Lawman of the links

>> Golf marshal makes 'em move it or lose it

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Jim "Bin" Phillips

Age: 47

Childhood ambition: To become a lawyer.

Occupation: Golf marshal/starter.

Bio: This Kahnawake resident and ace golfer claims that becoming a golf marshal seven years ago was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. So passionate about the game and his position at the Caughnawaga golf course, Bin even went so far as to sacrifice his marriage a few years back in order to continue with his career. "My wife didn't like the poor money I was making or all the girls on the course and came to my work one day to tell me I was quitting. I told her, 'No way,' and that was it. We separated." He says he does the job because he loves it, regardless of the money.

Duties: Making sure golfers are properly attired, moving slow and elderly golfers along the course at an acceptable pace, recharging electric golf carts, keeping the peace.

Two things that cannot be tolerated on the course: Muscle shirts and cut-off shorts. "A golf course is not a beach and people need to respect this. If you want to golf here you've got to have a nice pair of slacks and a collared shirt--or at least a nice T-shirt. It's not a lot to ask."

How often people tell him to go fuck

himself when he informs them they are not

suitably attired to indulge their passion for golf: Rarely. "You get some real assholes but 99 per cent of the people are pretty okay."

Something he does in the off-season: Bin moonlights as an iron worker in the Northeastern U.S.

His salary as an iron worker: About $1,200 U.S. a week.

His salary as a golf marshal/starter: About $300 Cdn a week, depending on tips.

Does he have to break up a lot of fights on the golf course? "People fight all the time but golf is a gentleman's game so it doesn't come to fisticuffs all that often. There seems to be more fights when it's really hot outside and people have less patience for one another."

Golfers who are most likely to end up in a fistfight: Cheaters and golf ball thieves.

His hobbies: Fishing, hunting.

Has he ever caught a fish in the St. Lawrence that had three heads? "Not really. Although sometimes you catch sick ones with blisters on them. I don't eat those."

Literary preferences: Almanacs. "So I know what I'm talking about during bets and stuff."

Something he is interested in: History.

Musical preferences: Journey, Skynyrd, the Rolling Stones.

Where he hangs out: Buster Harvey's on Sherbrooke W.

Favourite television show: The Sopranos.

His two favourite films of all time: Gentlemen Jim and Sergeant York. "I love those movies. I must have seen both of them over 30 times, probably more."

Words of wisdom: "What goes around comes around so treat people as you would want to be treated. Respect everything. Respect our elders, respect the land, the animals. We're not here for nothing. The creator put us all here and we have to respect each other." :

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