Why do golfers shout fore?

[Tiger]

Always wondered why that particular word is used. Is it to 'fore'warn other golfers of the impending impact of a small white missile, is it to cover yourself in case the ball hits another player (think other uses of the word fore), or does the use of the word have some other peculiar origin dated back to Braid et al?

 

[Smiffy]

I think it is the shorterned version of "afore" to warn those players "afore" you....although I could be wrong.

 

[drawboy]

Always wondered why that particular word is used. Is it to 'fore'warn other golfers of the impending impact of a small white missile, is it to cover yourself in case the ball hits another player (think other uses of the word fore), or does the use of the word have some other peculiar origin dated back to Braid et al?

It is a shortened cry of Forward.To warn those in front of a wayward ball.

 

[Doh]

In days gone by golfers used to employ a Fore Caddie,someone who would walk ahead to spot where the ball was.
I believe this is where it came from.

 

[USER1999]

Ahh, someone to aim at. Good idea that.

 

[mancity101]

My understanding of the use of the word Fore is that some believe that Golf has its foundation in Holland and the Dutch word for Beware is Voor - which when anglicised becomes Fore

 

[Sam]

Ah the golfers' lament! It's the number of shots needed to get to the green from where you're going!

 

[Faldo_Fan]

One of the Jo....er scottish guys can possibly confirm it to be a shortened version of Afore Ye????

 

[Doh]

Because golf balls were expensive, golfers employed ‘Forecaddies’ to stand where the ball might land and reduce the number of lost balls, as is done in tournaments today. In 1875, Robert Clark mentions that Andrew Dickson performing this role for the Duke of York in 1681 and describes it as “what is now commonly called a fore-caddie”. It is probable that golfers called to their “Forecaddie!”, who would always be some distance ahead to draw attention to the fact the ball was coming and, in time, this was shortened to “Fore!” The almost contemporaneous appearance of the terms caddie, fore-caddie and fore! supports this theory over the others.

 

[bobmac]

From the latin
"fortasse filius nullius"
This was brought about when Virgil hit Emporer Augustus on the bonce with a huge slice.



Hope the mods don't speak Latin

 

[Ethan]

From the latin
"fortasse filius nullius"
This was brought about when Virgil hit Emporer Augustus on the bonce with a huge slice.



Hope the mods don't speak Latin

"In the hole", perhaps?

 

[birdieman]

I suppose it is just the old way of saying forward.

It's better than "Look out ahead there's a ball coming your way"

Similar to climbers/walkers who yell "Below" if they dislodge rocks which ping down the hill.

I grew up skiing before the days of ski brakes, often you'd hear the chorus of "Ski" being yelled as one came hurtling down the mountain. An obvious one that!

All common sense really!

 

[muttleee]

According to Willy Rushton, it's short for 'Fore what it's worth, you're about to be hit by a golf ball'

 

[viscount17]

because 'five' is a bogie?

 

[TRS30]

From the latin
"fortasse filius nullius"
This was brought about when Virgil hit Emporer Augustus on the bonce with a huge slice.



Hope the mods don't speak Latin

That is disgraceful Bob, you B******

 

[centuryg5]

Because golf balls were expensive, golfers employed ‘Forecaddies’ to stand where the ball might land and reduce the number of lost balls, as is done in tournaments today. In 1875, Robert Clark mentions that Andrew Dickson performing this role for the Duke of York in 1681 and describes it as “what is now commonly called a fore-caddie”. It is probable that golfers called to their “Forecaddie!”, who would always be some distance ahead to draw attention to the fact the ball was coming and, in time, this was shortened to “Fore!” The almost contemporaneous appearance of the terms caddie, fore-caddie and fore! supports this theory over the others.

.
I think Doh is spot on, i remember reading something like that a while ago....

 

[bobmac]

From the latin
"fortasse filius nullius"
This was brought about when Virgil hit Emporer Augustus on the bonce with a huge slice.



Hope the mods don't speak Latin

That is disgraceful Bob, you B******

I didn't know Stephen Fry came in here?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It's used as a swear word, shortly followed by the word 'skins'. Normally shouted after I slice another one 50 yards right...

At least, that's why I use it.

 

[JustOne]

It's an abbreviation of the scouse phrase...
"Forkin' hell I've sliced another one!"

 

[Tiger]

LMAO! You guys are better than wikipedia.