FORE and GOLF
There are two common questions I've heard people ask when it comes to golf. The first is why do people yell "fore" when a ball could possibly strike another person or golfer? Golfers used to yell "forewarn" back in the day. Like most words, we like to shorten them and thus "fore" caught on and is now the warning yelled all over courses everyday.
The second is where did the word "golf" come from? An old wives tale goes that those gents that started the game centuries ago were looking to get away from their wives and it stood for, "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden." Actually, I've read that it derives from medieval Dutch and old Scots languages. The medieval Dutch word "kolf" was to mean "club." Apparently the Scots took it and made it "gouf." Shortly thereafter, "golf" was the standard and the name we use today.
The second is where did the word "golf" come from? An old wives tale goes that those gents that started the game centuries ago were looking to get away from their wives and it stood for, "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden." Actually, I've read that it derives from medieval Dutch and old Scots languages. The medieval Dutch word "kolf" was to mean "club." Apparently the Scots took it and made it "gouf." Shortly thereafter, "golf" was the standard and the name we use today.
Visit about.com for more details.



I enjoyed your article, I need to focus on more history with my blog. L8R
Reply to this