Golf Trivia

Golf is a very popular game for many reason. For one, it is played outside, over a wide expanse of green grass dotted with small ponds and groves of trees. The course is well-kept, tended to constantly; the enjoyment of the surroundings is one reason for the popularity of the game. Golf is also a social game; although one may begin playing solo, in a very short time he or she will have joined other golfers. Even more common is the group of golfers who habitually meet to play the game. They can be a pair or six in number, but in most cases they come as a foursome. This has been so throughout the history of the game and its evolution.

One major change took place in Scotland in the last decade of the 18th century. At that time the play was different than it is now; back then, rather than taking turns striking the ball, all of the golfers would stand by their tees and take their swings at the same time. If there happened to be anyone walking on the course in the direction of their swing, they would all shout “four!” in unison, to warn the walker that there had been four swings taken; four balls were aloft. Of course, it follows that in the rare occurrence that the players were a pair, they would, naturally, shout “two!”--or whatever number corresponded to the number of balls struck.

“Four!” became a common word heard on the course and associated with golf. It elicited an immediate response since it represented a warning.

And then the rules were changed, for reasons lost in history. Each golfer took his swing in turn, rather than all at once. And yet, the need for a warning to others walking in the pathway of the ball was still present. The most common warning had always been “four!”; it remained so. And over time, since it no longer represented the number four, the spelling was changed to “fore.”