Golf Channel · Apr 5, 2017
Payne: Arnie badges, yes; cell phones, still no
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta National chairman Billy Payne gave his State of the Masters address Wednesday, touching on such topics as video review, cellphone usage and limiting participation at the Par 3 Contest.
Here are some of the highlights from his news conference:
• Every patron who enters Augusta National on Thursday will receive a commemorative badge honoring Arnold Palmer, stamped with the words, “I am a member of Arnie’s Army.”
• Payne said that the course doesn’t have some of its usual vibrant colors because of a mild winter that caused some of the flowers to bloom three weeks early. “This year,” he joked, “we’ve decided our choice of color is green – Augusta green.”