SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Milo Bonnin might have the best job at TPC Scottsdale this week.
OK, the guys winning six or seven figures in prize money have the best jobs. But Bonnin certainly has fun.
His job title?
“I guess I’d be ‘gopher boat handler’ or ‘gopher boat pilot,’ maybe?” Bonnin said from a golf cart near the clubhouse Friday morning.
For those at the tournament and near the lake behind the 17th green (and down the left side of 18), look for a remote control boat with a gopher in it. There’s also a good chance you’ll see close-ups of it during the Golf Channel or CBS Sports live TV coverage.
“He drives the boat. I’m just kinda managing it,” quipped Bonnin.
The Green Gopher’s main gig is to chase off the birds that may want to gather on the giant floating WM logo in the lake.
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“He used to have a water gun on a different boat but we decided not to do that anymore, so now he’s just got the cool Chris-Craft [boat], making it look stylish out there,” Bonnin said.
The gopher also has a daily wardrobe change.
Cruisin' into day 1 like…#WMPO #thepeoplesopen #greenestshow #RESPECT #GreenGopher@PGATOUR @tpcscottsdale @WasteManagement pic.twitter.com/HpFxRVHqgP
— WM Phoenix Open (@WMPhoenixOpen) February 1, 2018
“We change his outfit. He’s dressed up different every day. Today [Friday] he’s dressed up as a Thunderbird. Yesterday, he was a caddie. Tomorrow, [Saturday] he’ll be all dressed in Waste Management gear, WM gear, so he’s got a green hat and helmet and making sure he’s part of the crew,” Bonnin said.
“We go out in the morning and make sure there’s no birds sitting on the WM sign out there in the lake. We’ll scare some birds, but other than that, it’s just making everybody happy I think.”
