The Origin of Fore in Golf
February 29, 2008
A reader of ours had a question regarding the origin of using the term fore in golf vs saying things like heads-up or look out!!! Joe, this is for you.
The saying fore in golf means “ahead”, and it is believed to come from the military “beware before”, which was shouted when a battery fired behind friendly troops. So yelling “fore” is just a short and easy way to tell people to “watch out ahead” or “watch out before”.
Another possible origin is that the term came from “fore caddy”. A fore caddy is a person who goes along with a group of people around a golf course. They would often go ahead to be in a position so they could pinpoint the locations of the groups’ shots. If a golfer hit a bad shot, they may have alerted this person by yelling fore. The British Golf Museum cites an 1881 reference to “fore” in a golf book, establishing that the term was already in use at that period of time.
There you have it Joe, with some things it can be hard to pin down their exact origin. But regardless if you yell fore in golf or look out!!!, make sure that your fellow golfers know darn well that something is headed in their direction.
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Never Hit Fat Golf Shots Again
February 27, 2008
I wanted to know if you could give me some advice on how I can stop hitting fat golf shots. I think I might have to change the local course I’m fond of because the superintendent isn’t too happy with me taking big chunks out of his green. Thanks in advance!! - Charles in Reno, NV
Hmmm… so you have a tendency to hit fat balls. I see. Well Charles, do you think your problem might exist on a deeper level? Even if it does, I’ll do my best to help. Typically, fat golf shots happen when the club hits the ground way too soon. This creates a cushion of dirt and grass in between the clubface and the ball and this pretty much kills the shot. To top it off you feel a horrible rattle as your club head strikes the ground and a nice chunk of green goes flying.
Tough situation to be in, especially when you have the course superintendent scowling at you like you’re a bumbling reject. To stop hitting the golf ball fat, the next time you are at the range, make a mark to measure where your swing actually makes impact by putting a tee even with your golf ball and parallel with the direction that your club is facing at a distance of 1 inch before the ball.
Take your normal shot and then compare your divot to where the tee is. You will probably see that the golf club made contact with the ground way behind the tee. This shows that you are definitely hitting behind the ball. So to improve, keep working this exersise and add 1 more step. Focus on hitting down but not too steeply on the back of the golf ball.
How I learned was by actually picking out a particular dimple on the ball to keep my eye on. Putting this technique together with making a mark of 1 inch before the ball with a tee helped me with this problem when I was starting out and hitting fat balls left and right.
Now you know what to do to quit hitting those fat shots in golf. After you improve maybe the super will look at you with a little bit of respect and you will get to stay at the course you are so fond of. Happy Strokes!!
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This is Exactly Why We Yell Fore in Golf
February 24, 2008
Golf Virgin, why do people yell fore in golf? - Fred in Springfield, MO
I want you to do something, right now imagine that you and a couple good buddies are out on a beautiful spring day, enjoying a great, relaxing game of golf and having what seems to be a really good time. All of a sudden, a golf ball comes whizzing out of the ether and smacks the absolute %#$# out of your friend standing just two feet from you. You stand there in shock at the oddity you have witnessed.
Your mouth drops open in disbelief at the hollow sound of a golf ball cracking off of your friends skull and the utter look of bewilderment on his face. You don’t know whether you should laugh hysterically or act in your friends best interest and seek medical attention. However, you quickly figure out that this is not the best time for humor as your friend starts convulsing and begins having a seizure. A full-on Grand Mal seizure…
This all happened because some joyless person a hundred yards back didn’t yell fore in golf and warn you and your pals of an incoming ball . You and your comrade try to hold your poor buddy down as he shakes incessantly and while waiting for a Care Flight helicopter, you begin to realize the utility of simply yelling ahead to your fellow golfers with a healthy “fore!!!” that something tiny, white and mean is on a hell-bent trajectory back towards earth.
But then again, the strangest things can happen on the golf course. It’s almost like a magnet which draws people onto this green platform so they can be judged by the “golf gods” if they are worthy of leaving the game unharmed. Refer back to my post about golf, lightning and karma and you will understand what I mean.
So Fred, there you have it, this is exactly the reason why you yell fore in golf. Think about that the next time you mess up a shot and see that ball of yours arching in the sky towards a group of hapless people enjoying the perfect spring day.
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The Mental Side of Golf
February 24, 2008
You brought up “performance fear” and I have to admit that when I know that someone is watching, it’s just nerve racking and I continually slip up and make really stupid mistakes. But when I’m out there by myself on the course or driving range late at night, everything flows naturally. Would you give me some pointers on the mental side of golf? - Dave in Memphis, TN
Dave, good for you that you’ve recognized you need improvement on the mental aspect of golf and that you really want to get over this block towards playing consistently. The most important thing you can do to have the best possible chance of success is to focus your will and and intention exactly on what you want to make happen. In essence, golf is mental, it’s that simple. Here’s a mind shattering thought. What if the entire scope of what we experience as “reality” was just a mental image of our own creation and that this image is constantly projected before us as the result of each consecutive thought?
