The Slice Mulligan Story
Stanley ‘Slice’ Mulligan, Jr. was the first born son of Polish immigrants. Born in New Jersey and raised all over the country, Slice’s dad (Stanley J. Mulligan) may have been the first golfer of Polish decent. He played on the now defunct Polka & Putts tour, which took place primarily in the mid-western part of the country. Born Stanley J. Mulininski, Stan Sr. decided to change his name when he first came to this country to a less ethnic sounding name. He was also known as Stan ‘Put It In The Can’ Mulligan. This may have been because he labored as a sanitation worker when it wasn’t golf season. In his later years after retirement to Florida, he founded the PGA (Polish Golfers Association). However due to legal pressure he was forced to stop using the PGA name. Soon thereafter, having nothing to live for, Stan passed away at the 19th hole at a course just outside of Daytona.
Regardless of how it sounds, ‘Slice’ did not receive his famous nickname because of his golf game. It seems he was delivered via a C-Section and the doctor got a little careless with the scalpel and took a slice out of his butt, leaving a permanent birthmark. To this day he still can’t wear a bikini style swimsuit to the beach without revealing the dreadful scar.
Slice’s love for the game didn’t materialize until he was older (in his 30’s) when a few friends begged him to play with them one day. They desperately needed a fourth to fill in for a member of their regular group who had developed a severe case of henpeckeditus. Slice’s first tee shot caromed into the woods and the rest as they say, is history. He was literally ‘hooked’ on the game. “Every waking hour, I think of golf.” He said, “Is there something wrong with me?” (we don’t think so) Slice dreamed of taking a chance as a professional golfer, but realized one thing was missing that was probably very important…Talent. So he has a real job, selling real estate and plays music part time. Today he travels anywhere people will pay him to go, sharing his songs of fun, frustration, high-handicaps and the hope for a better round tomorrow with the everyday duffers of the world.
Sometimes he is joined by the locally renowned band ‘The 3-Putz’ and sometimes he stands alone. Slice is semi-retired from golf at this time due to some recent operations but says that someday he’ll get back to the links. “I’ll be back, it’s a gimmie.” He says, “Until then,.. May The Course Be With Ya’ll.”
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