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when do you say fore in golf

by Ayla Gerlach IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Meaning. Use of the term "fore" dates back to 1878, according to the Oxford Dictionary. ...
  • Yelling. When you hit a shot off the tee, fairway or even from the rough and the ball flies toward an adjacent fairway, shout "fore" loudly and clearly.
  • Reaction. During play, you might hear fore being yelled near you. ...
  • Considerations. ...

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.Apr 7, 2011

Full Answer

Why yell Fore fore fore in golf?

"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 fore warned, in other words. Screaming "fore!"

What does'fore'mean in golf?

Apr 07, 2022 · Golf etiquette dictates that golfers should always yell “fore” upon hitting a shot that carries the risk of hitting another golfer. As long as you yelled “fore,” you did all you could to warn the other golfers. Convey this message to them in as polite a manner as possible.

What does it mean to yell'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 (45.9 g). "Fore!", originally a Scots interjection, is used to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball. The etymology of the word in this usage is uncertain.

Is yelling'fore'good golf etiquette?

Nov 05, 2020 · The reason why might be obvious to some people, but for a lot of folks new to golf, why golfers yell "Fore!" is a bit of a mystery. Further still, why golfers started yelling "Fore!"

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Why do you yell out fore in golf?

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 of the term "fore-caddie" which was eventually shortened to just "fore!".

Do you say fore or four in golf?

Golf etiquette dictates that golfers should always yell "fore" upon hitting a shot that carries the risk of hitting another golfer. As long as you yelled "fore," you did all you could to warn the other golfers.

Why do you shout fore?

Fore is the shout that is traditionally used in golf to warn other golfers on the course that you have mishit your shot and it could potentially be heading in their direction in order to give them a warning so they can make themselves safe.

Does fore mean forward?

1 : in, toward, or near the front : forward The plane's exits are located fore and aft.

What is the prefix of fore?

fore- a prefix meaning “before” (in space, time, condition, etc.), “front,” “superior,” etc.: forehead; forecastle; forecast; foretell; foreman.

What does Hole mean in golf?

It can refer to the hole in the ground on the putting green; to the whole hole, from tee to green; or, used as a verb, "hole" or "to hole" means to get the golf ball into the hole on the green. That's the object of the game. If you "hole a putt," you have made your putt — rolled it into the cup.Jan 15, 2019

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 was the word "fore" used in golf?

One reason is that its use goes back a long time. The British Golf Museum cites an 1881 reference to "fore" in a golf book, establishing that the term was already in use at that early date. The Merriam-Webster dictionary pegs the beginning of the golf use of fore to 1878. But we know it goes back even farther.

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.

Is golf a military term?

Has a Military Origin. Another popular theory, one cited by the USGA Museum, is that the term has a military origin. In warfare of the 17th and 18th century (a time period when golf was really taking hold in Britain), infantry advanced in formation while artillery batteries fired from behind, over the heads of the infantrymen.

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, ...

Who was the fore caddie?

Dickson was then performing the duty of what is now commonly called a fore-cady. Robert Clark repeated the story in his history in 1875 as 'what is now commonly called a fore-caddie'.

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 ...

Why do golfers 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.

What does "caddie" mean in golf?

The term caddie is a shortening of the term forecaddie, which meant the person that went ahead of the golfer to hunt for their ball once struck. Another theory contends yelling "Fore!". was designed to warn the forecaddie that the ball was going in a particularly bad direction.

Do pro golfers point in the direction of their ball?

Many times, pro golfers will also point in the direction in which their ball is heading so those who may not hear them shout from hundreds of yards away could at least see them pantomime and know that they should be on the lookout for an incoming ball.

Why Do Golfers Yell Fore? (How the Word Entered Golf)

"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 fore warned, in other words. More ›

Fore (golf) - Wikipedia

"Fore!", originally a Scots interjection, is used to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball. The mention of the term in an 1881 British Golf Museum indicates that the term was in use at least as early as that period. More ›

Why do golfers yell "Fore!" and what does it mean?

The term caddie is a shortening of the term forecaddie, which meant the person that went ahead of the golfer to hunt for their ball once struck. Another theory contends yelling "Fore!" was designed... More ›

Why do People Yell Fore in Golf? - All That is Interesting!

