Range Ball Type of ball used at a driving range facility. The balls may be used balls or may be specially made, difficult-to-cut balls purchased by upscale ranges for durability. Usually range balls are marked in some way; typically by a red stripe and/or name encircling the ball.
Ranger A golf course employee whose duty it is to keep the pace of play at an acceptable time. A ranger typically drives the course in a motorized cart, identified in some way (flag, sign, etc.), encouraging slow groups to speed up or to allow other groups to play through.
Red Numbers Term given to under par scores in a tournament.
Relief Under the Rules of Golf, moving (either placing or dropping) a ball in order to make a normal stroke at it. Relief may be with or without penalty depending upon the situation. Common items from which relief is taken are trees, water and obstructions.
Resort Type of golf course catering to the guests of the resort with which it is associated. Resort courses may sell limited memberships and may allow public play at specific times.
Rider Slang term, usually applied to a beginner's shot, in which that shot has been hit far enough that the player has to ride in a cart (rather than walk) to hit the next shot. Somewhat of a derogatory term applied to the skill of a beginner.
Rolled Term given to a shot that does not get airborne and simply rolls along the ground.
Rough Type of grass, bordering fairways, that is higher and generally more coarse than the grass in the fairway. Rough may also be present near green, tees and bunkers depending upon the particular course; it may vary in height from one are on the course to another and from course to course as well. (See First Cut and Second Cut.)
Round Term applied to a typical round of golf, generally 18 holes, but sometimes 9.
Royal and Ancient One of the two governing bodies of golf, along with the USGA. Often called the "R & A", it is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Rub of the Green A term given to a ball affected in some way by an outside agency (See "Outside Agency.") A rub of the green occurs if a ball is headed out of bounds and hits an animal, deflecting it back in to play.
Run-Up Shot An intentionally low shot designed to roll on to the green, usually played with a lower lofted iron such a #6 iron or lower.
