Why Do Golfers Yell Fore?

Written by Todd in Golf Club Questions

You are standing on the tee box and your playing partner yells “FORE” as his ball heads towards another group of golfers.

You start to question, “why did he just yell fore?”

In today’s golfing world, fore is yelled when a golf ball is headed towards another group of golfers.  Typically, this group of golfers is on a different hole and there is potential danger.

Upon hearing “Fore” yelled from another fairway or tee box, golfers will often cover their heads and try to avoid getting hit by the errant shot.

Errant shots are pretty common place on golf courses and you will hear Fore yelled quite frequently, especially on courses where the golf holes go back and forth or where there are a lot of side by side holes on the course.

Courses that are tree lined with wooded areas might not have as many shots that are headed towards another group of golfers.

The word Fore is often used ahead of a word such as forecaddie, forerunner or in the forefront.

The word Fore by definition means situated or placed in front.

Golf is about having fun with family and friends for many golfers! Play your roll in keeping others safe by yelling Fore when appropriate!

FORE! Safety is Every Golfers’s Responsibility!

Golf is known as a gentleman and gentle lady sport, people are expected to play the game with class, dignity and respect.  Golf has been around for many years and when on the course safety is every golfer’s responsibility. 

To keep it simple, if an errant shot is hit, it is the golfer and those in the group to yell fore if an errant shot is headed towards another group.

I once worked maintenance on a golf course and was struck in the shoulder while raking a sand grap.  Yes, I should have been paying better attention, but it hurt and did not feel good.  

To respect the game and those we share the course with, take the responsibility in helping others stay safe!

The expectation is that all golfers maintain the proper etiquette on the course and yelling fore is one way to ensure you are following the unwritten rules of being on a golf course. 

All golfers want to enjoy the outdoors and the round of golf and everyone can play their part in player safety.

Origins of Fore

Back in the early history of golf, golfers played golf with a caddie.  The caddies in a group would often forecaddie, which means they would often head down a hole to watch where the golf balls landed. 

When a group of golfers were on a tee they would yell forecaddie or fore to give a warning that they were preparing to hit a ball was headed their way.

You will often see spotters at professional golf tournaments.  The spotters are placed down the fairway to help spot balls and to prevent lost golf balls.  Also, on the tee box you will see someone holding a “Silent” sign and will help wave the direction of the ball.

At these events, the other caddies and the players will point when a shot is headed off line to give the spotters a clue of where the ball is headed.

Fore Left or Fore Right

Another term you might hear on the course attached to the word fore is the word left or right after the golfer yells fore.  If a parallel hole is next to the hole you are playing, it will often be headed in the opposite direction.

By yelling fore right or fore left, it gives extra details to those that are in danger.

If you hear fore yelled by anyone, it is recommended to cover your head and avoid getting hit.

I have seen even these guys hit an errant shot!

Every Golf Hits An Errant Shot

If you are a beginner to the game of golf, do not have shame in yelling fore.  Understand that even the best golfers in the world hit errant shots, especially with the driver. 

The unintended hook shot or sliced shot will often drift over towards spectators on the professional tours or even towards other players.

Here is an interesting video of some errant shots by professional golfers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo0ZRk03WUA

Have Fun Playing Golf!

If you are new to golf, do not worry and stress about whether you are doing everything right on the course.  Those with you will help out along the way and help you learn the game. 

Most golfers love the game and are willing to take a beginner under their wing and help them learn more about the proper etiquette with the game and how to improve their swing.

I would highly recommend taking a lesson or two to help you build some foundational skill and knowledge of the golf swing.  You will find that these golf lessons help set a solid foundation for your golf game headed forward.

The key is to have fun and do not stress about getting everything perfect.  Golf is supposed to be enjoyable. You are probably paying decent money to play on the course.  Check out our quick and easy beginners guide linked under resources below.

Are Golf Lessons Worth It? (Pros and Cons)

Resources

If you are new to the game of golf.  Make sure you check out several resources we have created for the beginner golfer.

Closing Thoughts: My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  

I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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