After graduating from the University of Massachusetts -Stockbridge, Ron Kirby launched his career in golf course architecture by accepting the position of design associate with Dick Wilson in 1958.  Prior to this affiliation with Wilson, Ron Kirby was a golf course superintendent at Petersham Country Club in western Massachusetts.  Ron began his experience with Dick Wilson at Paradise Island (formerly Hog Island in the Bahamas) supervising the development and grow-in of Arrowwack Golf Club.  Huntington Hartford, the heir of Atlantic & Pacific Company, was developing the island into an exclusive resort property.

During Ron’s experience with Dick Wilson in 1958 through 1963, he became very familiar with Wilson’s design philosophy, style and overall project approach to golf course architecture.  Although Ron was not directly responsible for their designs, he watched the development of several South Florida courses including Tamarack Golf Club and Jom Country Club, among others. But wait, there’s more