When did golfers first use the term'fore'?
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.
What is the origin of the word 'fore'?
"Fore!", originally a Scots interjection, is used to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball. [1] The etymology of the word in this usage is uncertain. Mention of the term in an 1881 British Golf Museum indicates that the term was in use at least as early as that period.
What does'fore'mean in golf?
The Origin in 'Fore!' in Golf 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'.
When did golfers start using'fore'as a warning?
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. 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.
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'.
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.
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 was the East Gate of Ramsay's Fort?
In researching the history and layout of Ramsay's Fort, it became clear that the East Gate directly overlooked the Links where golfers were playing, as best they could , among all the military preparations and sieges that went on in the middle of the 16th Century.
What was Ramsay's fort?
Ramsay's Fort was a triangular stone bastion on the right side of the river mouth. Most of the rest of the walls were earthen works.
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.
Why was the East Gate built?
This was part of the great fortifications that ringed Leith, including the aforementioned East Gate, which were built by the French to withstand the Siege of Leith by the English in 15 60. The English did not take the fort, but the fortifications were destroyed not long afterwards as part of the uneasy peace with England.
What is the meaning of "fore" in golf?
Fore is a golf term used as a warning or to alert people on the golf course of an oncoming ball or of a shot you have made. It is believed to have evolved from forecaddie, a term that describes the person that walks with golfers checking each hole to pinpoint a golfer’s shots.
Where did the term "fore" come from?
Another theory for the origin of the term ‘fore’ is that it has a military attachment. In the 17th and 18th centuries (when golf was taking hold in Britain), the infantry advanced its formation as artillery batteries fired from behind over the top of infantrymen.
When Was It First Used?
Various theories are attached to the origin of the term ‘fore’ but a lot is not known about how it turned out to be a golf term .
Why does a forecaddie go forward on each hole?
As he escorts golfers, a forecaddie goes forward on each hole so that he is positioned to pinpoint the locations of the shots of his group members. In case a group member hits an errant shot, it’s the role of a forecaddie to track down the ball and informs the golfer about its location.
What are the terms used in golf?
Golf, just like any sport has got various terms it uses. They include birdie, par, eagle, double eagle, bogey, double and triple bogey and fore among others. If you are a golf player or an aspiring one, it is important you understand what these terms mean to avoid confusion.
What is the first thing you learn about golf?
In other words, it is to forewarn other golfers on the golf course of a coming shot. As a golf beginner, the first thing you learn is to scream ‘fore’ after making a bad shot that could be dashing towards a group of or a single golfer.
When was the word "fore" first used?
Fore, which originally was a Scots interjection was used as early as 1881. Fore is used to warn people moving or standing in the flight of a golf ball. Some theories believe that it originated from the military term ‘beware before’ which was yelled by a soldier about to fire to alert nearby people to drop to the ground.
When was the word "fore" first used?
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. Its origin is almost certainly earlier and bound up with that of the word Caddie.
Why do we call it the Fore?
It was speculated that the term Fore! might have been used to warn those in front to keep their heads down.
Why did the gunners use the term "gunnery"?
The noise of the gunnery practice would be remembered, if heard. It is possible the gunners used the term to warn the golfers, when they were practicing firing and the golfers then began to use it among themselves. The golf players at Leith Links were influential people in political and golfing terms.
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.
Who played Duke of York in 1681?
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 aged Andrew Dickson when he said that he had performing this role for the Duke of York in 1681 at Leith Links.
Did the English take the Leith Links?
The English did not take the fort, but the fortifications were destroyed not long afterwards as part of the uneasy peace with England. However, there are still two hillocks on Leith Links, allegedly gun embankments called 'Lady Fife's Brae' and 'Giant's Brae', built by Sir William Pelham, Captain of the English Pioneers, in 1560.
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.
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).
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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, had with the aged Andrew Dickson when he...
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 to …
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 boo…
from Forecaddie! to Fore!
Shoot Over Their Heads!
- Various theories are attached to the origin of the term ‘fore’ but a lot is not known about how it turned out to be a golf term. It has been used by golfers around the world and is believed to date back to 1881 where it is mentioned in a golf book, the British Golf Museum. This indicates that the term was already in use by that time. As much as the...
Ware Before! - The John Knox Story