why do you yell fore on a golf course?

Why Do Golfers Yell Fore?

• 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. ...

Full Answer

Why do golfers Shout "fore" when teeing off?

Jan 29, 2018 · 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!" after a bad shot that might be hurtling towards another golfer or group of golfers is one of the quickest pieces of golf behavior that every beginner learns.

Why do golfers yell Fore as a warning?

Mar 31, 2022 · Yelling fore is important to prevent accidents on the golf course. However, you should only yell fore if you see someone else is about to hit a ball. Avoid standing in the line of fire, especially if you’re not wearing appropriate gear. Always follow the safety guidelines set by the golf course.

Why do people yell "four" in golf?

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. So Why Yell Fore Fore is the warning call that alerts golfers that they may be in the way of an errand shot.

Why do you shout "four" in golf?

Nov 05, 2020 · Golfers yell "Fore!" when they hit a shot so bad or so far offline that their flying golf ball could land very close to or strike golfers located elsewhere on …

Why do they holler fore at a golf course?

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.

Why do people yell for on the golf course?

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.

What does rough mean in golf?

When a ball goes into the deep rough, Penalty is added if stepping on and plucking up greens. A ball went into the rough. "Rough" means that the state (length) of the lawn is long. There is not much problem if the grass height is low or grows sparsely.

What is a green in golf?

Definition of putting green : a smooth grassy area at the end of a golf fairway containing the hole also : a similar area usually with many holes that is used for practice.

What does it mean to yell fore in golf?

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.

Where did the word "fore" come from?

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.

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.

What does it mean to yell "fore"?

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 "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.".

Who is William McCoy?

Writer Bio. Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.

What Fore Means in Golf?

Usage of the golf term “fore” can be traced back to 1878 and is short for the term “before”. The dictionary has “fore” as a synonym to the word Ahead, and can be understood to mean “look out ahead.”

What Happens Next?

After yelling fore, continue to watch your golf ball’s flight so you can see approximately where it lands. If the ball lands close to people, a few things can happen next.

What Is the Origin of the Word Fore in Golf?

An Old English word dating back as far as the 13th century, ‘fore’ is simply the abbreviated form of the words ‘afore’ and ‘before’ and refers to something or someone in front.

Is Yelling Fore the Only Thing I Should Do?

The answer here is no. 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.

How Often Do Golfers Yell Fore?

The frequency to which the word ‘fore’ is used is difficult to determine. However, it should be used every time you or any other golfer hits an errant shot near another person, even if the person is in the same group.

Forecaddie vs Caddie

As discussed before, a forecaddie is someone who stands downrange from the golfer to locate golf balls hit during the play. A forecaddie’s job is fairly easy but does require some course knowledge.

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" 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.

Where did the word "fore" come from?

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.

Who is Brent Kelley?

Brent Kelley. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated April 01, 2019. "Fore"—actually, fore! —is a word of warning yelled out by a golfer who hits an errant shot.