What is the derivation of the term "birdie"?
The term originated in the United States. In 19th century American slang bird referred to something great or special. Legend has it that around the turn of the century, golfers started to say, "That's a bird of a shot," which soon became birdie.
Why do golfers yell "Fore!" to warn other players that a ball may be headed their way?
The British Museum suggests that the term is derived from the word forecaddie. A forecaddie is a person who accompanies a group around the golf course to identify the locations of the group's shots. It is believed that on occasion the forecaddie needed to be warned about an approaching shot, and forecaddie was eventually shorted to fore.
Why is a game of golf most often referred to as a "round of golf"?
The earliest golf courses were built in a circular pattern. Old Tom Morris, who won four of the first eight British Open Championships in the 1860s eventually became a greens keeper and went on to design or improve about four dozen course in the British Isles. One of the more complex and enduring was Muirfield, site of numerous British Opens. It was here that he introduce the double-loop sequencing of nines, a structure that subjected the golfer to constantly changing wind conditions.
