There is no place in sports like Augusta.
Augusta National golf course is one of the most storied sports venues in the world, and its seemingly untouched beauty is showcased each year during the Masters Golf Tournament.
That untouched beauty is made possible by a set of strict rules enforced with an iron fist.
The rule halts the trend of an increased partnership between sports and technology: no cell phones on the course.
Breaking that rule means a lifetime ban from setting foot on Augusta National. Any violator would have his or her cell phone and badge confiscated and be escorted off the premises.
It is not exactly the friendliest service you might have hoped for if you were lucky enough to be at the Masters Tournament, but it is one Augusta feels is necessary to maintain its distance from the outside world.
But bringing a cell phone to one of the biggest sporting events of the year should be allowed.
Get The Latest Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
And here is why:
Cell phones are cameras and cameras will be everywhere.
Cell phones are this generation’s cameras. They are convenient, capable and connected. And you will want to take pictures at one of the most majestic places in the country during this storied sporting event. You can leave your heavy full sized camera behind and easily share your images in a matter of seconds on your cell phone.
The Masters needs to trend
Golf courses are closing. In 2013 the U.S. lost a golf course every 61 hours, according to Politifact. And what is a better way to get youth involved in golf then to have its biggest tournament trending on social media? That is not to say it isn’t, it is just not getting the coverage it deserves without people on the course providing content.
Showing golf in a new, less boring way
Golf can be boring to a lot of people, but cell phones can change that. Many argue that golf is better seen on TV then in person because TV gives you multiple angles to follow every action. Cell phones can add to what television already provides by filming the angles of thousands of spectators. Phones can also provide commentary by showcasing some of the off-the-ball interactions between golfers that could only be captured by those on the course.
Because we have lives outside of sports
If you are at the Masters and are not watching it, you probably shouldn’t be there. But let’s face it, golf is not the most action packed sport. There is a lot of downtime. And it shouldn’t be against the rules to use that downtime to get back to life outside of sports. Like to call your spouse or kids and tell them how cool Augusta is.
Leaving a good impression and the spirit of sports
The banning of cell phones is simply not necessary. It is an extreme rule made to keep a certain image, and it restricts people of a right to their own property. There are times when using a cell phone is a bad idea, like when driving a car. But this is a sporting event, a time to have fun. Just think about it, if Augusta National Golf Club really wanted to keep its course “pure” it would ban all electronics, not just cell phones.