Ben Lowry: I applaud Rory McIlroy's pricey banquet menu, and the Augusta National golf club's strict ban on mobile phones

Rory McIlroy, as defending champion of the US Masters, this week chose the menu for the ‘champions dinner’.

(To read Ben Lowry on imagine how Donald Trump would react to Ireland if he was UK prime minister, click here)

placeholder image — Rory McIlroy, right, runs with his daughter, Poppy, during par-3 contest ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, on Wednesday, April 8. He has earned his huge success and is justified in choosing the most expensive Masters menu ever (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Only past winners of this immensely prestigious golf tournament and top officials at the host club Augusta get to attend the meal, which was earlier this week. Rory picked the most expensive menu ever, at $318 (£251) a head. Good for him! It is a very wealthy organisation and all the invitees have achieved a huge feat in their sport.

Rory was criticised for not choosing an ‘Irish’ menu, when many champions base meals on their home region. Setting aside the Northern Irish star says he is British too, champions have total leeway in the themes they choose. In 2011 Phil Mickelson selected a menu with a Spanish-theme in honour of the attendance of Seve Ballesteros, who was too sick to make it, later dying.

I have also enjoyed a report that another former golfing great, Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Open champion, was asked to leave the club for violating its no-phone policy. Augusta has strict rules including a dress code.

I understand the overwhelming temptation to look at our phones all the time but also think that if adults can’t even briefly withstand that urge, what chance children?

I applaud Augusta’s rules, including dress code: such things are now rare.

• Ben Lowry (@Benlowry2) is News Letter editor