Why do golfers shout 4?

Answer 1

Fore" is another word for "ahead" (think of a ship's fore and aft). Yelling "fore" is simply a shorter way to yell "watch out ahead" (or "watch out before"). It allows golfers to be forewarned, in other words.
The British Golf Museum cites an 1881 reference to "fore" in a golf book, establishing that the term was already in use at that early date (the USGA suggests the term may have been in use as early as the 1700s). The museum also surmises that the term evolved from "forecaddie."

A forecaddie is a person who accompanies a group around the golf course, often going forward to be in a position to pinpoint the locations of the groups' shots. If a member of the group hit an errant shot, the thinking goes, they may have alerted the forecaddie by yelling out the term. It was eventually shorted to just "fore."

A popular theory is that the term has a military origin. In warfare of the 17th and 18th century (a time period when golf was really taking hold in Britain), infantry advanced in formation while artillery batteries fired from behind, over their heads. An artilleryman about to fire would yell "beware before," alerting nearby infantrymen to drop to the ground to avoid the shells screaming overhead.

So when golfers misfired and send their missiles - golf balls - screaming off target, "beware before" became shortened to "fore."

This is another term, however, whose exact origin can't be stated. It does originate, however, in the fact that "fore" means "ahead" and, used by a golfer, is a warning to those ahead.

Answer 2

Golfers actually shout "fore!", rather than "four".

The shout is to alert other golfers that a ball has been hit by the golfer that may endanger the players ahead of him.

Golfers should always know their own abilities and not drive a ball forward until the party in front of him/her is out of range.

However, sometimes a ball goes far right or far left and endangers others on a neighboring fairway and "fore!" is meant for them.

Answer 3

Here you go :

No certain etymology for the golf word “Fore!” has ever been agreed. The Shorter Oxford Dictionary records its first use in 1878 as a warning cry to people in front of a golf stroke and, like most people, believes it is an abbreviation of the word ‘before’. There is an earlier reference in 1857 in a glossary of golfing terms. Its origin appears to be bound up with that of the word Caddie.


Currently there are three serious explanations for the origins of term FORE!



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.

A second explanation derives from the military battle craft of musket days, when rank after rank would fire fusillades, some over the heads of those in front. It was speculated that the term Fore! might have been used to warn those in front to keep their heads down. Modern historians pour cold water on this theory, partly because it is difficult to relate it to a Scottish golf connection and partly because the relevant military terms used do not appear to be connected. However, this theory may in fact be a misunderstanding of the theory below.

There is a third explanation, which appears utterly implausible, but which is an outside possibility. It derives from a story told by John Knox (1505?-1572) the ‘hellfire’ protestant reformer. He tells the tale, as only ‘hellfire’ preachers can, of someone arriving at the East Port (east gate) of Leith. This story was noticed by Dr Neilson and subsequently reported by Robert Browning in his book 'History of Golf’ (1955) thus:

‘One among many comes to the East Port of Leith, where lay two great pieces of ordnance, and where their enemies were known to be, and cried to his fellows that were at the gate making defence: "Ware Before!" and so fires one great piece, and thereafter the other.'

So “Fore!” could be derived from an artillery term warning gunners to stand clear. This last explanation means, firstly, that the term “Ware Before!” (“Beware Before!”) was foreshortened to “Fore!” (rather than “Ware!”) and, secondly, it must have been sufficiently well known to be used by golfers.

Answer 4

Its a warning to othwer participants and spectators, for if the golfer has spooned his shot!

Answer 5

You might also want to be aware of 'fore left' & 'fore right' used to denote the direction the ball is travelling.... all pretty relative really....have you tried to pick a small white object out of the sky while cowering into the smallest size possible ! lol

Answer 6

As everyone stated fore as in watch out ahead.
But imagine the confusion if you shouted six! or nine!

Answer 7

they shout it to fore warn people in case they get hit by the ball

Answer 8

It's fore.

To warn others of a ball that is heading their way and may hit them.

Answer 9

F lying
O ver your
R ight
E ar

Answer 10

cos they dont shout three!lol