what fore means in golf

What does the term fore mean in golf?

“Fore” is what golfers yell when their golf ball is flying dangerously close to another player. Basic golf etiquette demands that you wait until the golfers in front of you are completely out of the way before hitting your shot so you don’t hit them with your golf ball.

Where did the term fore in golf come from?

What is the origin of the golf term "fore"? FORE - The word 'fore' in golf is Scottish in origin, and is a shortened version of the word 'before' or 'afore.' The old Scottish warning, essentially meaning 'look out ahead,' likely originated in military circles, where it was used by artillery men as a warning to troops in foreword positions.

What is the origin of calling "fore" in golf?

Fore! The etymology for the word "Fore!" is not absolutely certain. The Oxford English Dictionary records its first use in 1878 as a warning cry to people in front of a golf stroke and, like most people, believes it is an abbreviation of the word 'before'. There is an earlier reference in 1857 in a glossary of golfing terms.

When was the word fore used in golf?

The use of the term ‘fore’ in golf dates as far back as 1878 with its inclusion in the Oxford English dictionary, around the time golf was establishing its foothold in Scottish and English cultures. Golf balls in the mid-1800s were very expensive to make and became valuable commodities to golfers of the time.

Why is it called fore?

The term is a short form of the word "before," which is a synonym to "ahead." Thus, fore literally means, "look out ahead." Golfers use this term immediately following an errant shot as a way to warn other golfers that a ball might be heading their way.

Do golfers still yell fore?

For professional golfers, they also yell "Fore!" to indicate if they've hit a ball that's going to potentially hit someone in the gallery watching them play.

Why is fore a warning in golf?

Looking at how the word 'fore' entered the golf lexicon "Fore" is another word for "ahead" or "forward" (think of a ship's fore and aft). And in golf, yelling "fore" is simply a shorter way to yell "watch out ahead" (or "watch out before"). It allows golfers to be forewarned, in other words.

Why do pros not shout fore?

I believe not shouting 'FORE' comes from a reluctance to admit to a poor shot, or the player is embarrassed by such a bad shot that they don't want to shout and let people know that they have hit a shot offline.

How do you pronounce fore in golf?

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What do you yell during golf?

Nowadays, most golfers yell "fore" only after they've hit an errant shot toward an unsuspecting golfer, but the term which translates to "watch out!" or "heads up!" was originally intended to be used before teeing off.

Why do golfers shout 4?

Golfers yell fore to alert other golfers that they may be in danger of getting struck by their ball. You should always yell fore if you're unsure where your ball will land, and it is at risk of hitting a golfer. The term fore likely originated from the term forecaddie, although the exact history is unknown.

Why do golfers yell mashed potatoes?

It's a good one to yell, because it's nice and quick and it means absolutely nothing. '

What is the fore in golf?

Fore (golf) The tough rubber core of a golf ball makes it a hazard to others following a wayward shot, despite its weight not exceeding 1.620 oz (45.93g). "Fore!", originally a Scots interjection, is used to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball.

Where did the term "fore caddie" come from?

A possible origin of the word is the term "fore-caddie", a caddie waiting down range from the golfer to find where the ball lands. These caddies were often warned about oncoming golf balls by a shout ...

What does "fore" mean in golf?

Perhaps the most common usage of fore is when golfers hit the ball farther than they expected, or when they play a stroke without realizing that there is a golfer up ahead who might be in danger.

What does it mean when a pro golfer yells "fore right" or "fore left?

At professional tournaments, where holes are tightly lined by fans, it's common to hear tour pros yell "fore right" or "fore left," letting the fans known which direction the ball is traveling. That way, the fans on the left side or right side of the hole know to take cover.

How Did 'Fore' Enter the Golf Lexicon?

Two of the most commonly cited are that "fore" evolved from another golf word, forecaddie; and that "fore" has its origins in military usage.

What does it mean when you yell "fore"?

It's pretty simple: If you hit a shot and see that your golf ball is heading in the direction of other golfers—and there's a chance, even just a slim one, that your ball will land among or close to those golfers— yell out "fore!" Yell it loud and yell it proud. Yelling it doesn't do anybody any good if you don't scream it loud enough to be heard, after all.

