[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "The Meaning of Fore and Duck"

If the ball flies into a dangerous area, the fielder shouts "Fore" loudly or gives a hand signal.

An accident occurred during the third round of last week's Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour HiteJinro Championship.

A player's tee shot sliced and flew toward a marshal. In golf, there is one safety rule that must always be remembered: to loudly yell ‘fore’. If there is a possibility of hitting someone during a tee shot, a signal must be given. Most domestic golfers are reluctant to give the warning ‘fore’. To prevent ball-related accidents, this must be kept in mind and put into practice.

This is a safety guideline passed down through generations of Scottish golfers. "If you happen to hit a ball toward another golfer, yell ‘Fore’." The term ‘fore’ originally comes from military terminology. It is derived from the expression "look out before, beware before," with the ‘be’ removed from ‘before’.

In other words, when artillery fires shells toward the enemy, they shout to their comrades "the shell is flying, be careful (fore literally means, ‘look out ahead’)." It is also called ‘look out’ or ‘duck’. This is a behavioral guideline to prevent ball accidents. Never turn your head toward the sound. Lower your body as much as possible and cover your head with both hands. Then move away in the opposite direction of the sound.

A: Fore! Fore!

B: What happened?

A: Oops! I hit a banana ball to the right of the rough and I’m very worried about my ball hitting someone.

B: Don’t worry. I think they ducked their heads when they heard someone yell ‘Fore’.

A: I hope so.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist