While playing golf on Thursday, I encountered an interesting situation.  I hit my second shot on the 15th hole par five and my ball came to rest beside a tree with a red ribbon attached to it.  Under our local rules, these trees are ground under repair and I was to take full relief.  Nearest relief present a wide open chip shot to the green which I stuck within 6 feet and made my birdie putt.

This is an unusual situation, but the point of my story is that everyone should know the rules of the game.  If you have not read them yet, make a point of doing so as proper enforcement of can help or cost you strokes.