Golfers yell, "Fore!" to let others know there might be a small ball sailing perilously close to their head within the next few seconds. It is basically a warning for others to duck out of the way. Golf, like many games involving a ball propelled at speed, can sometimes incur injuries to both players and spectators. More ›

Why do Golfers Yell "Fore"? (with pictures)

One possible origin for the term "fore" is the seafaring term for "front." There are a variety of explanations as to why golfers yell "fore" when hitting a golf ball. While no one is exactly sure where the term came from, it is now a commonly used way to warn other people on the golf course. More ›

Why Do Golfers Yell 'Fore' When Playing Golf? - Coaching Kidz

First off, you should yell fore as soon as practicable to give enough time for the group in the line of fire to seek cover. Secondly, while shouting 'fore' is a great start, there are other things golfers should do to assist the group in front of you. More ›

What does "fore" mean?

The term is a short form of the word "before," which is a synonym to "ahead.". Thus, fore literally means, "look out ahead.".

When to shout fore?

Shouting the word once usually suffices, although it's acceptable to shout it repeatedly if you see your shot sailing toward another group of golfers. If you lose sight of your shot but know it was errant, yelling the term is suitable.

What is the best reaction to a yelled fore?

When you hear the word, your immediate reaction might be to look around for the incoming ball. The best reaction, however, is to duck and shield your face.

Should you yell "fore"?

Considerations. Golf etiquette dictates that golfers should always yell "fore" upon hitting a shot that carries the risk of hitting another golfer. As long as you yelled "fore," you did all you could to warn the other golfers. Convey this message to them in as polite a manner as possible.

Why do golfers shout fore?

This is a military term used by artillerymen to warn the infantrymen ahead of them on the frontline to watch out that missiles were about to be launched.

Is "fore" a word?

The long answer is that most agree that fore is a foreshortening of another word or phrase. However the etymologists cannot agree which word or phrase. But even that general statement would be contested by some. Fore as a word in itself means “situated in front” and it is argued that a cry of fore!

What does "fore" mean in golf?

Fore is the warning call that alerts golfers that they may be in the way of an errand shot. An example of yelling fore is when you tee up on the first tee with all the eager spectators watching on and you hit an almighty slice towards the third fairway, you need to yell ‘Fore’ to let anyone on the third fairway know that they might be in danger and to tried to cover themselves as best they can.

Why do they say "fore"?

The word fore may have it’s origins from the military when artillery men would yell ‘Warning Be ’Fore’ so any infantry could protect themselves and not be exposed to dangerous shell explosions. While a golf ball is not exactly a projectile of war, it can cause a lot of damage if it hits you on the face or the head.

How to shout fore on golf course?

Hen you hear it on the golf course, do not turn towards the shout but turn away and block the back of your head. Crouch down if you can and get behind a tree or a golf cart if possible. If you hit an errand shot, make sure to shout ‘Fore’ because golf balls can cause some serious damage even though they do compress on impact.

What does it mean when you shout for golf?

The immediate reaction of most people when they hear a shout of for is to cover their heads from protection from a potentially incoming, usually stray, golf ball. Fore is the shout that is traditionally used in golf to warn other golfers on the course that you have mishit your shot and it could potentially be heading in their direction in order ...

Can a golf ball kill you?

While a golf ball is not exactly a projectile of war, it can cause a lot of damage if it hits you on the face or the head. Check out our article on whether a golf ball can kill you to find out more but just know that while most deaths on the course are caused by heart attacks and even some by golf carts, there is still a chance ...

Is golf a gentleman's game?

Golf Is A Gentleman’s Game. Golf is a game steeped in proud tradition and one of those traditions is to yell fore when you hit a bad shot towards anyone else on the course. It is good etiquette and you would expect another player on the course to do the same if they hit the ball towards you.

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How Did 'Fore' Enter The Golf Lexicon?

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Why is the term "fore" used for this purpose and what is the origin of the term? There are several different theories. Two of the most commonly cited are that "fore" evolved from another golf word, forecaddie; and that "fore" has its origins in military usage.
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'Fore Right' and 'Fore Left'

  • Should you add anything to "fore" to provide more information to the golfers who might be in danger? 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. Adding "right" or "l…
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What to Do When You Hear 'Fore!'

  • 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). 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 ha…
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from Forecaddie! to Fore!

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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, had with the age…
See more on scottishgolfhistory.org

Shoot Over Their Heads!

  • A second explanation, still given by the USGA, derives from the military battle craft of musket days, when rank after rank would fire fusillades, some over the heads of those in front. It was speculated that the term Fore! might have been used to warn those in front to keep their heads down. Modern historians pour cold water on this theory, partly because it is difficult to relate it t…
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Ware Before! - The John Knox Story

  • There is a third explanation, which appears utterly implausible, but which is an outside possibility. It derives from a story told by John Knox (1505?-1572) the 'hell-fire' protestant reformer. He tells the tale, as only hell-fire preachers can, of someone arriving at the East Port (east gate) of Leith. This story was noticed by Dr Neilson and subsequently reported by Robert Browning in his book …
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