Jackson Reid
Golf has traditionally been a quiet sport, but in recent years, fans have started expressing their feelings about players and shots more loudly. Golf chants and shouts have become a common occurrence, with some of the most popular being mashed potatoes, dilly dilly, bababooey, and free meek. Golfers also yell fore to warn others that a ball is coming their way. This tradition is believed to have originated from the term fore-caddie, which was used to warn caddies about oncoming golf balls.
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What You'll Learn
The history of 'fore' in golf
Yelling "fore" has been a part of golf for centuries, with mentions of the term appearing in an 1881 British Golf Museum publication, indicating that the term was already in use during that period. The exact origins of the word are uncertain, but several theories suggest that it may have military and Scottish roots.
One theory suggests that the term "fore" originated from the military warning "beware before," which was used in the 17th and 18th centuries to alert infantrymen to incoming cannon fire and to instruct them to drop down to avoid being hit. This phrase is believed to have been shortened to "fore" and adopted by golfers as a warning to others on the course of a stray shot.
Another theory supports the Scottish connection of the game, stating that "fore" is derived from the term "forecaddie." In golf, a forecaddie would stand down the fairway to help locate balls, and golfers would shout "fore-caddie" to signal an oncoming shot. Over time, this phrase was shortened to "fore." This theory is supported by the near-contemporaneous appearance of the terms "caddie," "fore-caddie," and "fore."
Additionally, there is a mention in the Rules of the Thistle Golf Club from 1824 of a conversation between Mr. Tytler of Woodhouselee and golf-club maker Andrew Dickson, where the term "forecaddie" was used in the context of golf. This further strengthens the connection between the term "fore" and its possible origin from "fore-caddie."
The call of "fore" in golf has become a global symbol of the sport's traditions, sportsmanship, and respect for fellow players and spectators. It is an essential part of maintaining proper etiquette and ensuring the safety of everyone on the course.
So, the next time you hear or shout "fore" on the golf course, remember that it is more than just a warning; it is a mark of respect and a connection to the rich history and traditions of the game.
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'Mashed potatoes' and other chants
Golf has traditionally been known as a quiet sport, with polite applause being the norm. However, in recent times, the sport's profile has been changing, with fans, especially across the Atlantic, expressing their feelings more exuberantly. One of the most well-known examples of this new spectator engagement is the cry of "mashed potatoes", which, along with "dilly dilly", has become an inextricable feature of golf. The chant is believed to have originated from Tiger Woods' absurd claim about his glutes shutting off after he pulled out of the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open. While it may seem ridiculous, "mashed potatoes" is now a staple of every good golf competition.
Another popular chant that has emerged is "Baba Booey", which is the nickname of Gary Dell'Abate, the executive producer of the Howard Stern Radio Show in New York. The cry of "Annika Sorenstam Loves Trapeze" is another enigmatic golf chant. It is believed to be related to a popular self-help book, Gail Blanke's "Between Trapezes", which praised Sorenstam's decision to become the first female golfer since Babe Didrikson Zaharias to play in the male 2003 PGA Tour Colonial Invitational. The Masters have recently added this phrase to their list of banned phrases.
Golf chants are not limited to these, and fans have been known to shout various unrelated phrases, such as "Free Meek", in reference to rapper Meek Mill's imprisonment, and "Nobody Beats the Wiz", which is believed to be a reference to a chain of New York stores popular in the 1990s. While these chants may seem out of place in the traditionally quiet sport of golf, they have become an accepted part of the game, particularly in competitions.
Of course, there is one traditional cry in golf that has been around for a long time, and that is the yell of "fore". "Fore" is used to warn people that a stray golf ball is headed their way. It is believed to have originated from the term "fore-caddie" or "forecaddie", who was a person hired to wait down-range from the golfer to find where the ball landed. Over time, the term was shortened to "fore", and it is now an essential part of golf etiquette to yell it out when your ball is headed off-course to prevent injuries.
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When to yell during a game
Golf has traditionally been a quiet sport, but in recent years, its profile has been changing, with fans expressing their feelings about players and shots more boisterously.
