Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast!
IGNORED

Origin of the word FORE!!!

mdbuschsr

By mdbuschsr
in Golf Talk

 Share
Note: This thread is 5791 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

mdbuschsr Well Established Member

mdbuschsr

Posted
Posted
Question from the wife... "Who the hell came up with fore, why don't they just say, LOOK OUT!!"?

So, what is the story behind the word?

In the bag
Driver: Tour Burner 10.5*
Fairway: Launcher 2009 17*
Irons: X-18r 4-SW
Gap Wedge: CG15 52*Wedge: X Tour 60*Putter: Crimson 550Ball: E5


NormH3 Dedicated Member

NormH3

Posted
Posted
Not sure if I made this up or read it somewhere, but it might mean "lookout foreward" Probably shortened so that its easier to belt out.

Eclipse Stand Bag
Big Bertha 2007 460 11°
Big Bertha 2007 3w 16°
Big Bertha 2007 7w 22°
C9 475 2h 18° Insight XTD 5i-SW White Hot XG #7--------------------------------http://www.linkedin.com/in/normh3


Fourputt Incredible Member

Fourputt

Posted
Posted
Not sure if I made this up or read it somewhere, but it might mean "lookout foreward" Probably shortened so that its easier to belt out.

Yep... that's all there is to it. Nothing complex or interesting. Just warning someone to the

fore of you.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1
1
1

Zeph Incredible Member

Zeph

Posted
Posted
Question from the wife... "Who the hell came up with fore, why don't they just say, LOOK OUT!!"?

Because it is two words, takes more time to yell. You only really hear the "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" in fore, which is enough. Hearing words at long distances is not an option, so you need a word or letter that can be uttered continously and loud.

So, what is the story behind the word?

http://www.scottishgolfhistory.net/f...derivation.htm

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1

zeg Great Member

zeg

Posted
Posted
It's also nice that it's a unique word that is standard. You don't have to think about what they're saying, because that's the only thing it ever means, so you can react that much more quickly.

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"


GaijinGolfer Super Member

GaijinGolfer

Posted
Posted
All of the other four letter words were already taken...

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S


mdbuschsr Well Established Member

mdbuschsr

Posted
  • Author
Posted
All of the other four letter words were already taken...

I think this is the "real" reason!! LOL

In the bag
Driver: Tour Burner 10.5*
Fairway: Launcher 2009 17*
Irons: X-18r 4-SW
Gap Wedge: CG15 52*Wedge: X Tour 60*Putter: Crimson 550Ball: E5


  • 2 weeks later...
washmo Newbie

washmo

Posted
Posted
There are two possibilities I've heard of. Once upon a time there was a thing called a "fore caddy," a person who basically walks up ahead of you and watches where your ball goes (these have long since gone out of fashion). Naturally, if you hit your shot toward your fore caddy, you will warn them - by yelling "fore." Another less likely origin is military. When a commander wanted their forward line to get down so a rear line could fire they would yell something like "forward" or "fore." Just like today, it keeps you from getting killed by a ball (be it smooth lead or dimpled plastic) to the head.

Reminds me of a joke:

A guy is about to tee off when a man walks up to him and holds up a sign that reads, "I'm a deaf mute, may I please play through?" The guy says, "No way. Just because you're a deaf mute doesn't mean you get to play through. You can play like everyone else, so you should wait your turn like everyone else." He tees off and goes about his round. As he's about to make his second shot, a ball hits him in the head and knocks him unconscious. When he wakes up the deaf mute is standing over him holding up four fingers.

Ignorant Great Member

Ignorant

Posted
Posted
Because it is two words, takes more time to yell. You only really hear the "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" in fore, which is enough. Hearing words at long distances is not an option, so you need a word or letter that can be uttered continously and loud.

I'm in favor of the forecaddie theory. In the old days people used to shout FORE

before they hit the ball. Bearing in mind the basic principle of Golf Etiquette (that must have been around for several centuries) that no one should hit his ball if there is a slightest possibility that it might hit another person on the course, it does not sound plausible that people would have been yelling FORE and then just hitting the ball relying other people would just duck just in case. Think of a crowded course where everybody would just hit their balls at random and keep yelling FORE in advance shifting the responsibilty of an incident to those in front. What a nightmare!

bigoak Dedicated Member

bigoak

Posted
Posted
Fore means
adj.
Located at or toward the front; forward.
Earlier in order of occurrence; former.
n.
Something that is located at or toward the front.
The front part.
adv.
At, toward, or near the front; forward.
At an earlier time.

hitting someone with your ball is going to cost you more money if you haven't yelled fore than if you had warned the people ahead. When playing golf there is an assumption of risk. Fore activates a warning for the risk,

Taylormade Driver HT
Taylormade 3 HT

Mcgregor 7w
Vulcan irons 5-P
Solus 53 61

Vokey 56

Scotty Caneron Flange/ Ping Cushin

Srixon ZStar

71 gold tees

bring cash


2bGood Dedicated Member

2bGood

Posted
Posted
I have always heard the "Fore caddie theory"

Do you know why it is called a KP? I do ;)
Driver R7 Superquad NV 55 shaft or Bridgestone J33 460 NV 75 shaft
3 and 5 Wood X
Hybrid original Fli Hi 21* or FT 22*
Irons AP2
Wedges Vokey 52* - 8 , 56* 14, 60*-7Putter California CoranodoBall TP RedGPS NeoRange Finder- Bushnell Tour V2 When Chuck Norris puts spin on the ball, the ball does not...

