A ball separation device for a golf range target system is described. The ball separation device comprises a golf range target having a golf ball delivery shaft. A ball isolation system within the golf ball delivery shaft is configured to temporarily trap the ball within the shaft. A gate is configured to control the routing of a golf ball released from the ball isolation system. A control system queries the RFID reader while a ball is trapped in the ball isolation system. If the RFID reader receives a signal that identifies the golf ball as an RFID golf ball, the ball separation control system routes the ball to an RFID ball collector, otherwise, the ball is routed to a secondary location. After the determination is made as to where the trapped golf ball is to be routed, the ball isolation system releases the ball.