Rules are rules. But their consequences vary.
Sometimes they seem to conspire against us and impose a penalty at the worst possible time. Other times they openly smile for our benefit.
Think back to Jordan Spieth at the 2017 Open Championship. One minute his chances looked bleak after a wayward drive found a tangle to the right of the par-4 13th fairway at Royal Birkdale. The next time he took free help, fell into friendly territory and turned what looked like a tournament-threatening disaster into a manageable bogey on the way to victory.
The scene looked strange. But it was completely within the letter of the law. It also reminded us of a simple truth: knowing the rules of golf can bring real benefits. Awareness of your options – especially the lesser known ones – can turn problems into opportunities.
These situations are more common than most players realize.
Consider this example, which spawned one of the USGA’s most-viewed rules videos of 2025, with more than 2.2 million views. The explainer stars Jay Roberts, the governing body’s senior manager of rules, technology, content and education, whose online tutorials have made him a trusted guide for golfers wanting to understand how the rules actually work on the course.
In the video, Roberts hits a drive wide right. He comes to a stop next to a tree in a position that makes a right-handed swing impossible. Instead of declaring the ball unplayable, Roberts turns and aims it left-handed, his most realistic shot. There’s only one problem. When switching sides, he is now on a cart path.
That detail changes everything. And after all, it’s not a problem.
Because the cart path hinders his position for the shot he wants to make, Roberts is entitled to free relief, even if it is a left-handed shot. Under Rule 16.1a(3), a player may find the nearest point of complete relief, take one club length and drop – without penalty. And here’s something even better. Once the ball is back in play, he is free to hit it with the right.
The most important caveat, Roberts explains, is intent: the stroke for which the player claims interference must be reasonable. You can’t create relief with a clearly absurd wave. But if the shot is legitimate, the rules allow it.
It’s an elegant example of how a little knowledge of rules can go a long way.
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