A quick reference to every golf term in our glossary that starts with R — 15 terms in total. Each one links through to a full plain-English definition.
- RainmakerRainmaker A rainmaker is golf slang for a shot with an unusually high trajectory, high enough to look like it could touch the clouds and bring on the rain. The
- Rake the BunkerRake the Bunker To rake the bunker means smoothing the sand in a bunker with a long-handled rake after playing a shot from it, so the next golfer plays from a f
- RangefinderRangefinder A rangefinder in golf is a handheld electronic device that measures the distance from the player to a target on the course, usually the flagstick, a
- Reading the GreenReading the Green Reading the green is the act of studying a putting surface before a putt to predict how the ball will roll, accounting for slope, grain, and g
- Ready GolfReady Golf Ready golf is a stroke play term for playing when ready rather than waiting for the player farthest from the hole to go first. Recognized under Rule
- Recovery ShotRecovery Shot A recovery shot in golf is a shot played from a difficult or unfavorable position, usually after an errant previous shot, with the goal of returni
- ReleaseRelease The release in golf is the unhinging of the wrists through impact that lets the clubhead catch up to the hands and the clubface rotate from open to squa
- ReliefRelief Relief in golf is the procedure of lifting a ball from an interfering condition and dropping it elsewhere, as allowed by the Rules of Golf. What is a rel
- Resort CourseResort Course A resort course is a golf course that operates as part of a larger resort property, usually one that also includes a hotel, restaurants, and other
- Rotation DrillRotation Drill A rotation drill in golf is a practice exercise that trains the body to turn properly during the swing, with the focus on the hips, torso, and sh
- RoughRough The rough in golf is the area of longer, thicker grass bordering the fairway and greens, maintained taller than fairway grass to penalise wayward shots. W
- RoundRound A round of golf is 18 or fewer holes played in the order set by the course or competition committee. Under the official Rules of Golf, the standard round
- Rules of Golf in Plain EnglishThe Rules of Golf run to 200 pages. Most golfers will never need to read them — but every golfer will eventually run into a ruling that costs them a stroke and
- RunRun A run in golf is the distance a ball travels along the ground after it lands. Combined with carry (the distance the ball flies through the air), it makes up
- Ryder CupRyder Cup The Ryder Cup is a biennial men’s golf competition between teams of 12 professional players from Europe and the United States, played in a match-play