Willie Park Sr. will be immortalized for winning the inaugural British Open in 1860. He became one of two players to win the Challenge Belt, for his first three British Open wins, and the Claret Jug, for his last British Open in 1875. The other golf to accomplish this was “Young Tom” Morris.

Willie Park Sr. true love for golf was match play. Popular in the day were challenge matches where a player would challenge another for a sum of money. The winner getting the sum of money. He had many matches against “Old Tom” Morris. Rumors exist saying he only lost one of these matches.

He learned to play golf with a curves stick. Eventually was able to strike with distance and accuracy and become a deadly putter with the stick.

Willie Park Sr won the first British Open in 1860. The Open was played at Prestwick’s 12 hole course. They played three rounds in one day to complete the tournament. To win he used the Gutta Percha ball a breakthrough technology in that era.

The original trophy for winning The British Open was called theChallenge Belt, which was awarded to the winners from 1860 - 1870. In 1872, the Claret Jug made its debut a the trophy to be presented to the Champion Golfer of the Year. Willie Park Sr. won both trophies a feat only to be matched by “Young Tom” Morris.

Willie Park Sr. was not the only accomplished golfer in the family. The British Open was also won by his brother, Mungo, in 1874 a year before Park Sr.’s last win at The Open. Willie Park Jr., also was a successful golfer and golf course architect having designed Olympia Fields Golf Club in Chicago which hosted the US Open in 1928 and 2003.

Willie Park Sr. was a powerful golfer in his era and had a deadly touch on the greens. His skill around the greens had Golf Illustrated write:

“And now I come to Willie as a putter. Here he was not merely good, not merely excellent, but brilliant. …So deadly was he when within three or four yards of the hole.”

Willie Park Sr Bio
Date of Birth: June 30, 1833
Date of Death: July 25, 1903
Birthplace: Wallyford, near Musselburgh, Scotland

Accomplishments
1860: British Open
1863: British Open
1866: British Open
1875: British Open
Prominent ball and club maker