Fore or not to Fore, that is the question

[Wildrover]

Sometimes you can't do right for doing wrong though. Last summer I carved one right onto another fairway and could see it was heading towards an elderly chap walking down that hole, I could also see that although close, it wasn't going to hit him. I did not shout fore as I didn't want him to take evasive action and possibly move into the path of my ball. I explained this to him as I apologised but still got a mouthful of abuse. No excuse for the pro's though when it's heading into a mass of people, I'm surprised someone isn't injured every week.

 

[joma1108]

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.

Sorry to clarify you dont physically sign anything, any golf tournament i have been to states something along the lines of "the competition organisers, sponsors players etc cannot be held responsible for any damage to you or your property whilst on the course or surrounds blah blah."
i was at the johnnie walker last year at gleneagles and surprised how many times the ball actually went offline into the crowd or very close and most with no shout.

 

[bladeplayer]

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?

This would be my thoughts aswell , ok they dont hit it off line that often but when they do if the shout fore 500 people could be diving for cover , also if im standing along the 14th fairway , more than likely im watchin the players teeing off the 14th so i will see the players & marshalls signal left or right ? you can normaly tell which way it is gone by watching the "quiet please" board the marshals wave ,, dont think shouting fore would be much benifit at pro level realy ..

 

[Monty_Brown]

The answer is to always shout fore.

Can't believe there is even a debate about it TBH. So at a tournament, the crowds might not hear it or might not know where the ball is coming from. I think they'd rather have SOME chance to protect themselves than none at all. This is not the pro's choice to make. People's wellbeing is at stake.

It's not a matter for discussion while the ball is in the air...

Pro : "Well I've carved that into the crowd. Should I shout?"

Caddy: "I dunno, will they even hear you, you do hit it a very long way?"

Pro: "Good point: And they have all signed a disclaimer absolving me of blame"

Caddy: "Quite right. And they are spectators at a golf tournament, so by rights they should be constantly looking around them for a ball in motion, from any and every direction, for the entire 10 hours they are here"

Pro: "That's decided then, I'll save my vocal cords, and maybe get a nice kick back into play".

Utter cobblers. Just shout people.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Might get interesting if one of the crowd takes offense at the total lack of disregard the pros have for them and chins one of the players! They may in future shout a warning of fore. The lack of a shout is in my view disgraceful.

 

[spawn_ukuk]

The people are there at there own risk, i think we all know that
But i do think players should shout fore, if they dont a penalty,
Its cost nothing to shout fore, to potentiallly save a ball boucning off a kids head.

 

[garyinderry]

exactly, shout FORE Mr Bigshot Pro Players. Its golf etiquette. Even people who have never played the game know that!