What does it mean when you hear a "fore" ring out?

The instinct for many golfers, when we hear a "fore!" ring out across the golf course, is to turn in the direction of the yell and look for any golf ball that might be heading our way. Bad idea. You don't want to get hit in the face (or any other sensitive areas).

How to hear a yell of fore?

When you hear a yell of fore, duck and cover. If you can dart behind a tree, crouch behind a golf cart or golf bag, do so. Put your hands and arms over your head and turn away from the direction of the yell.

Why do you yell "fore"?

If your shot is in danger of hitting or landing very close to another golfer or group of players on the golf course, you should yell "fore!". to warn players to watch out. Yelling "fore!". is considered good golf etiquette, but it's not just a courtesy to other golfers, it can serve to prevent injury. After all, a golf ball striking ...

What Does Fore in Golf Mean?

Essentially, fore is a warning to everyone on the golf course that a ball has been hit and is coming their way instead of the intended area. Another way to define fore is by some synonyms such as “watch out” or “heads up”.

The History of Fore

1. It is believed that the term “forecaddie” is how the term “fore” came to be. In the 1700’s and 1800’s “forecaddie” was someone who was hired by golf courses or golfers to keep track of where balls landed. Nowadays this position is called a spotter.

What Should I Do If Someone Yells Fore?

When in the danger zone don’t turn towards the person yelling fore and look for the ball. If you do that, you may get hit in the face or other areas of your body. Instead you will want to “duck and cover” by getting behind a tree, golf cart, golf bag etc. You will then cover your head with your hands and arms.

What is the meaning of the word "fore" in golf?

Some people believe that this word was used by the artilleryman in the military before shooting. This was the clear sign for the nearby officers and infantrymen to get on the ground and avoid shells overhead.

When do we use fore in golf?

You will hear this word only just after a golfer hits the shot. Suppose if you hit the ball to a long-distance and someone is standing in between its way. The word which everyone uses, and you should also use to warn those people is “Fore.” It can be translated into “Watch Out.” There is no other particular use or meaning of Fore in golf. However, there is a history behind this word. Let’s talk about that too.

Where did the word "fore" come from?

There are various other stories you can consider behind the origin of this word. Like some people say that this word is derived from the word “fore-caddie,” which was earlier used for the same purpose but then abbreviated into Fore.

Is it possible to eliminate bad luck in golf?

With that said, I want to highlight the importance of safety during the golf matches. However, it is impossible to eliminate bad luck. But, in this article, we are going to discuss the word “Fore,” which can help the golfers as well as other people inside the golf course to reduce the chances of unwanted incidents.

What Does Fore Left And Fore Right Mean?

Fore left and Fore right are terms that are typically used when their is a gallery watching. These terms simply identify which direction the ball is going.

Why do you yell "fore"?

At this point you should yell the word “fore” in order to alert them that a ball is coming their way.

Where did the word "fore" come from?

The word “fore” is believed to come from the word “fore caddie”. Fore caddies were employees of the golf courses. They would travel in front of the golfers throughout their round in order to watch where the ball would land.

What does "forecaddie" mean in golf?

It is probable that golfers shouted to their 'Forecaddie!', who would always be some distance ahead to draw attention to the fact the ball was coming and, in time, this was shortened to 'Fore! The almost contemporaneous appearance of the terms caddie, fore-caddie and Fore! supports this theory over the others.

What does "fore" mean in artillery?

So Fore!' could be derived from an artillery term warning gunners to stand clear. This last explanation means, firstly, that the term 'Ware Before!' ( Beware Before!) was foreshortened to Fore! (rather than Ware!) and, secondly, it must have been sufficiently well known to be used by golfers.

When was the word "fore" first used?

Fore! The etymology for the word "Fore!". is not absolutely certain. The Oxford English Dictionary records its first use in 1878 as a warning cry to people in front of a golf stroke and, like most people, believes it is an abbreviation of the word 'before'.

