We Spent Half Our Lives on the Wrong Side of the Road — The Kirby's Golf Journey

A Life on the Move: From Beverly to World-Class Courses

Enter the world of Ron Kirby, a celebrated golf course architect, and his wife Sally, whose partnership spans 67 years. Their story begins in Beverly, Massachusetts, where high school sweethearts first imagined a life beyond the familiar streets. What follows is a vivid travelogue through greens, bunkers, and the landscapes that shaped their work and their bond.

As the Kirbys journeyed across continents, they forged lifelong friendships, designed courses that challenged players and delighted landscapes, and built a shared life grounded in curiosity, generosity, and mutual respect. The book invites you to glimpse the atmosphere of the places they visited—the salty tang of coastal winds on a seaside site, the quiet reverence of a dawn-green, the bustle of planning rooms where ideas turn into fairways.

What you’ll discover

• The human side of golf course design—the teamwork, mentorship, and enduring partnerships that go into creating iconic places.
• A rich travelogue with vivid scenes, from sunlit fairways to bustling overseas cities, and the rituals that accompany work and life.
• A compelling love story built on a shared childhood, years of partnership, and the gradual unfolding of a life spent together.
• Insights into how lifelong friendships are formed through shared experiences on and off the course.

Why read this biography

• Inspiration for readers who value craft, collaboration, and the human stories behind professional achievement.
• Ideas for couples and partners who navigate ambitious careers while maintaining a strong relationship.
• A well-researched, respectful portrayal that avoids sensationalism while highlighting real milestones and decisions.
• A narrative that can be reread for little details—name drops of famous courses, landscapes, and the people who helped along the way.

Whether you are a golf enthusiast, a biography buff, or someone who loves stories about lifelong dreams realized through perseverance, this book offers a resonant, human lens on a life well traveled and well designed.