Cellphones are banned at The Masters. Some patrons are (re)discovering the public telephone

Patrons line up to use courtesy phones during a practice around at the Masters golf tournament, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Attending the Masters for the first time was a new experience for Thomas Abraham, and it wasn’t just about the golf.

The 16-year-old from Houston had the rare opportunity to use a public telephone for the first time.

“It was kind of cool,” said Abraham, who phoned a friend while attending the Masters Par 3 competition on Wednesday with his father, Sid. “I’ve never used one before. I figured it out. If I had to use one of those (rotary) phones I probably would’ve had to ask my dad.”