Now if we were able to grasp that simple concept we would realize that we have the control to make happen what ever we so choose and bring into the definite experience of what we call “reality” our hopes and dreams. All by simply focusing on bringing these goals in line with our will and intention. Have you noticed that when you have done something new for the first time, you got it perfectly right without even trying? You simply did the task, whatever it was and you were successful at it.
Yet when you tried to repeat it, no matter how many times you did it. It never approached the ease and grace that you performed this task with on the first time. You know why? Because of the simple fact that you were trying and thus you were attached to the end result. The bizarre thing about bringing your goals into this strange term called “reality” is by having the burning will and intention to make these goals happen but at the same time not becoming entangled in the desire for your intended end result. Sounds contradictory doesn’t it?
To put it simply, you directly experience exactly what you focus on because it is what you truly want to make happen. How could it be otherwise? If your complete attention is upon other people watching you and then you follow up with: “I’m probably going to miss this shot and look like a total freaking spaz while doing it.” or “Wow, all these people looking at me, what if I slice, hook or shank this shot and everyone sees??
If you just take a step back, focus on your goal while simply doing it and without regard of the outcome, you will be amazed at the end result because you will have achieved what you intended to do… all without being attached. However, if you focus on screwing up then guess what, more than likely you will miss the shot and fulfill your own fear which then becomes a negative self-fulfilling prophesy. Ever listen to someone say “Oh that good thing will probably never happen to me or I would like for this to work out but I bet it won’t?” Basically these people are talking themselves out of exactly what they want. Horrible isn’t it?
Honestly, it is truly up to you what you focus your will upon. Your mind will give you many times over exactly what you choose to plant inside it. If you plant success and are sincere, then strangely enough success will follow. If you plant fear and negativity, you will get back exactly what you give. Now, the next time you are about to take that shot or make a putt… relax… imagine in your minds eye exactly what you want to happen and say the hell with it and simply do it.
If it doesn’t work out the first time DO NOT give up, keep honing and refining your will and intention. Constantly keep in mind to not be attached to the result and you know what? You just might surprise yourself and truly improve your mental game in golf and playing in general.
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The Absolute Best Way to Clean Your Golf Clubs
February 22, 2008
Howdy there Golf Virgin!! I went out this past weekend and played a great 18 holes and loved it but my shafts got pretty dirty and I need to know the best way to clean golf clubs. Could you tell me? - Adam in Dallas, TX
Howdy huh? So you had a lot of fun, got your shafts all dirty and now you need to know the best way to clean golf clubs? I have to pat you on the back for getting out there on the green and not being afraid to get messy. I bet you took as many strokes necessary to satisfy your desire for putting things in places where they never been before. And you know what? For your bravery I’m going to tell you exactly how to clean your golf clubs.
For starters, you will need a plastic bucket, mild dishwashing liquid, toothbrush and a reasonably clean towel for drying.
Squirt… a little dishwashing liquid into the bottom and add some warm water to get it all the suds going. But make sure the water is warm. Not too hot now because hot water can loosen the ferrule on the clubs. The ferrule is the plastic cover over the point where the shaft enters the club head. Since you’re reading this go ahead and see if you can imagine what that looks like.
Anyways, you need just enough water in the bucket to cover the heads of the irons. Place your irons into the bucket with the club heads submerged and keep the ferrules above the level of the soapy water. Now, allow your irons to soak in the warm water for only a couple minutes. This will loosen the dirt that got worked into the grooves of the clubface from all your careless fun.
After they have finished soaking, take each club and use the toothbrush to clean out the grooves on the clubface and gently drag the brush across the sole of the iron and over the back of the club head. Keep in mind that this is the most important step in how to clean your golf clubs because it removes all the dirt and other chemicals from the golf course that can eat away the finish.
However, if you’ve allowed dirt to build up in the grooves and harden over time, you may need to allow them to soak longer and use a stiff-bristled brush. But remember, never use a wire-bristled brush for cleaning your clubs. Rinse off the club head and when you’ve washed the suds away, take a look at it to make sure all the dirt is gone from the grooves. You might find yourself enjoying the process of making your clubs like new again. But don’t get carried away with all that cleaning action, you could scratch your shaft.
Use your towel to dry off the club head and drag the towel up and down the length of the shaft. I’m pretty sure that you’re very familiar with this part, aren’t you? After you’re done, make positive that your shafts are nice and dry, thus ensuring that they don’t go back into your bag wet. Also, never submerge persimmon woods in water. To be direct, it’s never a good idea to submerge your woods in any sort of liquid. Because this will ruin the nice, glossy finish, of course.
