Masters: Scoring the old fashioned way

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Story Published: Apr 10, 2009 at 6:21 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 10, 2009 at 6:21 PM EST

AUGUSTA, Ga. - At Augusta National Golf Club, golf fans aren't checking the leader board on their Blackberrys or iPhones.

You see, portable electronic devices aren't allowed on the course.

Yet, most spectators don't seem to mind, at all. Instead, they adapt.

They crane their necks and look up, squinting in the sun,
to check out a manual scoreboard.

First time patron Robert Thatcher of Chattanooga, TN said,
"It's pretty low tech. I think…" Before Thatcher could finish, his brother Tommy chimed in, "I like it." Why does he like it so much? "The tradition of it. Like Wrigley Field, where they put the old numbers in. I like it."

In fact, the scoring system that's as old as the Masters itself, is still a crowd pleaser. Most patrons couldn't help but pause and enjoy a sight that's rarely seen. Bogeys, pars and birdies displayed by a human and not by a computerized system.

Michigan State University's golf coach Sam Puryear added, "I think it's traditional. The whole place is set on tradition. It's pretty much par for the course."

Felix Hubbard of Charlotte, NC agreed, "It's fantastic. Change isn't always good. Some things have stayed the way they are. That's how traditions are made."

Since the Masters oozes tradition and family so much, it would seem only fitting that we would meet John Wiegold at Augusta National.

He works high in the sky at the manual scoreboard. Wiegold has been doing this for 26 years. His father got him into it. His father has since retired, but they've kept it in the family. His brother and nephew are still turning numbers at the scoreboard.

Recently, the Augusta National sent out surveys to patrons
so they could rate many aspects of the Masters.

They were asked if electronic scoreboards should replace the manual ones. So far, tradition is winning.

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