The cell phone ban at the Augusta National Golf Club has forced fans to dust off their often unloved and rarely used old cameras if they want to capture a photo of their heroes . Barred from bringing their cell phones on to the Georgia course , fans have adapted by going back to the future and using their pocket-sized digital cameras or their old 35mm bodies and lenses and re-learning how to use them . But a quick refresher course is all they 're allowed . When play begins on Thursday , fans will have to put them back on the shelves . A Masters patron uses her camera to take photos of the action during the player practice rounds ahead of the 2015 Masters at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta , Georgia , which starts on Thursday . 'Actually , the last time I had this out was Easter , ' Wayne Watson said about the large black Nikon hanging around his neck . And the time before that ? 'No idea , ' he said . 'Probably the Easter before . ' More than a few of the fans lugging around similar equipment were , like Watson — who made the two-hour drive from Macon — experiencing Augusta National in person for the first time . Most just planned to mosey around until something caught their fancy . Some had general targets in mind — a favorite player or two , the trio of back-nine holes reverentially dubbed 'Amen Corner , ' or the gigantic manual scoreboard alongside the first fairway . Then there was the occasional experienced big-game hunter , decked out with camera bags and an array of lenses . ' I 'm after Phil Mickelson , ' said Kim McNeeley of nearby Aiken , South Carolina . ' I got a great shot of him the last time I was here — 18 years ago . 'But there are plenty of guys more serious than I am , ' she added . The cell phone ban at the Augusta National Golf Club has forced fans to dust off their often unloved and rarely used old cameras if they want to capture a photo of their heroes like Tiger Woods . ' I had to borrow this from a friend who just had a baby . A few minutes ago , I saw a guy actually loading film into his camera . Film . Now that 's old school . ' Stepping back in time produced more than a few comical moments . Parked in lawn chairs behind the first tee , two pals leaned in close as one tried to figure out how to take a 'selfie ' with a point-and-shoot camera — never mind that the term had n't even been coined when the camera was originally manufactured . Behind the seventh tee , Kevin Davis of Gibson City , Illinois , recounted the preparations he went through to make sure his 4-year-old digital camera was ready to roll . First , he had to find it — 'It took me awhile to remember where I left it , ' he said , finally remembering it was in a desk drawer — and then make sure it was charged . ' I 've got a big camera , but I did n't want to lug that around , ' Davis added . 'That 's usually for family events . ' Fans photograph Tiger Woods on their cell phones during a practice round for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron , Ohio , last July . But he might have had second thoughts when his twin 5-year-olds saw the camera and realized it was n't a phone . 'They were scratching their heads , ' he recalled . 'They said , 'Daddy , why is it so big ? '' The fact that so many wound up opting for the big camera likely had to do with the number of serious hobbyists . While many planned to share their photos with friends on social media , a few planned to commemorate the trip with a photo album — talk about old-school — and in the case of Wes Rackley , make quality 8x10 framed prints and give them as presents . Few people , though , seemed as comfortable carrying around all the serious gear as Brett Pavel of Atlanta . He was at Augusta National for the 20th time — ' I think that 's right , ' he said , 'because I 've got at least 18 shirts — and said he has a camera around his neck at least once a week . 'My wife calls it my `` pacifier , '' ' he laughed , 'because our youngest son plays competitive soccer and she says taking pictures is the only thing that keeps me from cussing and yelling at the refs and everybody else . '
Fans on the Akron course have adapted by going back to the future and using their pocket-sized digital or their old 35mm cameras . Fans will have to put them back on the shelves when the action starts for real on Thursday at The Masters .