Why Do Golfers Shout Fore on Bad Shots?
Copyright: 2021 Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR
We’ve all been there: standing on a tee box, ready to launch a drive down the fairway to the delight of our friends and playing competitors. Suddenly, the Golf Gods shift the winds of fate and our golf ball curves aggressively to the right (or left) and towards another group of players. All golfers are taught the same reaction in this scenario: to shout FORE! as loud as we can to warn the innocent.
But why that word? What’s the meaning behind the use of the term “fore?”
The history of this peculiar term dates as early as the late 1800’s, per the British Golf Museum. It was most likely originated by the Scots, and still as a warning to other people on the golf course in danger of being injured by an errant shot. But what does the term “fore” actually mean?
According to Golf Monthly, the jury is still out on that. Most agree that the term “fore” is a shortening of another word from golf’s past: fore-caddie. These variants of the more traditional caddie we all know and love are golf course employees (usually kids) who stand mid-range down a golf hole to track drives as they are hit. If a player’s shot is headed in a wayward direction, common courtesy was to yell fore to alert the fore-caddie to take cover.
Another interpretation of the term suggests that “fore” simply means “situated in front,” implying a warning about any shot headed toward another person. Think of it as the historical equivalent of “head’s up!”
Yet another interpretation suggests that the term is a shortening of the phrase “beware before,” and for the same reasons. In other words, you are providing a warning to another person “before” they get clobbered by your Titleist.
Regardless of the term’s origins, it’s always a good practice to shout toward other players in danger of your bad golf shots. Having been hit by a golf ball more than once (which should surprise nobody), it is an incredibly unpleasant experience that no golfer should endure.
