Why do golfers shout fore?
Question
On a golf course, why do you shout ‘Fore’ when the ball is about to hit someone?
John, Docklands
Answer
** Definitive **
Name: Tim, Chessington
Qualification: Golfer who likes history
Answer: When we started using riflemen behind the infantry, the first
line would go in and riflemen would shout 'Beware Before' – shorted to
‘fore’ – before starting to shoot. The word was carried over into golf.
Name: Neil, Charlton
Qualification: A golfer
Answer: Fore is short for forward and it’s a warning to any players who are forward of the errant ball should beware of the danger.