Kirby ready to leave imprint on Senior PGA Championship

Matt Metcalf
Posted 5/20/15

Ed Kirby will be presented with a unique opportunity this week.

Kirby, who is a resident of Wakefield, R.I. and the club professional at Alpine Country Club in Cranston, will play in the four-day …

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Kirby ready to leave imprint on Senior PGA Championship

Posted

Ed Kirby will be presented with a unique opportunity this week.

Kirby, who is a resident of Wakefield, R.I. and the club professional at Alpine Country Club in Cranston, will play in the four-day Senior PGA Championship starting on Thursday at Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind.

Kirby will enter the tournament as one of 35 club professionals that played their way into the tournament, having to qualify through a regional and then nationwide qualifier.

This is Kirby’s second go-around at the Senior PGA Championship, competing last year and missing the cut by one stroke.

But this year, Kirby is determined to not let his nerves get to him.

After all, he’s not sure if a chance like this will arise again.

“I feel good,” Kirby said after a practice round in French Lick on Monday. “It’s a really good opportunity – I’m excited. It’s a great opportunity for club professionals. I’m just going to go for it because I don’t know how many opportunities that I’ll have like this one.”

Kirby graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C.,

in 1986, and turned pro right after his stint in Greenville. He then grinded through the professional ranks until 1996, when he decided to get another job.

Kirby stumbled upon Alpine in 2001, and it’s been a match made it heaven ever since.

“They’re a great group of people to work for,” Kirby said of everyone at Alpine.

The 52-year-old acknowledged that it’s difficult to be a club professional and be a well playing club professional, as they have to juggle their normal, everyday duties around the clubhouse.

But fortunately for Kirby, Alpine has been generous with the amount of golf that it has let him play, as he’s been able to play quite a bit to keep his skills up to par.

“It’s an honor to be representing my club,” Kirby said. “I couldn’t have done this without their support.”

There will be around 300 members at Alpine cheering for their club pro this weekend – and for good reason. Kirby mentioned that for every birdie that he makes, items in the pro shop will be five percent off for members.

The difficulties of juggling essentially two separate jobs has been eased by everyone at Alpine, and because of this, Kirby is currently playing some of his best golf in recent memory.

He recalled his game being down for a stretch of about eight years, but for the past three years, Alpine’s diamond in the rough has been one of the top senior golfers around.

Kirby flew out to Indiana on Sunday to get a few practice rounds in before the tournament and to become reacquainted with the surroundings.

Kirby will play a practice round on Wednesday with former college teammate and well-known pro, Brad Faxon.

Faxon and Kirby are two of three Rhode Island natives that will play in the Senior PGA Championship. The third is Bristol native Billy Andrade.

Other notable players that will be competing are Tom Watson and Fred Couples.

Kirby is hoping to not only compete, but make the final cut and make a push on the final day.

He’ll have family in attendance, as his wife and 10-year-old daughter will fly to French Lick for the tournament.

Kirby still has a competitive edge, but not like he once did. Now with a family, he has put everything into perspective.

“I put my daughter’s initials on my golf balls, so when I think that things are bad, I realize that there are things that are much more important,” Kirby said. “I’m just going to relax and try to do better than last year. Honestly, I don’t care as much anymore, and I think that can help me out.”

Kirby will have a potential edge on the field of golfers, though, as PGA Honorary President Jim Remy will serve as Kirby’s caddy for the tournament. Remy knows all the ins and outs of just about every major golf course in the country.

All things considered, Kirby isn’t just going to Indiana for a trip, he’s going to compete.

“If I play my best, and I feel like my best is pretty good, then who knows,” Kirby said. “I’m going in not afraid this time. I’m looking to make some noise.”

Kirby will look to make Alpine proud this week.

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