Fourputt Incredible Member

Fourputt

Posted
Posted
I have always heard the "Fore caddie theory"

Why what is a called a KP??? I can't think of any golf related reference. It stands for "kitchen police" in the military... meaning that you are responsible for policing the kitchen, i.e keeping the kitchen in order.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1
1
1

Koth Well Established Member

Koth

Posted
Posted
Funny side note.

I was at the driving range today, and one of my shots hit the cart that drives around and picks up the range balls. I yelled "score" and noticed that the guy a few boxes to side of me ducked.

We had a laugh afterwards.

Driver: 4DX SuperMag 10.5º
Fairway Wood: 4DX 3-Wood
Hybrids: 5DX 3, 4
Irons: 4DX Pro 5-PW
Wedges: Arc 52º, 54º, VR 58ºPutter(s): SeeMore FGP OriginalBag: Org.14 Xtreme


2bGood Dedicated Member

2bGood

Posted
Posted
Why what is a called a KP??? I can't think of any golf related reference. It stands for "kitchen police" in the military... meaning that you are responsible for policing the kitchen, i.e keeping the kitchen in order.

KP is the term used for the closest to the pin. It and old golf term, much like "Fore" no one is really sure of the origin, but the best guess is it is short for Keenest Position.

Driver R7 Superquad NV 55 shaft or Bridgestone J33 460 NV 75 shaft
3 and 5 Wood X
Hybrid original Fli Hi 21* or FT 22*
Irons AP2
Wedges Vokey 52* - 8 , 56* 14, 60*-7Putter California CoranodoBall TP RedGPS NeoRange Finder- Bushnell Tour V2 When Chuck Norris puts spin on the ball, the ball does not...

  • Moderator
nevets88 Incredible Member

nevets88

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

Fore! is used because Yo! is just too undignified for the golf course.

Steve

Kill slow play. Allow walking. Reduce ineffective golf instruction. Use environmentally friendly course maintenance.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1

Shanks A Million Great Member

Shanks A Million

Posted
Posted
Actually, the story is fairly simple. Golf was played by mariners in the early days. The term fore, as has been pointed out, is merely the word for foreward, or front. So, basically, "lookout ahead."

There are several other golf terms that can be traced back to marine terms:

Bunker - An emplacement
Fairway - Navigable waterway

Note: This thread is 5791 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).

  • Posts

    • StuM
      Turning Stone - Thoughts & Updates?

      By StuM · Posted

      I was recently told that Turning Dtone in New York is a nice overall resort and they’ve they have 3 courses as well as many other amenities. A quick TST search turned up older threads with a lot of comments on how difficult the courses are. Does anybody know if they have “relaxed” the courses over the years or are they still hard as far as resort courses go? I do not mind a hard course but my wife can get frustrated but if good scenery and good course conditions she may still enjoy a hard course. What are your thoughts on their courses and the resort in general? Edited for typos  
    • iacas
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By iacas · Posted

      Day 615 - 2026-06-09 Officiated in the morning and then did some Skillest lessons before getting some work in during a really long seventh inning (I think).
    • 5amZ
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By 5amZ · Posted

      Day 280 6-9 low point control, practice missing towel. No ball, started to get the hang of hitting way in front of towel. Going to keep at it. 
    • WillieT
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By WillieT · Posted

      Day 9 - (9 Jun 26) - Weekly nine hole session with my good friend, I played again from one set of tees up from my usual (set up the bag 4h, 6i-Pw, Gw, Lw) to focus more on iron play in the approaches (esp longer ones on the 4's and 5's).  Used the hybrid for tee shots only, had to play irons in from there on....made for a great work on course management and dealing with iron shots I normally don't see.  Key focus was on keeping ball in play, playing to distances that set up for either GiR or nGiR's.  Played a split nine (5 on the front, 4 on the back - the turn works nicely as both nines turn and run parallel coming in - easy to jump from 5 to 15 (especially when the course is not busy)).  Worked with my friend on his course management skills - offering thoughts as a "caddie" might and helping him to confidently choose and execute the shot he was seeing. 
    • WillieT
      Swing Thoughts & Mental Game

      By WillieT · Posted

      Interesting that you post this - was playing today with my good friend in our typical weekly nine-hole round.  He has a lot of chatter in his mind, most of the time, yet today was much improved.  Yes, he went through a number of swing thoughts (like the ones highlighted), but then you could almost hear the switch click off - it was like when I shot the distance, and said its "X yards", he confidently said "this club should cover that..." and made his shot most of which were nicely rewarded.   Came away shooting one of his best nine-hole rounds ever.  For me, I do have thoughts  - not in terms of negotion but rather evaluation.  What is the wind doing?  Is there trouble - left, right, middle - not that I am a great fader or drawer of the ball?  Where is the better landing spot/zone?  What is my target window and what in the distance helps me see it?  I wonder if the "negotiation" is more about not understanding "typical distance for a given club (carry and roll)" and more about remembering how that flushed 5i that went and went or how the 4i that can get there with but not reliably or accurately.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

  I accept