Ron Kirby died in Copenhagen on Thursday. His best-known works include Old head of Kinsale, in Ireland, and Apes hill, in Barbados. The 90-year-old was working on a project when he fell ill.
Kirby has worked on hundreds projects all over the world. He did this as a solo job and also in collaboration with some of golf’s biggest names.
Kirby, who is from Beverly, Massachusetts was introduced to golf when he was a young boy. He worked as a caddie and caddiemaster, as well as on grounds crews. He studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts-Strockbridge before going to work for golf architect Dick Wilson. Later, he joined the crew of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and worked on courses throughout the U.S.
Kirby, a member of America Society of Golf Course Architects, founded his own company in 1970 along with Gary Player. Kirby sold his firm to Golden Bear Inc., and then joined Nicklaus Design Services as Jack Nicklaus’s European project manager.
ASGCA reported that during Kirby’s career he was always accompanied by Sally on his projects. Sally died in 2021. The travels of Sally and Ron inspired Kirby to write his autobiography “We Spent half Our Lives on Wrong Side Of The Road”. Kirby leaves behind three children: Faye Ron Jr., Beverly.
Golf course architect Ron Kirby. (Courtesy of American Society of Golf Course Architects).
Brit Stenson, ASGCA’s president, said that Ron Kirby and Sally Kirby are two unique individuals. His positive impact on golf courses around the globe will be a lasting professional legacy. But many of us will remember Ron’s relationship with Sally.
Kirby’s latest completed designs included a complete makeover of Apes hill that was unveiled last year. Also, a par-3 nine-hole course at Apes Hills.
In a press release to announce Kirby’s passing, Roddy Carr, an Irish golfer famous for his role in Kirby’s selection to design Old Head Golf Links, Ireland, and Apes Hills, Barbados, stated that Kirby was “an incredible man. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle of joy in his eyes.” “Ron led a full and rich life, and did the things he loved right up until the end. He recently sketched golf holes in Denmark.”