Instead, quickly dip your woods into the sudsy water, using your shaft cleaning skills to rub it with a moist cloth and then dry them immediately. Now take a step back… and look at how clean, shiny and almost virgin like all of your shafts are… Wow, almost makes you want to say howdy doesn’t it?
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Build a Virtual Golf Bag
February 21, 2008
I just found this cool online tool called The Golf Digest Hot List 2008 from Golf Digest Promotions. It is really pretty cool you can browse golf clubs of all types, styles and shape. You can then get complete info on them like their technical specifications, the story behind their design and the all important street price. You will also get comments from players that have actually used the clubs.
You then drag the clubs into your virtual golf bag and since you are shopping they of course don’t place any limit on the number of golf clubs in the bag. You will also find professional opinions about what is hot and what is not so hot about each club or club set.
I will warn you though it is easy to rack up a big cost, golf can be expensive as we all know. I put together my own dream bag and won’t even tell you how big the price was. Perhaps one day my Golf Prince Charming will come along, until then I will just have to dream. Any who, check out this tool and play around with it, it is a great way to window shop and perhaps avoid work a bit. You can visit the site here, The Golf Digest Hot List 2008
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Increasing Your Hole-in-One-Odds
February 19, 2008
Golf Virgin I have just started playing golf and it has definitely sparked my interest and I want to know from your perspective if is it possible to consistently hit a hole in one? - Mike in Tampa, FL
Well… you had to ask that question didn’t you? I will say this. Anything is possible if you have the right golfing equipment. Such as a proper golf club set as well as golf balls and golf tees. But, this is entirely up to the individual and if this person is able to focus on their intention on what they want to accomplish while at the same time being able to follow through with the proper mindset.
If you can do this then you are well on your way of turning your vision of increasing your hole in one odds into a reality time and time again. Besides getting a hole in one is just… well fun. It also depends on a lot of things like the course itself and there are some holes that are well with in driving range for a good golfer to have a shot at pulling off the coveted hole in one. There are also many holes that are just far to long for a pro much less a virgin golfer to ever make in a single stroke.
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Do I Need to be a Particular Handicap in Golf to Play Some Courses?
February 18, 2008
Dear Golf Virgin, Will I need to be at a particular golf handicap or be a standard to play at any one course? - Julie in Jacksonville, FL
Julie, super question and in reality, some golf clubs make it a point of people playing at a particular standard or being below a certain golf handicap. However, from my experience the majority of golf clubs welcome all golfers as long as they can play fast (no lingering around the holes now) know the rules and etiquette of golf and dress in the right type of golf course attire.
You may also want to see my post about what kind of golf clothing to wear and don’t forget the proper golf shoes for that matter which are a total necessity in this sport.
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What do all of These Golf Scoring Terms Mean
February 18, 2008
GV, I just started playing but honestly I need help with all of these golf terms. A birdie, a bogey an albatross…
- Dennis in Des Moines, IA
And you forgot to mention an Eagle, Bogey, Double Bogey and Triple Bogey… wow what a mouth full for a virgin huh? First off, I want to say that I’m proud of you for publicly acknowledging that you have no clue what all these golf terms mean. Good for you.
Here’s how it works my new fangled golf buddy. Par is the number of strokes a pro golfer is expected to play on each hole. If a hole is a par 4, it’s commonly agreed upon that you should be able to get your ball into the hole in 4 strokes or less. Golf courses are referred to in terms of par. Usually, 18-hole courses have four par-three, ten par-four, and four par-five holes with the total par of a regulation course being 72. Feel free to send over questions for any golf term that you need help with.
As for the golf terminology that you need defined. See below.
Double Eagle: Three shots less than par (Also known as an Albatross in the U.K.)
Eagle: Two shots less than par
Birdie: One shot less than par
Par: The number of strokes it should take in theory for a “good golfer” to finish a hole.
Bogey: One shot more than par
Double bogey: Two shots more than par
Triple bogey: Three shots more than par
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What Kind of Golf Shoes or Golf Clothing Should I Wear?
February 17, 2008
We just got our first reader question and it was a one that a lot of new players have. Jim asked…
Golf Virgin, What kind of golf shoes or golf clothing should I wear?
When you’re about to go and make the leap for your first time proper golf clothing is a must. These consist of a collared shirt and cotton or polyester slacks but keep in mind absolutely no jeans. This isn’t some redneck get together with a dirty tennis ball substituting as golf ball and a hockey stick for a golf club now is it? Well then, be aware that some golf clubs also require a dress code for the clubhouse or bar area.
Golf shoes are golf shoes. Truly, you can find ones that are like the feet of Zeus, commanding power and respect upon every course you tread or you can simply find some that are a step up from sneakers and in between this category of above mentioned greatness. Note that you don’t want to go hobbling after a shot in anything less than this though, the golf police might take your balls.
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