Club of Montreal which is in St-Lambert (Quebec) for his regular foursome in his 1920's vintage Briscoe which was manufactured by the Maxwell Company. This touring car is what we now know today as a convertible. It had a 4 cylinder motor which developed 33 H.P.

The definition of "Mulligan" can be found in "The Language of Sports" by Tim Considine, a World Almanac Publication: A free shot to compensate for a mishit ball, sometimes permitted in a casual game. Named after Canadian Golfer David Mulligan.

In the late 1920's, Mulligan was given a second ball after mishitting his drive off the first tee, with his hands still numb after driving over rough roads and a particularly bumpy bridge at the course entrance. The bridge in question was Queen Victoria Jubilee Bridge now simply known as Victoria Bridge which is across the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and St. Lambert. The bridge was actually designed as a railway bridge. The roadbed on these two lanes instead of being made of concrete slabs was constituted of pieces of lumber laid side by side across the lane somewhat in the manner of a boardwalk. The wooden pavement was quickly worn, especially by horsedrawn traffic. The result was that it became very uneven, hence the bumps.