Willie Park Senior was one of the most prominent Scottish golfers of the mid- to late-1800s. He promoted the development of the game as an open event which came to be known as the ‘Open Championship’, the oldest golf tournament in the world.
Park won the Open four times, including the inaugural event in 1860, and was considered the greatest golfer of his day.
Willie Park was born in Wallyford, East Lothian and started his golfing career as a caddie. As a golfer, he made money from “challenge matches” against other prominent names of the era such as Willie Dunn, Old Tom Morris and Allan Robertson. These matches were popular spectator events with high stakes available to the winners. Park was tall and strong, he could hit the ball a long way and his putting was also excellent.
Away from the course, Park was adept at self-promotion. His capacity to generate controversy helped to generate press coverage and popular interest, resulting in more matches and tournaments, and leading to the development of the professional game in Scotland.
Park is remembered today for winning the Open Championship four times, a record which stood until James Braid won his fifth title in 1910. In later years Park ran a business making golfing equipment. Park's brother Mungo and his son Willie Jr. both also won the Open Championship.
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