Origin of the word FORE!!!

[mdbuschsr]

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?

[NormH3]

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.

[Fourputt]

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.

[Zeph]

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

[zeg]

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.

[GaijinGolfer]

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

[mdbuschsr]

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

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

[washmo]

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]

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]

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,

[2bGood]

I have always heard the "Fore caddie theory"

Do you know why it is called a KP? I do ;)

[Fourputt]

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.

[Koth]

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.

[2bGood]

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.

[nevets88]

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

[Shanks A Million]

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