Why did golfers use "forecaddies"?

From Forecaddie! to Fore! Because golf balls were expensive, golfers employed "Forecaddies" to stand where the ball might land and reduce the number of lost balls , as is done in tournaments today. In 1824 the Rules of the Thistle Golf Club recount a conversation which a youthful Mr Tytler of Woodhouselee, an 'Antiquary' in Edinburgh, ...

What does "fore" mean in golf?

What can be said with certainty, however, is that the term does originate in the fact that "fore" means "ahead" or "before," and, used by a golfer, is a warning to those ahead that a golf ball is coming their way.

When Did Golfers Start Using 'Fore' As a Warning?

"Fore" is in use by golfers around the world. One reason is that its use goes back a long time.

Why do golfers yell "fore"?

Golfers yell 'Fore!' to warn golfers or other people ahead to watch out for an errant golf ball. Fredrik Skold/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism.

What is a forecaddie in golf?

A forecaddie is a person who accompanies a grouping of golfers around the golf course, going forward on each hole to be in a position to pinpoint the locations of the group members' shots. If a member of the group hits an errant shot, the forecaddie tracks down the ball and lets the golfer know its location.

What is the evolution of the term "fore"?

The most plausible theory about the evolution of "fore" as a golf term is that it is a shortening of "forecaddie.". A golfer who hit an errant shot, the theory goes, yelled to the forecaddie to make sure they were watching and tracking.

When was the golf glossary published?

But we know it goes back even farther. The website ScottishGolfHistory.org cites a golf glossary published in 1857 that included fore. It's reasonable to assume that its use predates that 1857 mention by a couple decades, maybe more.

Is "fore" part of golf?

So "fore" has been part of golf for a long time.

What does the fore mean in golf?

Fore is an interjection that golfers shout to warn that they’re about to hit the ball—usually hard and far—as a caution for anyone who may be in the danger zone.

What is a bogey in golf?

A bogey is when someone knocks the ball in one stroke over par. Two strokes is a double bogey, while three strokes over is a triple bogey.

What was the original term for par?

The scoring wasn’t always done this way. In England, the original term for par was ground score. A Scottish golfer in the late 1800s, so the legend goes, said that another golfer who was hitting the ground score was a real bogey man, perhaps because of the popular song at the time "Hush! Hush! Hush!

What is a handicap in golf?

A handicap in golf, and other sports, is when a player has disadvantages or advantages added to level the playing field. A handicapped player might have a handicap of 10, for example, which would mean that they typically shoot 10 strokes over par. Someone who shoots at par is called a scratch golfer, while someone who has a handicap of 18 is called a bogey golfer because they consistently finish a hole one stroke over par. The golf handicap is used by multiplying your handicap by the course rating, dividing it by 113, and then subtracting that number from your final score.

What does "mulligan" mean in golf?

Essentially, it’s a do-over after a bad first shot. It was first recorded in 1900–05 as a proper name. Some stories posit that the term comes from a golfer named David Mulligan, who either teed up another ball by reflex after a bad first swing or did so on purpose after walking up to the ball with a few extra nerves.

What are some words that start with golf?

For people outside of the world of golf, the language used in the game can be confusing. Bogey, fore, par — these and other words may or may not mean anything to you, but on the course, they’re the only way to understand what’s going on. And then there are the words that started with golf but have become more synonymous with other meanings, like stymie.

How many birds are there in golf?

Whereas some golf terms rely on fanciful and fun-to-say words, others rely on the creatures that fly above us. When it comes to scoring, there are three “birds” to know in golf: birdie, eagle, and albatross. A birdie is one stroke under par, an eagle is two strokes under, and an albatross is three strokes under.

How Did 'Fore' Enter The Golf Lexicon?

When You Should Yell Fore on The Golf Course

• It's pretty simple: If you hit a shot and see that your golf ball is heading in the direction of other golfers—and there's a chance, even just a slim one, that your ball will land among or close to those golfers—yell out "fore!" Yell it loud and yell it proud. Yelling it doesn't do anybody any good if you don't scream it loud enough to be heard, af...

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