Masters patrons say phone ban has nice ring to it

No cell phones on the golf course? No problem, said many who attended Tuesday’s Masters practice round at Augusta National Golf Club.

“You can get camera shots – that’s the best part of the practice rounds,” said patron Alex Ried, visiting from Sarasota, Fla. “I wish I could have used my phone to take pictures.”

But he understands why the tournament bans them.

“It’s a good idea to hold to,” Ried said. “I understand the idea of not using phones.”

Waiting on his father to make a call at one of the club’s several public phone banks, Adam King said, “I keep reaching into my pocket” for his mobile phone, but he was OK with not having one on the golf course.

“It keeps it original,” he said.

Fortunately, his father Ed King had the numbers he needed memorized, something the younger King had not done.

Ed King said he wished he’d known about the phone banks before the family arrived from Cleveland.

“As long as you’ve got access to a phone, I don’t see it’s a big deal,” he said.

Jerad Merbitz was relishing his first visit to the cell phone-free course from Merritt Island, Fla., and hopes it remains that way.

“People misuse them, and for a lot of the golfers this is their sanctuary,” Merbitz said. “On tournament days, it’s nothing but the players and the course.”

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