Fore or not to Fore, that is the question

[joma1108]

Im at a loss every time i watch professional golfers take other peoples lives in their hands or risk them serious injury by not shouting a customary warning for wayward shots.

Phil Miickelson whom i admire greatly was the latest culprit at the Northern trust open,a slice to the right (for him) late into his round when he was going well heading straight for the crowd and not one shout from him, his caddie or playing partners, as it was it went into the crowd and thankfully no one was hurt.

I know there is a lot of money at stake and hitting someone and rebounding back into play or a more favourable lie is a price worth paying for some of these players, sign a cap or give the unlucky recipients a sleeve of balls and were all good.

I have to say that i think that there should be a penalty of 2 strokes where there is a deliberate decision not to shout a warning.

I mean you get disqualified these days for the ball moving a fraction of an inch after addressing and a sofa surfer spots it, brings it to the attention of the professional body. whats worse?? anyway thats a different topic for another day.

The fact you sign a waiver to say that if you are injured you cant sue the players, sponsor or golf club if you are hit should not be a get out of jail free card.

Interesting to hear your thoughts on this subject

 

[Aztecs27]

I guess the argument is, if you're there to watch the golf, you'd be aware of balls heading your way. Still doesn't make it right though.

If I'm in doubt, I'll shout it. Even if it then ends up 30 yards behind where I thought it might end up.

 

[PPE]

I was going to post exactly the same thing.

Two years ago I was hit by a golf ball knocking my four front teeth out and cutting my bottom lip badly. Will it take something like this, or worse, before they realise what can actually happen.

Lets not forget a golf ball travels at speeds at over 100mph, but probably a lot less on its way down, but if it hits you in the right place i.e. eye, temple etc it can cause serious damage.

What happens if its a little girl that gets hit and killed? Is it really worth gaining an extra shot in a golf tournament?

I also like Phil, but come on chap think about the safety of others first and foremost.

 

[joma1108]

I almost lost my left eye years ago where a wayward ball hit me thankfully it "only" gave me concussion and 9 stitches, there was a shout of fore i hasten to add.
I agree that there is an element of "you have to expect golf balls to be flying about" the issue is that from 300+ yards away are you really going to see the flight.
I laways shout fore even if i think it might not reach, better safe than sorry, especially with £400,000 been paqid out recently to a golfer who lost his eye.

 

[jammag]

Even though I am not a big fan of Phil, I am sure last night I heard a couple of occasions where he shouted fore. I have never been to watch golf live like that so I am unsure what the noise levels are like with people walking between holes when the players are not near? Is it possible to here a shout over these noise levels? Do people actually take notice of people teeing off? I have noticed a lot of the pros will point in a direction the ball is going, or the marshalls behind them wave the direction of the ball. Is this why the pros do not shout as you are supposed to be watching this people waving like they are directing a plane in?

 

[AmandaJR]

I think they look arrogant - holding their arm out in utter disdain - drives me as mad as spitting does :rant:

I sometimes feel a right chump shouting (ok perhaps squeeking!) FORE and then the ball doesn't even get close but if I think it might then I holler.

 

[pokerjoke]

I think its very poor ettiquette.
I have seen pros shout fore and point left or right,but they then do it
again,and nothing is said.
Surely this should be second nature.
I like to shout fore,point in the direction,and shout the hole number.
I play right next to a park,we have saftey nets but the are not enough.
I just close my eyes and pray no one gets hurt when a ball flys in the park.

 

[USER1999]

The distance some of these guys hit a ball, is any one going to hear them shout? how does the bit of the crowd where the ball is heading know the shout is for them, and not any one else? At least sticking an arm out is a visual indication of the direction of the ball, and the spectators really should be watching the golf, or why are they there?

 

[MegaSteve]

The fact you sign a waiver to say that if you are injured you cant sue the players, sponsor or golf club if you are hit should not be a get out of jail free card.

Don't believe this would count a jot in the event of a 'serious' injury or death...

As for shouting FORE myself I tend to shout as a matter of courtesy...

Has been said though that when I shout everyone on the course hits the deck... Still not quite worked out if they are questioning how loud I shout or how wayward I can be ...

 

[Foxholer]

I'm pretty sure that in the Litigation obsessed land that US is, the players need only indicate the direction of the aberrant drive and Marshals/Flag wavers down the course will shout Fore. Tee mikes don't pick these up of course, as these guys are about 280yds away! Some guys continue to yell Fore, but that may be just habit and/or to prevent a different 4-letter word being used!

 

[AmandaJR]

Thing is it's not only off the tee they're wayward and still it seems more prevalent not to shout. I don't advocate that a pro golfer has to be a role model to the country's kids but would hope they'd set a better example in terms of etiquette on the course and playing to the rules etc etc.

 

[wull]

i actually tweeted about this after watching phil mickelson play that shot.i love the guy to bits and root for him but that seriously peeved me off!!!!

i suppose the only good thing about it is the victim usually gets a signed glove which for me would make up for getting hit,in fact i'd probably try my best to get hit

 

[Lollfred]

shout fore no matter who you are ... a direction helps too dont u think ?

fore left etc !!!!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I think safety has to be the most important thing here and if a golfer of any standard sends a ball towards spectators or other golfers, he should have a duty to try and warn them.

Not to try is negligent in my book

Unfortunately I feel it is only a matter of time before a spectator is killed at a tour event

Fragger

 

[Brookesy]

I remember seeing phil hit a shot on thursday that just went over a spectators head, would have done alot of damage if it hit him i imagine.

 

[connor]

whilst having a lesson the other day i was in the swing room to the side of the range i heard someone bellow fore from within the range and seen a ball fly infront of the fitting the room over the massive fence and head towards the first to which made me laugh and say to the pro i think i found your next customer haha

as for shouting fore i always do shout and a direction and hold an arm out. Trouble is we play on top of the cliffs so on a windy day it cant always be heard much to some womans dismay when my ball landed next to her. Also last week i had a woman marching up the fairway towards me asking if i lost a ball towards the beach so i said yes then she started how i almost hit her dog hahaha. But i thanked her for returning my ball and said sorry .

 

[HawkeyeMS]

It wouldn't hurt for them to shout fore, but it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference most of the time

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Is this signing a waiver thing purely a US tournament thing. I've never been asked to sign anything at the BMW etc although I'm sure if I looked closely at the small print on the ticket there will be some get out clause no doubt. Inevitably a spectator either in the US or on the European tour will be seriously injured one day and I'm pretty certain it will end up in court. By not shouting surely the player is being reckless and I'm also certain if the crowd by the tee, the players etc all shouted the noise would definitely filter down and at least make the spectators near the projected landing zone aware. It isn't as if they are competing to be heard agaisnt another set of fans etc.

 

[bluetoon]

Wish our fairways were lined with people willing to nut my ball back into play if i miss-queued my tee shot. :lol:

 

[garyinderry]

always shout fore even if im unsure it it will reach. if its online with someone a shot is necessary. people usually give you a wave to say thanks. id rather be safe than sorry.

i was on the course the other day in the rain. about 4 people in total were out. i was at where my tee shot landed and the guy in the hole next to me was at the tee. wouldnt you know he hit the slice. i heard a FORE shout. ducked down. heard a 2nd FORE shout and got behind my trolly. as you can guess the ball crashed into the trolly. you know when you hear the second shout that its serious! ended up playing a few holes with him. sound chap!