There are several instances when you may hear spectators yelling during a game of golf. One of the most well-known and common phrases yelled by spectators is "mashed potatoes", which has become a staple of every good competition. Another popular chant is "Dilly Dilly". These chants are not universally loved, but they have become an inextricable part of the modern golf spectator experience.
Other popular golf chants include "Annika Sorenstam Loves Trapeze", which is said to be a reference to the first female golfer since Babe Didrikson Zaharias to play in the male 2003 PGA Tour Colonial Invitational. The Masters have recently banned the use of this phrase, and anyone uttering it will be removed from the grounds. Another chant with an unknown origin is "Baba Booey", which is the nickname of Gary Dell'ABate, executive producer of the Howard Stern Radio Show in New York.
Golfers themselves will also yell during a game, particularly the word "fore". "Fore" is a warning cry to alert other golfers that a ball has gone off course and is headed in their direction. It is considered good etiquette to yell "fore" in this situation, as well as to point in the direction the ball is heading so that people who are too far away to hear can still be warned. The term "fore" is believed to be derived from the term "fore-caddie", who would accompany golfers and pinpoint locations during a group member's shot. Over time, the term was shortened to "fore", and it is now used as a warning cry to prevent injuries from stray balls.
So, while golf has traditionally been a quiet sport, there are several instances where yelling is not only acceptable but also an important part of the game and spectator experience.
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Pointing in the direction of the ball
Yelling "fore" in golf is a way to warn other players, caddies, and spectators that a ball is headed their way. It is considered good etiquette to alert others to an oncoming ball to prevent injuries.
Golfers will often yell "fore" and point in the direction that the ball is travelling. This is to make it clear which direction the shot is going and to let those who need to pay the most attention know. Pointing in the direction of the ball is especially helpful for people who may be too far away to hear the yell. However, some golfers only point and do not yell, which is considered poor etiquette.
The word "fore" is believed to have originated from the term "forecaddie". A forecaddie would stand where the ball was likely to land to save time looking for rogue balls. When the golfer struck the ball, they would yell "forecaddie" to alert them to an oncoming ball. Over time, the term was shortened to "fore".
Another theory suggests that "fore" comes from a military term, "beware before", which was shouted by artillerymen to warn infantrymen to drop down and avoid being shot.
Today, yelling "fore" in golf is a respected rule of etiquette and is essential for maintaining safety on the course.
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Unrelated golf cries, e.g. 'Free Meek'
Golf has traditionally been a quiet sport, but in recent years, fans have started expressing themselves more boisterously. Some of the most popular (and bizarre) golf cries include:
Free Meek
This chant is a reference to rapper Meek Mill, who was imprisoned in 2007. After serving his sentence, he was returned to prison for an alleged violation of his parole. Many people believed that the judge who covered Mill's case was biased, and so the cry of "Free Meek" was born.
Annika Sorenstam Loves Trapeze
This enigmatic phrase is on the Masters' list of banned phrases. Its meaning is unclear, but it may be a reference to Gail Blanke's self-help book, *Between Trapezes*, which praised golfer Annika Sorenstam's decision to become the first female golfer since Babe Didrikson Zaharias to play in the male 2003 PGA Tour Colonial Invitational.
Mashed Potatoes
This cry is now a staple of golf competitions. It may be due to Tiger Woods, who has a history of coining absurd phrases. After pulling out of the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open, Woods claimed, "It's just my glutes are shutting off, then they don't activate and then, hence, it goes into my lower back."
Dilly Dilly
Another nonsensical cry that has become an inextricable feature of golf.
Bababooey
"Bababooey" is the nickname of Gary Dell'ABate, executive producer of the Howard Stern Radio Show in New York.
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Frequently asked questions
While golf is often caricatured as a sombre and silent sport, fans, especially in the US, have been expressing themselves more boisterously in recent years. Popular chants include "mashed potatoes", "dilly dilly", "bababooey", "free meek", and the enigmatic "Annika Sorenstam loves trapeze".
Golfers yell "fore" to warn others that a ball is headed their way instead of the intended area. It is a shortened version of the term "forecaddie", who was a person hired to keep track of where balls landed.
You should yell "fore" whenever you hit a shot that goes off-course or is headed toward an area that it was not meant for. It is considered poor etiquette not to yell "fore" in this situation, even if people are too far away to hear you.
