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Why do golfers shout 'fore'? What does it mean and what is the history behind it?
Steve Njuguna
updated at September 12, 2023 at 2:29 PM
Every time you are on a golf course, you are likely to hear a player shout the word 'fore' after playing a shot. It is often followed by everyone around scampering for cover! In today's article, we discover why golfers shout 'fore' and what you should do once you hear that term.
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Despite its popularity, golf remains a complex sport for beginners and neutrals to understand due to its numerous rules. It is important to understand the various fouls and penalties as well as other common terminologies so that you can have an advantage over your opponents during a game.
Why do golfers shout 'fore'?
The origin of why golfers yell 'fore' comes from a military background. The term was normalised by artillerymen in the 1800s when they warned other soldiers to be careful when launching projectiles at the enemy.
The term was co-opted into golf to warn other players to look out for errant balls in the air, especially if a player has played a bad shot. In the past, it was also used as a notification to the forecaddie to look out for the ball.
What is a Forecaddie?
A forecaddie is someone who assists in ensuring the continuity of a golf game by helping players with their clubs, locating balls and other small tasks around the green; this role was mainly prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries but is not expected today.
What do you do when a golfer shouts 'fore'?
When a golfer shouts 'fore', it is basically a heads-up instruction for fellow golfers to be wary as the ball is in an unpredictable trajectory.
The warning is issued to allow people in the immediate vicinity to avoid head injuries from the ball, as most golf balls are heavy and will approach someone quickly. Sometimes, golfers shout fore-left or fore-right to indicate the direction in which the ball is heading so that people can take the necessary precautions.
Why do pro golfers not shout 'fore'?
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Some Professional golfers do not yell 'fore' when they hit the ball, especially towards spectators, and this is a cause of widespread debate as sometimes spectators end up suffering serious head injuries.
However, there is no rule compelling pro golfers to shout 'fore', and those who do it do so as a courtesy to their spectators. In some major tournaments, three or four spectators may end up sustaining injuries from ball hits in instances where they have not been issued prior warnings.
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How do you say good luck to a golfer?
In terms of golf terminologies, there are several ways to say good luck to a golfer. Here are some of them:
1. | May The Fores Be With You |
2. | Enjoy The 19th Hole |
3. | Hit ‘Em Long And Straight |
4. | May The Course Be With You |
5. | Have A Great Round |
6. | Stay Out Of The Bunkers |
7. | Enjoy Your Round |
8. | Stay Out Of The Sand Traps |
9. | Good Shooting |
10. | Have Fun |
11. | May you avoid the rough |
12. | Don’t Throw Your Clubs |
13. | May Your Putts Always Find The Hole |
14. | Hit ‘Em Straight And Far |
15. | Drive For Show, Putt For Dough |
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A golf course can be an intimidating place for a beginner or spectator, especially with all the complex procedures and protocols. That is why it is important to understand why golfers yell 'fore' and the possible implications of the term. It may end up being the difference between avoiding or sustaining an injury.
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